ISSUE ONE
ARCH MAY 5, 2015 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
CONTENTS
Hi new students!
3
UPCOMING DEADLINES
(also, a “hello” to the parents ensuring their students have all the right info!)
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LETTER FROM THE WILDCAT WELCOME BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The wait is over; you are in and we finally have a new group of Wildcats to welcome to our beautiful campus. Many of you are in the midst of graduation, end-of-the-year celebrations, and beginning your summer plans as we move into the final half of spring quarter here on the Evanston campus.
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QUESTIONS FROM YOU, ANSWERED
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LIVING ON CAMPUS; SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION
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INFO ABOUT PRE-WILDCAT WELCOME PROGRAMS
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COMPUTER INFO; INFO FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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PARENT & FAMILY ORIENTATION
As you celebrate the ending of your high school career, we would like to provide you with important information for your next chapter: Northwestern! You will be receiving a book in the mail called Purple Prep in the next few weeks that you will love from cover-to-cover (find out what Purple Prep is in the box below). In addition to Purple Prep, you will receive this March to the Arch e-newsletter the first Tuesday of each month with important updates and reminders, and a few other fun facts to tide you over until you arrive to Wildcat country in September. To say it will be important for you to read each of the emails and newsletters from our office this summer is an understatement; we can’t wait to talk with you and help you navigate a successful summer. The Office of New Student and Family Programs is your go-to resource for anything and everything Northwestern-related so feel free to contact us with any questions you have or even if you are just unsure of where to start. You have a fantastic journey ahead of you, and we are here to ensure you love every minute of it. Welcome to our community; welcome home! The Office of New Student & Family Programs (aka The people that bring you Wildcat Welcome) Northwestern University orientation@northwestern.edu 847-467-3988
JOIN THE CONVERSATION...
NOTE REGARDING ISSUU.COM March to the Arch and Purple Prep are hosted on Issuu, a third party vendor. If you wish to print these publications from Issuu, you are asked to create an Issuu account. However, PDF versions of each March to the Arch issue will be available on the New Student and Family Programs website for printing/downloading purposes. We suggest using Issuu for reviewing and on-the-go reading.
So you always have information handy, we have created a mobile app called First Year Guide (available starting May 11). This app includes your action items, summer info, and campus resources; it will also be updated in September with the Wildcat Welcome schedule and will continue to be updated throughout your first year with timely information and events. Follow the steps below to download First Year Guide. • Search “Student Affairs Events” in the Apple App Store or the Android Marketplace • Open the app, select “Download Guides” at the bottom, and then select “First Year Guide” • For those without an Apple or Android phone, you can view the app in your web browser: guidebook.com
This is Purple Prep. Pretty exciting, right? This is your “go-to” book as a new student this summer. Purple Prep is filled with the action items you need to complete over the summer and other helpful information. You will be receiving this in the mail shortly. We understand you are giddy with excitement to get your hands on this book, so keep a watch on your mailbox! All immediate deadlines included in Purple Prep are also included in this issue of March to the Arch.
UPCOMING DEADLINES DEADLINE DATE
ACTION ITEM
PURPLE PREP PAGE
WEBSITE
IMMEDIATELY
Activate NetID and Northwestern email account; follow NUIT’s setup guidelines for your computer
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NetID
IMMEDIATELY
If you missed the 5/1 housing prepayment deadline, go to the Residential Services website for information or call 847-467-4663
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Residential Services
JUNE 1
If participating, apply for 9PAY installment plan (first payment due 7/1)
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9PAY
JUNE 1
Apply to your choice of CSI-sponsored pre-Wildcat Welcome programs (if participating)
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CSI:Pre-Wildcat Welcome Programs
JUNE 1
Use RoomSync to choose a roommate to include on your housing contract (optional)
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Choose a roommate
JUNE 1 at 5 p.m. CDT
Submit completed housing contract online (for students living on campus)
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Housing Contract
The complete master checklist can be seen on the Class of 2019 website. You can even subscribe to our online calendar; link it to your @u.northwestern email account (powered by Google) and then to your iCal or your mobile device for a seamless experience!
GET CONNECTED
WILDCAT WELCOME ONLINE We have a few ways for you to keep in touch over the summer and to find out more information about your upcoming Northwestern experience! From Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest, we want to keep you informed in every way possible. Facebook: there is a Class of 2019 group just for you; while you’re at it, “Like” the Wildcat Welcome page, too!
Twitter: Follow, and interact with us, on Twitter. Information, fun facts, and photos galore adorn our feed. #NU2019
Tumblr: Our Tumblr will be updated every Monday with Vine videos of your Peer Advisers along with their insider tips while Wednesdays will be for NU-related info and facts.
