Northwestern Supplemental Essays: Requirements & Prompts

Updated on
July 7, 2025
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Requirements:

One required essay (300 words or fewer).Choose at least one, no more than two, optional essays (fewer than 200 words per question).

Required Essay Prompt:

What aspects of your background (your identity, your school setting, your community, your household, etc.) have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?
Northwestern Background & Engagement Q&A Slides

Q: What background aspect to pick?

A:

  • Choose one specific identity, setting, or community.
  • Example: Growing up in a multi-generational household.
  • Example: Attending a specialized arts high school.
  • Focus on a shaping element.

Optional Essay Prompts:

The Rock Tradition: Painting “The Rock” is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call “Purple Pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?
Northwestern 'The Rock' Tradition Q&A Slides

Q: What is the core of this prompt?

A:

  • Show expression, community connection.
  • Not just "what" but "why."
  • Demonstrate how you use expression for impact.
Interdisciplinary Culture: Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?
Northwestern Interdisciplinary Culture Q&A Slides

Q: What is the core of this prompt?

A:

  • Show interdisciplinary thought, collaboration, innovation.
  • Not just "what" but "how."
  • Demonstrate how diverse ideas combine for discovery.
Community and Belonging: Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
Northwestern Community & Belonging Q&A Slides

Q: What is the core of this prompt?

A:

  • Show genuine connection to Northwestern's community.
  • Demonstrate how you will engage, belong.
  • Not just joining, but contributing.
Location: Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?
Northwestern Location Q&A Slides

Q: What is the core of this prompt?

A:

  • Show specific connection to Northwestern's location.
  • Demonstrate how Evanston/Chicago enhances your experience.
  • Not just listing features, but explaining "why."
Diversity of Perspectives: Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?
Northwestern Diversity of Perspectives Q&A Slides

Q: What is the core of this prompt?

A:

  • Show how your unique background enriches Northwestern.
  • Demonstrate contribution to diverse perspectives.
  • Focus on specific viewpoints you bring.

All the best!

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