Important Dates
Below are important dates for the Class of 2025, new transfer students, and family members. Stay up-to-date by connecting with Wildcat Welcome's various social media accounts.
Most immediately after acceptance, admitted students should do the following:
- Follow directives in your Admitted Student portal. This includes anything you need to complete upon acceptance.
- Setup your Northwestern email. You setup your email when you initially activate your NetID. If you did not setup your email at that time, learn how to activate your email.
- Join the Class of 2025 Facebook group!
Week of May 3
The Purple Prep suite launches for the Class of 2025; students to be notified via Northwestern email upon launch. The suite includes:
- Purple Prep website: Your one stop to all the information you need to complete tasks throughout the summer and to prepare for your arrival in September.
- Purple Prep checklist: A personalized checklist to keep you on track for meeting deadlines throughout the summer.
- Purple Prep email: In your Northwestern inbox the first Tuesday of each month is this email to remind you of what is coming up the month ahead and to provide you with any important updates/changes to tasks, dates, and fall information.
May 4-September 10: Purple Prep
Serving as the first step of the orientation process is Purple Prep. Students are required to participate in and complete a number of orientation-related items throughout the summer months to prepare for their time at Northwestern (fully outlined in the above mentioned platforms). Purple Prep starts with the earliest set of deadlines on June 1 with the Housing Contract and ends with fall course registration on September 9 and 10. Visit the Purple Prep website and personalized checklist starting May 4 to view all of the items that occur during this period.
August: Housing Assignments
New students learn of their assigned room/building, as well as roommate, at the start of August. Learn more on the Residential Services website.
September 11-13: International Student Orientation
International Student Orientation (ISO) occurs immediately preceding Wildcat Welcome; international students attend both ISO and Wildcat Welcome. Students register for International Student Orientation through the Wildcat Welcome Information Form in May/June. Visit the Office of International Student and Scholar Services website for more information.
September 13-14: New Student Move-in Days
New first-year and transfer students will move in during a scheduled appointment on Monday, September 13 or Tuesday, September 14. An appointment signup form will be sent to student email accounts in mid-August after room assignments are completed. Learn more about on the Residential Services website.
September 13-20 & 25: Wildcat Welcome
The on-campus portion of Wildcat Welcome, Northwestern's mandatory orientation for all new undergraduate students, begins once a student moves to campus on September 13 or 14 and runs through September 20. A pause occurs for the start of classes and the capstone set of Wildcat Welcome programs occurs on Saturday, September 25. Students should make no other arrangements during Wildcat Welcome.
September 13-15: Parent & Family Orientation
Parent and Family Orientation (PFO) provides family members with information to serve as informed support systems for their student during their tenure at Northwestern. Programming for family's coincides with their student's move-in day. Learn more about Parent and Family Orientation.
September 21: Fall quarter classes begin
Start of fall-quarter classes
Full Academic Calendar
Visit the Office of the Registrar website to view academic calendar dates.