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FAQs

Info Upon Admittance

When is my tuition deposit due?

To confirm your place in the incoming first-year or transfer class, you must submit your nonrefundable $400 tuition deposit by the deadline associated with your admission round. To pay, first activate your NetID and password, wait 24 hours, then log on to Northwestern's secure Caesar system and follow the prompts. Both your tuition and housing deposits must be received in order to finalize your enrollment.

 

When is my housing deposit due?

Incoming first year students are guaranteed on-campus housing through Residential Services. The deposit is due May 29 in order to allow contract access which is granted 72 hours after the deposit is received. The housing contract is open between March 1 and June 1. If you missed the deposit deadline, please contact Residential Services.

 

Do I need a final secondary school transcript?

Your high school can send your transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admission by mail or by using the Common Application website’s Final Report Form. The transcript must include either an actual date of graduation or a statement that you have graduated.

For detailed instructions, use your NetID to log in at https://admit.northwestern.edu/next-steps/after-enrollment. Admitted students who fail to submit a final transcript will not be permitted to move into their student residence, participate in Wildcat Welcome, or register for classes.

Transfer Students

As soon as you complete the semester or quarter you are currently enrolled in at your present university, if applicable, please forward an official copy of your final transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

For frequently asked questions about our review of your final transcript, please visit The Office of Undergraduate Admission's FAQ page.

 

Whom should I contact with questions regarding my financial aid package?

Contact Undergraduate Financial Aid with specific questions about the financial aid process at 847-491-7400 or undergradaid@u.northwestern.edu.

Housing & Move-In

When is my online housing application due?

The housing contract (which includes your housing preferences) is open between March 1 and June 1. You may make changes to your preferences during this timeframe by emailing housing@northwestern.edu.

Once your housing deposit is paid, you’re ready to explore Northwestern student housing choices and sign the housing contract, which opens March 1 and is due on June 1. For access to the contract and complete information—including photos, virtual tours, floor plans, amenities, and rates—go to the Residential Services website. 

When will I get my housing assignment?

Residential Services emails housing assignments to all new students in early August. So long as you meet the housing contract deadline of June 1, it does not matter when you submit your contract; housing is not assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Check your Northwestern e-mail account and the Residential Services website regularly for updates and information.

What are the dimensions of my room?

Because there are so many diverse housing options for students on campus, we are unable to offer exact room dimensions for specific rooms or buildings. We suggest that you look at the  building profiles for residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities to learn more about each building. The virtual tours of typical rooms in each building include a measuring tool to assess size.

Can I tour a residence hall room before school starts?

Residential Services DOES NOT offer tours of housing facilities and individual rooms to protect the privacy and safety of current residents. Contact Undergraduate Admission for information on campus tours and Purple Preview. Virtual room tours are available on each building profile page.

How long are the beds? I heard that I will need special sheets.

Mattresses at Northwestern are 80" in length. Bedding manufacturers also refer to this size as an "extra long twin."

What should I bring to campus?

See the "Things to Bring" section on the Residential Services website for a list of what to bring and what to leave at home.

Can I ship items to Campus?

Yes! Residential Services has partnered with University and Student Services’ Ship-to-Your-Room program to offer a convenient way to ship your belongings ahead of move-in day. Items can be shipped in late August. See the University and Student Services (USS) website for details. USS also offers products for purchase that will be placed directly in your room prior to arrival. Please note that Residential Services will not accept packages mailed directly to campus before move-in day; for full guidelines see northwestern.edu/living/services/mail.

Can I move in early?

Special exceptions can be made for students to move in to their residence halls early. Please review the Undergraduate Early Arrival Request Policy for more information.

When should I arrive on Move In Day?

In mid-August, you will receive an email with a link to sign up for a move-in appointment between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on move-in day (September 17, 2024). During the move-in appointment, you will be able to unload a vehicle close to your building and movers will assist in bringing your items to your room. Students arriving without a vehicle may move in anytime after 8:00 a.m. Events begin at 4:00 p.m.

On Move In Day, where are parents and students permitted to park? How long can we park?

Parking will be available on campus in the North and South garages as well as at Ryan Field during Wildcat Welcome. Shuttles will be available to assist in moving between parking locations and scheduled activities. Parking permits will not be required during this timeframe. 

When should parents and family members plan on leaving?

Families decide to leave at a variety of times during Parent and Family Orientation (PFO), though traditionally families leave in three equal waves: at the conclusion of move-in day, right after March Through the Arch, or at the end of all PFO programming.   

Once a student begins their orientation programming, there will be no concurrent scheduling between a student and family member's orientation schedule except for 15 minutes at the conclusion of March Through the Arch where there is a pause in the schedule for Kiss'n'Bye. Please take this into consideration when you are planning travel and times to see your student as they set off to begin their college career.

Student Accounts & Health Insurance

Whom should I contact with questions about tuition, billing, fees, and payments?

Your student account is the central location for all your Northwestern bills. CAESAR is how you and your authorized guests can access your account, make payments, track financial aid awards, and manage other money matters. Visit the Student Finance website for more information.

I misplaced my Health and/or Insurance forms. Where can I get replacements?

Northwestern students are required to show proof of immunizations and to complete the Admission Health Record form. All health and insurance forms are available online. Many questions about Health Services can be answered through their Frequently Asked Questions webpage. Illinois law and Northwestern University mandate the completion of specific Entrance Health Requirements for all new full-time undergraduate students. You should download, complete, and return both the Admission Health Record, the Tuberculosis (TB) Self-Screening online form, and the Student Health Coverage Selection Form as soon as possible.

Visit the Student Health Insurance website for more detailed health coverage information.

When are the Health & Insurance forms due?

For Fall admits, the Admission Health Record form is due by July 1st. Late entrants/Transfer students should return the forms within 30 days of receipt. Visit the Health Service's Entrance Health Requirements for New Students information page for more details.

The Insurance Coverage Selection form is due October 1st. Visit Student Health Insurance website for more information. For other questions related to Health Services, please check the Health Services Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Email Accounts & Technology Assistance

How can I activate my Northwestern E-mail account?

Follow the steps below to activate your NetID as soon as possible. (Both your NetID and activation code were sent to you with Northwestern’s acceptance message.) Your NetID will allow you to activate your @u.northwestern.edu email account and to log in to CAESAR, Northwestern’s system for handling many of the tasks of being a student.

  • Go to northwestern.edu/login.
  • Enter your activation code as the password.
  • Set your NetID password.
  • Set answers to three or more security questions (for NetID password reset).
  • Follow the prompts to activate your @u.northwestern.edu account.

How do I check E-mail?

You can access your student email by going to u.northwestern.edu.

 

What if I forget my E-mail password?

If you need to reset your password (or even change the email graduation year), find more info on how to do that on the Northwestern IT website.

 

Do I have to use my Northwestern E-mail account? I already have an existing address.

All official communication from Northwestern is sent to your @u.northwestern.edu account. You are responsible for receiving, reading, and responding to messages in a timely way, so be sure to check your account frequently this summer. Powered by Google’s G Suite for Education, your account includes tools for email, calendars, document management, cloud storage, and more.

Email-management tips:

  • If you activated your NetID but not your @u.northwestern.edu account, activate your email.
  • Remember that your email password is distinct from your NetID password.
  • To change your email password, add a nickname, or modify your name or year in your email address, go to umail.northwestern.edu/manage.
  • To access your Northwestern email account from any web browser, go to u.northwestern.edu and log in using your @u.northwestern.edu account name and password.

I have additional questions regarding technology used at Northwestern.

For more information on technology used at Northwestern, please see Systems and Apps to Know.