Instagram: Our Instagram includes stunning photos from around campus, including old NU photos every Thursday for #TBT! Find us: @wildcatwelcome
Snapchat: Add us on Snapchat to get insider pics and videos over the summer and during Wildcat Welcome! Add: “wildcatwelcome”.
Pintrest: Pin away with Wildcat Welcome. Our boards will be updated throughout the summer with helpful resources and tools for incoming students.
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WELCOME FELLOW WILDCATS! Dear Fellow Wildcats, Welcome to the Northwestern family! First off, congratulations on getting here! We’ve been waiting for you, the Class of 2019 & Transfers, for a long time, and we are excited for the wild ride that you’re about to embark on. We had the chance to meet some of you at Wildcat Days, where you got to mingle with your future classmates and see the enthusiasm, creativity and plenty of purple that is headed your way. For others, we have loved meeting you and sharing in your excitement through the Facebook group, your heartwarming Instagram posts and fun Snapchats. But that’s just the beginning. Northwestern is a place where you will grow, find your passion and write your own narrative. You will meet peers who will inspire you every day, as you inspire those around you. The people and the community that you find here are truly what make Northwestern special. We know this time is one of anticipation and eagerness -- for you and us! And although the start of your first year may seem like a ways off, you’ll be here in no time! So, we’re going to give you a glimpse into what’s happening right now on campus, and what you have to look forward to in the coming months. As we head into May, students are finding themselves searching for open space amongst the crowds hanging out on the Lakefill, soaking in the sun and marveling at the Chicago skyline. They might even do a little homework, too, if they want to free up their evenings for time to support their classmates on campus at a capella performances, sporting events and theater shows that are constantly buzzing around campus. The most anticipated event of the season, though, is Dillo Day, a day of happiness and pure bliss. Put on by the student group Mayfest, the all-day music festival is a chance for students to come together and celebrate in the onset of summer. We can’t wait to see who’s going to join in the ranks of Charli XCX when the final line-up is released, eeep! We’ve been in your shoes before, and we know that you’re probably counting the days until move-in. So until then, we’ve got a bunch of great things headed your way so you can get pumped and learn about the community you are about to become a part of. We mentioned a few of our social media platforms, one of which is the Class of 2019 Facebook group. If you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to join and continue interacting with your peers there. We will also be posting some fun nuggets of communication in the group as well as on our Wildcat Welcome Facebook and Instagram pages, so stay tuned! Later in the summer, you will get a friendly welcome from a fellow Wildcat known as a Peer Adviser (PA). Your PA is a current Northwestern student who will guide you throughout the summer, remind you of deadlines, teach you the fight song, answer all your questions, and help support you during Wildcat Welcome and your entire first year. Your PA couldn’t be more excited to meet and get to know you (y’all are pretty much superstars, so why wouldn’t they), and you’ll be hearing from them in July (Weinberg, you’ll have to wait until August!). We have been working non-stop with the Office of New Student and Family Programs to plan the best welcome for you to the Wildcat pack. We can’t say it enough, but we, and the entire community, are so excited to meet you all, and for you to finally find your home at Northwestern. We’ll see you in a few months, but until then, you know where to find us on Facebook. Don’t hesitate to reach out! Go ‘Cats, The Wildcat Welcome Board of Directors
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOARD
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QUESTIONS FROM YOU Do you have questions about NU life, academics, Evanston, or even Chicago? We’ll answer them! Post your question/send us a message on Facebook or Twitter to potentially be included in the June 2 edition of March to the Arch.
CLASS REGISTRATION “When do we sign-up for classes?” Ennely Medina You will not register for fall quarter courses until you undergo two days of advising with your Peer Adviser and your Academic Advisor during Wildcat Welcome. You may have friends going to other institutions who are talking about selecting classes over the summer; you are not behind or missing anything, we promise…you’ll wait until Wildcat Welcome. If you have any questions regarding academics, feel free to contact the advising office of your specific school.
AP SCORES AND PLACEMENT EXAMS “Thinking about everything we are doing in school right now, do AP scores matter?” Zoe So This is a fantastic question and one we get all the time. Pages 22-23 of Purple Prep give you a thorough rundown of placement exams. First, you can find how AP/IB credit counts in your school by visiting our website. If you are double majoring, you will use the guidelines of your “home” school. Secondly, online Northwestern placement exams are available June 1 through July 31 (unless otherwise indicated), so you have some time to figure out what works for your specific situation. Take a look at the Placement Exams webpage; this will let you know what to expect. If you have further questions, contact information for the appropriate department is listed! Please note that all engineering students must take a math placement exam regardless of AP scores by July 31, 2015.
