What to Expect on Your Interview Day
As the PA program enrollment counselor here at Northwestern College, one of my favorite parts of this role is walking alongside applicants during the interview process. If you’ve been invited to interview, congratulations, it truly is a privilege. Each year, our program receives many applications, and only the most competitive candidates are invited to campus. This means that by the time you step into your interview day, you’ve already distinguished yourself through your hard work, preparation, and experiences.

At the same time, we encourage you to approach this day with humility. Our program is unique in its mission: to equip physician assistants who will serve patients in rural and underserved communities. Your journey to becoming a PA is more than academics, it’s about growing in knowledge, faith, and service. We view this profession as a way to bring healing and hope to the communities you’ll serve. We are looking for students who not only demonstrate strong academic and interpersonal skills but who also understand the heart of our program, training providers who will make a difference where they are most needed. This training starts on day one at orientation, continues through the didactic terms, and is reinforced during clinical rotations. 

When Interviews Happen
Invitations to interview are sent between mid-August and mid-September. For the 2025 cycle, our interview dates are:

• September 5
• September 12
• September 26

Once you’ve received your invitation, you’ll also get a detailed schedule of what to expect on your interview day.

What the Day Looks Like
On your interview day, you’ll participate in both individual and group interviews. This is our opportunity to get to know you beyond your application and for you to learn more about us. We’ll be assessing qualities that go far beyond test scores, such as:

• Your understanding of the PA profession and of the Northwestern College PA Program
• Interpersonal skills and how you work with others
• Your commitment to learning and growing
• Self-awareness and emotional maturity
• Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Cultural competency and respect for diverse backgrounds

Our Encouragement to You
We know interviews can feel intimidating, but we want you to see this day as a conversation, not an exam. Come prepared, but also come ready to be yourself. We want to see your passion for the PA profession, your heart for serving others, and your openness to learning.

Remember, this is also your chance to interview us. Ask questions, get a feel for our culture, and imagine yourself in a program deeply committed to preparing rural providers who will meet real needs in communities across the country.

A Final Word
Being invited to interview is an accomplishment worth celebrating. But it’s also just one step in a meaningful process. Stay humble, stay curious, and know that we are genuinely excited to meet you. We are praying for you as you prepare, and we look forward to seeing how your gifts and faith can impact the world through medicine. 

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus this September!

About the Author

Since 2023, Anna Mae has served as the Enrollment Counselor for Northwestern’s PA program. With a background in Secondary Education, she is passionate about education and about guiding prospective students through the PA application process.

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We often have questions about how and when students can pay their bills. We're here to help make the process as convenient as possible from online payment options to monthly payment plans.

Student payments are due by Aug. 1 for first semester and the second semester payments are due in January of the new semester by the 3^rd of the month.  Online students can view their bill online and should make their payment online on MyNWC under the billing information tab.  Payment can be made with e-check which has no fee, or by credit card which has a 2.75% fee.

Online students may pay on a monthly payment plan by completing a monthly payment form found on MyNWC under the “billing information” tab. Enrollment for 1^st semester must be made by July 1 and by November registration for the spring semester. The monthly payment form needs to be completed and e-mailed to the business office by the date given on the form.  First semester payments are due July 25, August 25, Sept. 25, Oct. 25 and November 25.  Second semester payments are due Dec. 25, January 25, February 25, March 25 and April 25.

There is a $25.00 per semester set up fee for monthly payments.  There is no additional interest charged unless your payment is delinquent.  In that case, you will owe the entire balance and interest of 1% per month will be charged to your account.  Monthly payments may change if you change your class schedule, or there is an adjustment in your financial aid package. 

If you do not make your payments, you will not be able to get into classes, Blackboard or use campus facilities and we cannot give you a diploma or release your transcripts or credentials until you settle your account. We are always available if you have questions!

please call (712-707-7125) or email (businessoffice@nwciowa.edu).

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Enrolling in college is a huge step—whether it’s transferring to complete your degree or returning to school after some (or much!) time away. The transition to completing homework and writing papers on a regular basis can be intimidating at first. Thankfully, you are not alone in making the transition to academic life.

Academic support is available to those who need it. As a writing tutor at Northwestern, I have had the opportunity to help students in an online nursing course. While tutoring looks a little different online, we are here to walk alongside you to help you succeed.

Receiving feedback will be a different process than face-to-face interaction. However, the quality of support will remain the same, and tutors will go out of their way to help as much as they possibly can.

When asking for help, students will typically send an electronic copy of their paper via email. Depending on tutor and student availability, a time can then be set up to discuss the paper. Tutors aren’t there just to provide constructive criticism; we will also help you to capitalize on your strengths and grow more confident in whatever subject you’re working in.

In the past, I have done Skype meetings or phone calls. In-document comments are also provided so students can more easily remember the comments discussed. From there, any further questions can be discussed via email, phone call, or Skype. Tutors are willing to help and work to meet your schedule demands.

While college or grad school can seem demanding, you are not alone. Whatever class you’re concerned with, from math and chemistry to writing, support is available. The tutors are willing to work with your schedule to provide you with the best feedback possible. For more information about tutoring services, contact your Northwestern academic advisor.

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While it can be a challenge to prepare to go back to school, registering for online courses at Northwestern College is a simple process. Graduate School students may register beginning on the first day registration opens for the on-campus students at Northwestern. The academic calendar also shows the dates for the upcoming terms.   

The first step is to log into your MyNorthwestern account and choose “Registration” under the “Academics” tab. In the middle of the page, click the hyperlink that says “Add/Drop Courses” and check that the correct session and year is listed in the Term dropdown box.

Graduate students will also want to ensure “Graduate Program” is listed in the Student Program and Program dropdown boxes. Make sure you agree to the terms of the Registration Agreement.  

Next, students can add the courses they want to register for by entering the appropriate course code. For example, enter EDU525-01 for section 01 of Advanced Child Development.

 If you have any questions, contact your academic advisor or the registrar’s office ( registrar@nwciowa.edu).

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