Location

Northwestern University (www.northwestern.edu) is located in Evanston, Illinois, named after one of the University's founders, John Evans. Evanston, the first suburb north of Chicago, has a population of approximately 75,000 and is composed of approximately 30 percent minorities. The campus lies on Lake Michigan, bordered by two miles of sandy beaches. It is located less than 35 minutes by elevated train from the nation's third largest city, Chicago. The University occupies nearly 240 acres in Evanston, including a lakefill of approximately 85 acres created in 1964.

History

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University was created as an institution of the "highest order of excellence" to serve the people of the Northwest Territory. Classes began in 1855 with two faculty members and 10 male students. In 1869, the University enrolled its first female students, making Northwestern one of the first American universities to admit women. Stretching for nearly a mile along Lake Michigan, the Evanston campus is home to the undergraduate schools, the College of Arts and Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Medill School of Journalism, the Schools of Education and Social Policy, Music and Speech. In addition, the campus is home to the Graduate School and the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Since 1920, the 20-acre lakeshore Chicago campus, east of North Michigan Avenue's "Magnificent Mile," has housed the Dental School, School of Law, Medical School and University College.

Faculty

The undergraduate faculty includes more than 1,800 full-time members. They have been recognized for scholarship and pioneering research through major grants, establishment of endowed chairs and professorships, honors and awards, and memberships in prestigious organizations. Faculty members have received memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and American Council of Learned Societies. They have also been honored with coveted awards, including John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowships, Fulbright Research Professorships, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowships and Pulitzer Prizes.

Campus Life

Students can easily find groups that fit their interests by taking advantage of more than 250 student-run activities and organizations, from cultural groups to community service. Philanthropic activities such as the 30-hour Dance Marathon and Special Olympics bring students together for campus-wide causes. Some choose to participate in the Greek system, with 25 fraternities and 13 sororities. Student housing ranges from dormitories and apartments, to thematic and nonthematic residential colleges. With the city of Chicago only a short train ride away, Northwestern students have a world-famous cultural center at their fingertips - the finest museums, theaters, restaurants, shops, and professional sports.

Admissions

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) is required of all applicants. Early decision candidates must apply by November 1 for mid-December notification. Candidates must file by January 1 for a mid-April decision.

Financial Aid

All undergraduate financial aid is need-based. More than 60 percent of undergraduates receive some form of aid; 50 percent of undergraduates receive aid from Northwestern funds. Options for financial aid include grants, student loans and work-study employment. In addition, the Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship programs offers financial aid for students interested in careers in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps or Navy. College of Arts and Sciences

Diversity

Northwestern University is composed of seven undergraduate schools and four graduate/professional schools on two lakefront campuses. Students from all 50 states and more than 50 foreign countries make up the approximately 7,400 undergraduates who attend. Women make up approximately 51 percent of the undergraduate student population, and African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Americans compose approximately 33 percent.