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Check-in Meeting

All new international F-1 or J-1 students must attend a check-in meeting (approximately 1 1/2 hours) upon arrival in Reno in order to be cleared for class registration. Please schedule a check-in meeting with an International Student Advisor at the Office of International Students and Scholars located in the Fitzgerald Student Service Building, Room 120 as soon as they arrive at the University. Check-in meetings are offered three times each week. It is necessary to attend a check-in meeting, even if a student is transferring from another U.S. institution or has been in Reno for some time in another visa status. As these meetings offer a great deal of information about registration, health insurance, the city of Reno, etc. International students who will be studying on other types of visas, such as J-2 or H-4, are also welcome to attend the first part of the meeting to receive more information about the University and city at large. Students must bring all immigration documents to these meetings (passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019 form).

After your OISS check-in meeting, you will be required to comply with the following pre-registration procedures:

• Visit the Intensive English Language Center (IELC) to register for the English bridge placement test. All new international students must take the English Bridge Test to determine if English as a Second Language course work is needed during their first semester at the university UNLESS they meet one of the following conditions (be prepared to show evidence of this when you check in at OISS):

  • TOEFL score of 100 (internet-Based Test), 600 (Paper-Based Test) or higher
  • IELTS score of 8.5 or higher
  • Degree from an American university or college
  • Transfer of English 101, 102, or the equivalent from an American institution
  • TOEFL requirement waived for university admission for students coming from English speaking countries

The Bridge Test measures skills in academic reading, listening, writing, and speaking. It is scored at the IELC on the day of the test and students are then given a result sheet indicating their scores. Students are automatically enrolled in recommended courses by the IELC. The results of the test will also be forwarded to the student’s advisor. Students take Bridge English classes concurrently with academic classes during their first semester at the University to gain academic English skills. All Bridge classes are graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Please note that these credits may not be used towards graduation, but are counted toward your full time enrollment. Students will be advised of the sign-up location upon arrival at UNR.

• Attend the mandatory Undergraduate or Graduate Student Orientation, International Student Orientation in the Fall semester, and Intercultural Plunge. Plunge is offered only before the Fall semester.
• Visit the University Student Health Center with immunization documents. Students are required to provide the official immunization documentation of two doses for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and an immunization within the last 10 years for tetanus/ diphtheria (TD) before registering for classes. If you were born before 1957, you are exempt from the MMR requirement. However, you are required to have a diphtheria/tetanus immunization within the last 10 years. Any freshman college student under the age of 23 intending to live in on-campus housing must be vaccinated against Neisseria meningitis (Meningococcus) unless excused because of medical or religious reasons. MMR and Td or Tdap are not covered by your Student Health Fee. MMR is $52.00 and Tdap is $38.00. For more information, please refer to the UNR Health Center website.
• Meet with an Academic Advisor in your department to discuss your course schedule. If you do not have an assigned advisor or do not know who to contact, you can select a professor in your department from the following list. It is important that you build a coherent program of studies with an advisor who knows about your academic options and regulations.
  
  TRANSFER CREDITS: If you are unsure about the number of transferable credits you may have, you should submit your official high school transcripts with course descriptions and course outlines (syllabi) for the purpose of course evaluations. Upon arrival at UNR, students can check the core transfer courses recognized by the University at the initial admission point on MyNEVADA. MyNEVADA compares student’s course work, both Nevada and transfer, with the requirements of an academic degree program, and prepares a report, which details the student's progress toward meeting those requirements. Courses taken at another institution must be evaluated by a faculty advisor before additional academic credit can be transferred to Nevada.
• Register for at least 12 credits (as an undergraduate student) and 9 credits (as a graduate student) to maintain full-time student-status; generally classes are 3 credits. Undergraduate students who intend to take mathematics courses must take a placement exam. Transfer students and those with ACT or SAT scores should contact the Independent Learning Center at (775) 784-4652 or the Math Center at (775) 784-4433.

After you have completed these steps and have received signatures verifying these steps completion, you will need to submit the Pre-Enrollment Approval Form with all signatures to the Admissions and Records Office in the Fitzgerlad Student Services Building, 2nd Floor to be cleared for registration. After you register, you may go to the Cashier's Office to either obtain a copy of your bill and/or pay your bill.