MOVE-IN DAY “When can we start registering for housing and how does that work?” Cary Jones You’ll find everything you need to know about the housing process on the Residential Services website (and in Purple Prep, once it arrives)! You have until June 1, 2015 to complete the housing contract, which is the first step (and a pretty big one). Residential Services is providing you with access to RoomSync, a Facebook app to help match you with a roommate, that we think is pretty great and really easy. If you have any questions regarding the process, do not hesitate to contact Residential Services at 847-467-4663 or freshman-housing@northwestern.edu.
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LIVING AT NORTHWESTERN CONTRACTING FOR HOUSING If you haven’t submitted your Housing Contract, you must do so by June 1 at 5 p.m. For access to the housing contract, use your NetID and password to login to RMS. If you are having difficulties with the contract, contact Residential Services at 847-467-4663 or at freshman-housing@northwestern.edu.
ROOMMATES ALREADY HAVE A ROOMMATE IN MIND? If you already have a roommate in mind, request him or her by name on the contract. Your intended roommate must do the same—that is, request you on his or her contract. You’ll need to devise and specify a roommate pull-in passcode at RMS to enable Residential Services to honor the request and expedite your room selection. USE ROOMSYNC TO FIND A ROOMMATE? If you haven’t identified a room¬mate but would like to choose one, you have the option to use the Facebook-based RoomSync app. (A Facebook account is required.) To start your roommate search, go to apps.facebook.com/roomsync and use the access code provided by Residential Services in a mid-May email message. Once you have identified and successfully “synced” with a roommate, the roommate’s name is automatically uploaded to your housing contract. You’ll need to devise and specify a roommate pull-in passcode at rms.resservices.northwestern.edu to enable Residential Services to expedite your room selection. DON’T WANT TO USE ROOMSYNC? If you do not have a roommate in mind and would prefer not use RoomSync, Residential Services will randomly match you with a roommate based on the room and roommate preference information you provide on the housing contract.
ROOM SELECTION From June 29 through July 17, students self-select their rooms according to priority numbers assigned by Residential Services. Please keep in mind that when assigning these numbers, Residential Services gives preference to students who indicate their confirmed roommate on their housing contracts. Early or Regular Decision status is not a factor in housing decisions. For more questions regarding housing, the roommate process, or the logistics of room selection, contact Residential Services at 847-467-4663, at freshmanhousing@northwestern.edu, or by visiting their website: northwestern.edu /living/ housing-assignments/contract-now/new-students
HELPFUL LINKS:
KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS MONDAYS We’ll introduce a handful of Peer Advisers (current students that will be working with you during the summer, Wildcat Welcome, and your first year) each Monday. They’ll give you their personal insight of what to expect alongside their own Vine!
FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH You’ll receive this handy, dandy March to the Arch e-newsletter; consider it required reading…this is the only place we will include NU and new student updates and reminders that are delivered directly to your email inbox.
WILDCAT WEDNESDAYS A new reminder/important to-do item, NU fun fact, or a Board of Directors-produced video will be posted in the Class of 2019 Facebook group and on our Tumblr each Wednesday. The second-tolast Wednesday of each month we’ll host a Google Hangout for you to watch, which will include current students to answer your questions.
THURSDAYS Follow us on Instagram? We’ll be digging through the archives to post old photos of NU or Wildcat Welcome as part of Throwback Thursdays. #TBT
PURPLE FRIDAYS Each Friday we’ll post a new Snapchat story from campus or purple-related stories from around the globe; be sure to add us: “wildcatwelcome”
What to bring | Housing Process | Residential Services Contact Information MARCH TO THE ARCH
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PREWe understand, you are anxious for your first taste of Northwestern. You probably have a countdown calendar on your wall (if you are reading this today, you should be at 129 days and counting) and your purple gear stocked-up and ready to go. An option that some students choose to lessen that 129 number by a few is to participate in one of the many Pre-Wildcat Welcome programs. Pages 38-39 of Purple Prep include information about all of these programs, but we have included a short rundown of the programs below.
S M A R G O R P
If you are interested in applying for ASB, CATalyst, FUP, or P-Wild, visit the New Student & Family Programs website to learn more. NOTE: Deadline dates have been updated from the printing of Purple Prep. Please follow the deadline dates on this page and on our website as they are most accurate.
