Are you interested in attending Northwestern University? Do you want to learn from the best and brightest minds in a variety of fields? Maybe you want to walk the same halls as Zach Braff, Stephen Colbert, or even Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emmanuel? If so, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about the Northwestern AP® credits policy.

To be admitted, you have to prove that you can handle the Northwestern workload.There are a few different ways that you can achieve this. You can perform well above average on your ACT® or SAT®, demonstrate that you have leadership skills through your involvement in extracurricular activities, or write an engaging application essay. However, the best way to prove to the admissions committee that you have what it takes is this:take AP® or honors classes throughout high school and do really well in them.

But after you ace the AP® exams, what are you supposed to do with your scores? Were they just another way for you to get into college, or can they still help you when you get there? If you have ever wondered about this, you’re not alone. That’s why we put together this article to answer all of your questions.

We are going to walk you through everything you need to know about the Northwestern AP® credits policy. We’ll tell you what AP® classes will get you credit at the school’s different undergraduate colleges and what you need to score on the exam for it to count. We’ll even through in some information about what it’s like to live and study on campus.

Ready to get started?

Fast Facts about Northwestern

•  Northwestern University has two campuses near Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is in Evanston, which is just little bit north of the city, right on the shores of Lake Michigan. The second campus is in downtown Chicago.

•  Nonwesternis a privateuniversity, famed for its research opportunities,and was founded in 1851.

•  The school’s color is a dark purple.

•  The sports teams are known at the Wildcats, and are supposed by the beloved mascot Willie.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Numbers

According to the CollegeBoard as of 2015, Northwestern has… 

•  9,001 undergraduate students

•  12,641 postgraduate students

•  2,018 first-time freshmen

It also has a sizeable $10.193 billion endowment fund and highly competitive admissions rate of just 10.7%.

In 2015, 32,122 students applied, but only 4,248 were accepted.

Looking at the above information, you can tell that gaining admission to Northwestern is difficult – but it is not impossible. If you want to be a competitive applicant, you will need to craft an application that makes you stand out from the thousands of other students applying.

To do this, you will need to create a “hook” that sparks the admissions committee’s interest in you and invites them to learn more. While you think of what your “hook” should be, you also need to main the following supplementary elements of your application: standardized test scores in the 85^th percentile or higher, a variety of extracurricular activities that you enjoy and excel in, an engaging application essay, and more importantly, a strong academic record.

If you want Northwestern to think your application is strong, then you need great grades in AP® classes or honors classes. But once you get to Chicago, what are you supposed to do with all these outstanding test scores? Keep reading, because we are about to tell you.

Advanced Standing at Northwestern

Before we go into too much detail about the policy surrounding Northwestern AP® credits, we need to make sure you understand how to apply these credits to your undergraduate degree.

If you do well in your high school AP® courses, you are eligible for something called Advanced Standing. When you start at Northwestern,you have zero-credits, regardless of the classes you took in high school, however, depending on your educational goals, you might be able to “activate” prior credits to do any of the following things:

•  Take a semester off and still graduate on time.

•  Graduate a semester or even an entire academic year early.

•  Skip lower-level classes to take more interesting ones.

If you end up at Northwestern and find yourself wanting to graduate early you will need to plan ahead. Even though Northwestern has multiple undergraduate colleges, their requirements for an early graduation are the same: you must petition the office of the registrar at least one calendar year before you plan to graduate.

So, if you want to finish a year early, you will need to prove you are on track to satisfy the school’s graduation requirements by the end of your sophomore year.

If you are reading this and simply want to use your AP® credits to opt out of lower level or core classes, but fully intend to stay at Northwestern for the recommended eight semesters, keep reading! We will answer your questions below.

Northwestern’s AP® Credits Policy

Like we mentioned, Northwestern has multiple undergraduate colleges. We’ve listed them below:

•  Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

•  School of Communication

•  Bienen School of Music

•  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

•  Medill School of Journalism

•  School of Education and Social Policy

•  School of Professional Studies

Although each school has different graduation requirements, their AP® policies are remarkably similar. Here’s what Northwestern has to say:

Northwestern applies one policy regarding how much test credit is awarded to all undergraduate students regardless of major or school. Each undergraduate school then determines how the credit may apply to degree requirements.

So, here is what your AP® scores will get you at Northwestern:

Art

English

Language

Math

Music

Science

Social Studies

Northwestern’s Undergraduate Academic Requirements

In addition to the core curriculum set out my each individual undergraduate college, Northwestern has ensures that its students complete a residency requirement.  This translates to roughly 9 quarters on campus, and 32 credits. You can read more about the policy here.

Typically, you can use your AP® credits to opt out of lower-level classes, language requirements, and other general education classes. While it varies by college, you can check out the requirements for the school of your choice in the list below:

•  Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

•  School of Communication

•  Bienen School of Music

•  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

•  Medill School of Journalism

•  School of Education and Social Policy

•  School of Professional Studies

Because Northwestern’s undergraduate colleges accept scores from so many AP® classes, it’s time for you to start picking which ones you want to use!

Northwestern’s Campus Vibe

Because of its proximity to Chicago (about 45 minutes on the L train), Northwestern is a great place to be! There is never a shortage of restaurants to try, concerts to see, games to attend, or galleries to visit.

The Evanston Campus is a nice 240 acres and has lots of lovely outdoor spaces. It is right by Lake Michigan, well maintained, and really pleasant to walk around.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

While the professors at Northwestern are top notch, if you can’t get a hold of them there is always a helpful teacher’s assistant who will be willing to meet with to make sure you are excelling in your courses. 

Many undergraduates also choose to live on campus in one of the 18 residence halls or 11 residential colleges. The residence halls are traditional dorms; while the residential colleges are designed emphasize community. However, each has its own faculty fellows and built-in opportunities for students to get to know each other – so you won’t need to worry about making friends.

A Quick Review

Remember the following key things when reviewing Northwestern’s AP® Credit policy: 

•  Northwestern accepts scores of 3, 4 & 5 on the AP® exams for credit.

•  The score requirements vary by department and undergraduate college.

•  You can use your AP® credits to “accelerate” your education.

•  With the professor’s permission, you can use your AP® credits to take higher-level classes sooner.

What are the next steps?

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of taking and acing a bunching of AP® courses, you shouldn’t be. Because all of us at Albert.io are here to help.

You should start by reading our lists of the hardest AP® classes and tests here, and the easiest ones here.

Then, take a look at when to start studying for the AP® exams here. After you’ve done that, head on over to read all about the weighted GPA, so you can be sure to understand how AP® classes affect your class rank and grades.

Best of luck on your AP® journey – and remember to check in with us whenever you need help.

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