Every school is required to have copies of certain documents on file. We must verify that you graduated from high school or that you passed the GED test. These documents become part of your official record at Southwest. Also, some federal financial aid regulations require that Southwest have the high school transcript on file.

Select APPLY at the top of any Southwest webpage. For details on the application process, choose student checklist that best fits you from the main Admissions page.

No. Once the credit becomes a part of your academic record at Southwest, it cannot be removed

Most admissions documents can be uploaded to the Admissions Documents/Forms Upload page. High school transcripts and GED results must come directly from the school.

New first-time freshmen students are required to:

• Submit official high school or GED/HiSet transcript, the immunization health history form (if you’re younger than 18), and proof of citizenship. For placement purposes, ACT scores within the last five years are highly recommended. Effective summer 2020, if no test scores are available, the high school GPA will be used for placement. Students with test scores more than five years old or students with a GED/HiSet must schedule to take the ACCUPLACER placement test through Testing.
• Complete the new student orientation (NSO).

New transfer students are required to:

• Submit official high school transcript or GED/HiSet results, official college transcript from prior schools, the immunization health history form (if you’re younger than 18), and proof of citizenship. If the student has earned an associate’s degree or higher degree, the high school transcript is not required.
• Complete the new student orientation (NSO).

International students are required to submit the following extra items:

• Immunization Health History Form (if you’re younger than 18)
• Immunization proof of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella (chickenpox)
• TB Tine Certification of Freedom from Tuberculosis. All international non-immigrant students applying for admission pursuant to a student visa must submit within 30 days from the first day of classes a certificate from a licensed physician or other qualified medical authority verifying the student does not have tuberculosis.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if the applicant's native language is not English. A TOEFL score of 500 pencil-based test or 173 computer-based test or an Internet-based score of 61 is required. The ELTS test results may be used in place of TOEFL. The Southwest college code is 1751. Visit the TOEFL website to schedule a test.
• Once admitted, International students also must show proof of health insurance.

Records of students who have not enrolled will be inactivated after they miss one semester. A new application for admission letting us know that you intend to re-enroll is required for the record to be reactivated. Any changes since your last enrollment at Southwest will need to be updated in our database. The application usually takes five to seven days to process before you are eligible to register.

All students are required to create an account on the online student portal called My.Southwest. You can view your application status, financial aid status, advising services, and other Southwest services in My.Southwest.

Our staff will evaluate the transcript from your prior college to see whether you need to retake classes or whether you have met the prerequisites for courses you are interested in taking at Southwest. Also, the Financial Aid office must document all prior college enrollments.

No. Southwest is an open-admission institution. This means no minimum GPA or test score is required. Test scores will be used for determining which classes first-time freshmen can take. Our staff will evaluate any prior college transcripts to determine which classes can be transferred and in which classes transfer students can enroll.

All students are encouraged to take the 3-minute Career Coach assessment to find a major and career that best suits them! Learn more at: https://www.southwest.tn.edu/career-services/career-planning.php