CATALYST
DATE September 7-11 COST $275 APPLICATION AVAILABLE Now! DEADLINE June 1
increase level of self-awareness, communication, & leadership skills CATalyst is a leadership development program that packs the fun and excitement of being a first-year Wildcat into a five-day experience. Through CATalyst, you will start Wildcat Welcome equipped with more and better knowledge of Northwestern life—as well as new friendships—than most students get all quarter.
Catalyst
FRESHMAN URBAN PROGRAM (FUP)
engage in social & political issues of Chicago with 90 of your closest friends FUP challenges new Wildcats to discover the story of Chicago through a week of service, neighborhood visits, and group discussions. Get to know the issues facing the city—polarizing politics, urban planning and public education challenges, criminal justice issues, etc.—and meet the people who make the city thrive. Most important, learn how to stay connected to Chicago through volunteering.
DATE September 5-11 COST $250 APPLICATION AVAILABLE Now! DEADLINE August 15
Freshman Urban Program
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION
DATE September 9-11 COST N/A APPLICATION AVAILABLE May 15 DEADLINE August 31
The four-day International Student Orientation (ISO) is a mandatory program exclusively for incoming international undergraduates, including international transfer students, US citizens who have lived abroad (“third culture kids”), and any other students who may benefit from the orientation. Move-in day for ISO participants is September 9, when arriving students go directly to their assigned residence halls to formally check in.
International Office
jumpstart your NU experience & network with fellow new international students
In addition to providing vital information about immigration, US academic culture, and Northwestern traditions and student life, ISO will introduce students to Evanston and Chicago, include activities for parents and family members, and allow time for making new friends and settling in.
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ALTERNATIVE STUDENT BREAKS
increase awareness of social needs & encourage lifelong civic engagement Spend a week traveling the Midwest to visit nonprofit organizations, get hands-on service-learning experience, and learn about communities from the people who live there. Students are accompanied by two trained site leaders who facilitate the activities.
FIRST NIGHT AT SHEIL
celebrate mass, paint the Rock, enjoy the heart of NU Catholic life Sheil Catholic Center invites you to spend the night before move-in day with fellow first-year students, returning students, and the fantastic staff at Sheil, who welcome you with Mass, a BBQ and bonfire, games, and other activities.
PROJECT WILDCAT (P-WILD)
form close bonds, backpack, camp, explore the nature-based adventure Project Wildcat is a leadership program that brings a small group of new Wildcats together for a week of backpacking, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors with two trained student counselors. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime!
DATE September 3-11 COST $215 APPLICATION AVAILABLE Now! DEADLINE June 1
ASBNU
DATE September 10-11 COST Free APPLICATION AVAILABLE May 1 DEADLINE September 3
Sheil Catholic Center
DATE September 3-11 COST $350+rentals APPLICATION AVAILABLE Now! DEADLINE June 1
Project Wildcat
NU HILLEL’S FRESHMAN FEST
DATE September 10-11 COST $36 APPLICATION AVAILABLE June DEADLINE September 12
NU Hillel, the home of more than 15 Jewish student groups on campus, welcomes new students to its annual Freshman Fest. The event blends friendship, feasting, and fun with opportunities to get the inside scoop on Jewish life at Northwestern, the campus social scene, sports, Greek life, the most sought-after courses, and much more.
NU Hillel
friendship, feasting, fun & awareness of the Jewish life at Northwestern
CRU’S LAUNCH
build your faith, leadership, and friendships
DATE September 10-11 COST $35 DEADLINE July 20
NU Cru’s
Cru’s (a faith-based organization) overnight program is dedicated to building leadership skills, strengthening your faith, and creating lasting friendships- even before you step foot on campus.
*Programs listed with an end date of September 11 will end the morning of Move-in Day. Students and family members will rejoin one another that morning to begin move-in day activities. It should be noted that students participating in Project Wildcat will not have the opportunity to shower before meeting with family members on Move-in Day (nose plugs not included!). **Please note that participating in a Pre-Wildcat Welcome Program does not allow students to move into their residence hall prior to new student Move-in Day on September 11. Many students participating in these programs will either have their personal items shipped to campus in advance or their family members will bring them to campus on Move-in Day.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Hi to our new friends outside of the United States! We could not be more thrilled that you will be joining our community and are looking forward to meeting you in September. We want to ensure all of your needs are addressed so you can meet all appropriate deadlines and make it to Evanston for a successful start to your tenure at Northwestern. Your main point of contact for any and all questions will be the International Office at Northwestern; questions about visas, documentation, travel, and other areas should be directed to them. Their email address is intoff@northwestern.edu; you will be hearing from them over the summer. Purple Prep has been sent via FedEx to the new international students so please be expecting this shipment within the next few weeks. We will be sharing an online version of Purple Prep with you the week of May 18; be sure you visit the Class of 2019 webpage to view the master checklist so you do not miss any items. Please note those with I-20 or DS-2019 documentation will be required to attend International Student Orientation September 9-11, 2015; other international students are also invited to attend. You will need to register for International Student Orientation by visiting the form on the International Office’s website. We cannot wait to see you on campus for International Student Orientation September 9-11 and then Wildcat Welcome September 11-20! The Office of New Student and Family Programs orientation@northwestern.edu northwestern.edu/orientation The International Office intoff@northwestern.edu northwestern.edu/international
*Financial support, in the form of loans, may be available for purchasing a laptop or required electronic technology if you have applied for aid.
