What to Expect After You’ve Been Admitted to Northwestern

Congratulations— you’ve been admitted to Northwestern and your official acceptance letter is in your hands!

So, What’s Next?

Apply for Financial Aid

Your next step is to apply for scholarships and financial aid. Financial aid comes primarily from three different avenues:

●     Need-Based Aid via FAFSA: Grants (money you don’t need to repay) and loans (money you will need to pay back) are awarded based on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) results. The 2025-26 FAFSA opens in December 2024, and UNW’s code is 002371.

●     Institutional Aid: Explore opportunities for scholarships, discounts, and other awards given by UNW on our website.

●     Private/Outside Scholarships: Ask your UNW admission counselor for scholarships that would suit you as you apply for aid. Our favorite sites are Fastweb, Bold, and ScholarshipOwl. 

Pro tip: Ask your admission counselor to review your award letter with you and your parents. They can help to make sure you explored all of your aid options.

Visit Again to Solidify Your Decision

We know choosing a university is a significant decision, and we want to make sure UNW feels like home. That’s why we encourage you to visit again and experience our campus. We invite admitted students to join our Icebreaker events. These events help you meet other students and experience campus life.

These events give you the chance to connect with professors, explore your major options, and chat with new friends. You’ll get to see the campus through the eyes of an accepted student and even take part in roommate-matching opportunities. Plus, it’s a great way to see if UNW is the perfect fit for your future.

Pro tip: Download the ZeeMee app to meet lots of other future Eagles!

Confirm Your Enrollment

Ready to make it official? Once you’ve decided UNW is the place for you, submitting your $200 enrollment deposit secures your spot in the incoming class!

More than just a deposit, your ticket to the next exciting steps awaits. You’ll get to sport your exclusive UNW sweatshirt, dive into housing selection (and even choose your roommate!), and meet with your academic advisor to lock in your fall schedule. This is the start of an amazing adventure! 

Pro tip: The national decision day is May 1, 2025. Let your colleges know your college decision by then!

 Bottom line: Our admissions team is excited to help you every step of the way. We’re here to answer all your questions. Confidently take the next step toward joining the UNW family today!

For more helpful advice, check out What to Expect from Your UNW Admission Counselor.