When to apply
How to apply
Early Decision
Who is accepted
Home school
Secondary school record
Recommended classes
AP/IB exams
Previous college work
Admission factors

Frequently asked questions:
Applying as a freshman

When should I apply to Northwestern?

Freshmen should apply by the following deadlines:

Freshman application deadlines for fall quarter

You may apply as soon as you begin your last year of secondary school — even before you take the required examinations. Applications for admission are available beginning in August of the year prior to the year you would enter Northwestern. Freshman applicants for other quarters should request information from the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

	Early Decision	Regular Decision
Apply by*	November 1	January 1
Take tests by SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with writing required; three SAT Subject Tests recommended	October test date	December test date
Music applicants schedule audition by	November 15	February 1
Admission decision by	December 15	Early April
Tuition deposit/reply by	February 1	May 1
* Additional information is required if you are applying to the Honors Program in Medical Education, the Integrated Science Program, Mathematical Experience for Northwestern Undergraduates, or Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences.

How do I apply?

Application for admission is made through the Office of Undergraduate Admission to one of the six undergraduate schools. In determining whether to accept an applicant, Northwestern requires the following:

A completed application for admission. See our applying page for more details.
Nonrefundable application fee ($65)
Official secondary school transcripts
Recommendations from a secondary school counselor or teacher who can attest to your probable success at Northwestern.
Standardized testing The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT Reasoning Test) or American College Test (ACT) with writing is required of all applicants. Two SAT Subject Test scores are required of all applicants to the Honors Program in Medical Education, and three SAT Subject Test scores are required for the Integrated Science Program. The SAT Subject Test is recommended for all other applicants. Higher SAT Subject Test scores tend to offset lower SAT Reasoning Test or ACT results.

These materials should be submitted to Northwestern's Office of Undergraduate Admission according to the instructions in the application for admission.

In addition, School of Music applicants are required to audition.

What is Early Decision?

If you are certain that Northwestern is where you want to enroll, we encourage you to apply under our Early Decision plan (see table above for deadlines). As with all traditional Early Decision plans, you agree to withdraw all applications at other colleges and enroll at Northwestern if admitted. Students interested in HPME must apply under the Regular Decision plan.

Applicants who choose Early Decision send a strong, positive message to Northwestern. Given their high level of interest and overall academic and personal strength, the rate of admission for our Early Decision applicants is higher than our overall admit rate.

If you are admitted under Early Decision and apply for financial aid, you will be notified of your aid decision around the time of your acceptance, provided your family has filed the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile by December 1. Students admitted under Early Decision may be released from the commitment to enroll at Northwestern only for financial reasons.

Who is accepted to Northwestern?

Each year we receive applications from far more students than we can admit. Students admitted to Northwestern must be clearly capable of succeeding in the University's academic environment. The middle 50 percent of test scores for entering students ranges from 30 to 34 on the ACT; on the SAT Reasoning Test, the critical reading range was 670 to 750 and the math from 680 to 770. The most reliable predictor of success at Northwestern is a strong academic performance at the secondary school level. The mean high school class rank of enrolled freshmen has been at the 94th percentile.

What if I have been home schooled?

Students who have been educated at home are required to submit the results of three SAT Subject Tests in addition to their SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with writing results. Math Level 1 or 2 — for students who plan to study sciences or engineering, Math Level 2 is clearly preferable — plus two other SAT Subject Tests of the applicant's choice from different subject areas (i.e., not two science or two foreign language or two history, etc.) are required.

How important is my secondary school record?

The evaluation of your secondary school transcript is an important part of the admission process. We are not simply looking for high grades; the strength of your academic program is also weighed. In addition, the admission committee makes note of any accelerated, honors, or Advanced Placement courses taken.

Every secondary school is different. Some schools may be more competitive than others; different schools offer different course options. These facts are also considered when admission decisions are made.

What classes do you recommend I take in preparation for Northwestern?

The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the Medill School of Journalism, and the Schools of Education and Social Policy, Music, and Communication recommend that entering students complete courses in the following academic areas, plus four or more additional academic courses:

English: 4 full-year courses, with as much composition as the curriculum allows

Foreign language: 2-4 full-year courses of one foreign language

History and social science: 2-4 full-year courses

Laboratory science: 2 full-year courses

Mathematics: 3-4 full-year courses

Additional subjects: 1-3 full-year courses in the academic areas listed above

The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science encourages strong preparation in mathematics and science. Recommended are

English: 4 full-year courses

Laboratory science: 3-4 full-year courses; chemistry and physics preferred

Mathematics: 3.5-4 full-year courses; calculus preferred, if available; the minimum requirement includes 2 full-year courses of algebra, 1 full-year course of plane geometry, and 1 semester of trigonometry

Additional subjects: 5-6 full-year courses; these should include courses in foreign language, history, and social sciences

Will I get credit for Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate exams?

Northwestern awards credit in nearly all areas for Advanced Placement examination scores of 5 and for International Baccalaureate higher-level examination results of 5 or higher.

Will I get credit for work done at other colleges?

Northwestern recognizes credit for courses completed elsewhere under the following circumstances:

Courses are similar to those offered at Northwestern
Courses have been taken at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada
Course work was not submitted for normal secondary school graduation requirements
Courses were taken on a college or university campus with a majority of college students in attendance

What other factors do you consider in making an admission decision?

Each application is reviewed carefully by several members of our admission committee. To help us make these difficult decisions, we seek information beyond school transcripts and test scores. We take into account your involvement outside of class, as profiled in an activity chart, and read your essays to get a better sense of your interests, thought processes, and writing ability. Recommendations from secondary school teachers and counselors add perspective to your achievements. The qualities we look for in each candidate are independent thinking, a sense of humor, self-confidence, energy, enthusiasm, and an interest in activities, people, and ideas.

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