So, you’re thinking about buying a
NEW COMPUTER?
For those planning to purchase a computer/laptop* before arriving to Northwestern, NUIT (Northwestern University Information Technology) has a few recommendations as you are out shopping. This information can also be found on page 18 of Purple Prep.
HARDWARE RECOMMENDATIONS www.it.northwestern.edu/hardware/
STUDENT DISCOUNTS www.it.northwestern.edu/software/students/
Northwestern offers software that is either free for download or available for the best prices around (prices subject to change).
6 STEPS TO GETTING CONNECTED www.it.northwestern.edu/students/getstarted.html
1 Activate your NetID 2 Activate your e-mail 3 Get control of your computer security 4 Get connected for Internet access 5 Contact tech support 6 Stay in touch
SCHOOL SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS The School of Communication, School of Education & Social Policy, and Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences should meet the NUIT guidelines listed in the above “Hardware recommendations.” MEDILL: Review the following webpage before purchasing hardware/software: Medill IT MCCORMICK: NUIT guidelines are sufficient for hardware. Matlab software (Purple Prep p.34). BIENEN: Computers should be equipped to play streamed media with software such as QuickTime or Flash.
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WELCOME, FAMILY MEMBERS Hello Parents and Family Members! Welcome to the Northwestern community and more importantly, the Wildcat Family! We have some terrific materials and programs prepared for you during your son/daughter’s tenure at Northwestern. Purple Prep will be arriving in the mail soon so take some time to review it with your student so you have an idea of the items that they must complete prior to their arrival on campus in September. We will offer several Parent & Family Webinars throughout the summer to help plan for your transition (the first to be held on May 17 at 5 p.m. CDT with Residential Services, families will receive log-in instructions by email on May 15), and by the end of July, you will receive a Parent and Family Handbook as well as a calendar you can hang proudly on your wall. If this newsletter was not sent directly from us to your email inbox, it means you are not on the parent and family email distribution list; the mailing list will provide you with some fantastic information, including the monthly Wildcat Family Focus e-newsletter. Instructions on how to join are included on this page. We are sure you are already planning your trip to Evanston if you will be helping your student move in on September 11. You will receive more information about actual move-in later this summer, but we also want to highlight the Parent & Family Orientation (PFO) schedule to make planning travel a bit easier. We do not have agreements with any local hotels, so feel free to book a room using a third-party website (the city of Skokie is a close alternative to hotels in Evanston) as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, please bookmark the New Student and Family Programs website as there is a portion specifically for family members that hosts a great deal of information you need; it will be updated periodically throughout the summer. Also, do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have by emailing family@northwestern.edu.
PARENT & FAMILY ORIENTATION We have created programming specifically for you, the family members, which will happen con-currently with the new student schedule during Wildcat Welcome, September 11-13. The tentative schedule is below; greater detail can be found on the orientation website.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 8AM to 4PM: Move-in Day 1PM to 3:30PM: Residential College Master’s Reception for Family Members 5PM to 8PM: President’s Welcome and Reception for Family Members
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 The weekend will kick-off with the Northwestern football game and a variety of orientation events for family members on Saturday such as meeting with academic school deans, a campus resource fair, and a session with the Dean of Students; events conclude for family’s with March Through the Arch from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Sunday immediately followed by Kiss’n’Bye (a time for family goodbyes) until 3 p.m.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PARENT MAILING LIST
We look forward to seeing you in September!
1 Visit the Parents and Family Email List Registration Form
Best Regards,
2 Select the “Class of 2019” option
Patricia F. Hilkert Director of New Student and Family Programs
3 Hit “Submit” 4 You are finished. Pretty simple, right?
QUESTIONS? Call us at 847-467-3988
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