Information and resources for

Prospective Students

Language

Testing and Orientation

English Language Testing

Language testing (the NMSU Academic English Proficiency Test, or AEPT, and the separate CITE Placement Test) is conducted as part of each semester’s orientation activities. Depending on the results, students may be placed into one or more English-language courses during their first semester. Waiving or deferral of these requirements is not allowed. New students may be required to take either the AEPT or the CITE Placement Test depending on the conditions of their admission, but not both.

Orientation

Upon arrival in Las Cruces new international students are required to check in at the ISS office (in the Educational Services Building, Room 8), with all appropriate documents. At that time, they will make an appointment for the appropriate language testing, and receive the schedule of orientation and new student requirements and activities.

Orientation as conducted by the ISS office is required of all new international students, and focuses on student visa status requirements in the U.S., NMSU new student processes, campus resources, and other helpful topics. Orientation will also include a visit to the on-campus Student Health Center to have the required tuberculosis (TB) testing and purchase mandatory NMSU health insurance.

In addition, new and transfer international students are required to attend the regular undergraduate or graduate orientation sessions. Academic advising and course registration follows orientation sessions. At NMSU, undergraduate students receive academic advising in their college advising centers, and graduate students from their advisor in their academic department.

New Student Checklist and Registration

Before registering for classes the first semester, all new international students must report to the ISS Office in the Educational Services Building and check in, and bring their passport and immigration documents. They will receive at that time a checklist of requirements that need to be completed prior to class registration. The requirements include the language testing and placement described above, international student orientation, academic advising, the purchase of health insurance, tuberculosis (TB) testing, and possibly others. It is important for new students to arrive early to make completing all these tasks easily possible in advance of the start of classes.