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As of the 2024-2025 application cycle, Northwestern University is no longer offering alumni interviews. However, high school students from the US and abroad are able to record a 60-90 minute video to submit as part of their application. Here’s how to make the most of this optional application material to increase your chances of admission.
The Northwestern Alumni Interview
The new video application component allows the admissions committee to get deeper insights into prospective students. As the alumni interviews used to do in prior application cycles, the video serves as an opportunity to go beyond the college application process and learn more about the individual. The alumni interview helps shape the admissions decision and brings a candidate’s application to life.
The interview allows candidates to showcase their personality, passions, and potential contributions to the Northwestern community. It is a chance to make a lasting impression and demonstrate why they are a perfect fit for the university.
Directions
On its site, Northwestern outlines the following guidelines for the application interview:
“While our application volume is such that we cannot offer interviews, students applying from US high schools are welcome to record a Glimpse video if you wish to add a more candid voice to your application. (Students applying from international high schools can skip ahead to learn about a similar opportunity through InitialView.)
Glimpse allows you to share a 60–90 second video helping us get to know you better: your values, your perspectives, your background or experiences—whatever you feel matters and may not otherwise come through fully in your other application materials. These videos are entirely optional, and students who choose not to submit a Glimpse video are at no disadvantage in the review process. For more information about Glimpse, including information about Glimpse fee waivers and collaborations with Community-Based Organizations, please visit the Glimpse website here.
For students applying from international high schools, Northwestern accepts interviews from InitialView. Similar to Glimpse videos, InitialView interviews are not required and applicants without one are at no disadvantage in our review process. InitialView does not review or rate the interviews. Evaluation is done only by members of the admissions committee and provides an additional source of information and perspective about your English language proficiency, personal qualities, academic interests, and potential fit for Northwestern.”
Deadlines
Your Northwestern Glimpse and InitiatlView videos must be submitted by November 7 for Early Decision or January 17 for Regular Decision.
The Role of the Video in the Admissions Process
The alumni interview used to provide a personal touch to the admissions process, and the video is attempting to do much the same. It allows the university to assess a student’s fit within their community, determine their potential contributions, and validate the information provided in their application. It also helps Northwestern measure a student’s genuine interest in the institution and the extent to which they align with its values and objectives.
During this video, delve deeper into your experiences, interests, and aspirations. Instead of an interviewer asking thought-provoking questions like gauging your intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills, and ability to think critically, you have an open 60-90 seconds to highlight what you want the admissions committee to see.
Remember – this is still the only live part of the application. Everything else, including the personal statement/essays, resume, transcript, test scores, etc. is provided on a piece of paper. This is your chance to show your humanness.
Expert Tip: Top schools really care about yield, or the proportion of people extended an offer that ends up choosing to attend. They want to let people in who genuinely want to go there and will accept that offer of admission if extended. In your interview, it's absolutely imperative that you demonstrate this. Show that you are committed to the school and will be a good cultural fit.
What Northwestern University Looks for in Candidates
Northwestern University seeks candidates who not only demonstrate academic excellence but also exhibit intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to both personal and community growth. Note that you can highlight different pieces of yourself during different areas of the application. For example, your ACT/SAT scores show that academic excellence piece. Your extracurricular activities show your leadership potential. Your recommendation letters highlight who you are compared to other high school students and from a third-person perspective.
During the video, the admissions committee has the chance to see you articulate your interests, passions, and goals while highlighting the attributes that align with the university's values. They’re looking to get to know you as a person, rather than a sheet of accomplishments, grades, and SAT scores.
It is important to remember that Northwestern values diversity and seeks students who will contribute to the vibrant and inclusive campus community. The video provides an opportunity for candidates to showcase their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The university wants to see how they can enrich the Northwestern community and make a positive impact on campus.
Expert Tip: At the end of the day, the university wants candidates who will make the school a better place. This can be conveyed in different ways and should align with the candidate’s personal narrative and aspirations.
A coach can be hugely beneficial in helping to figure out this story and how to convey it to the admissions committee. Here are several professional college admissions coaches with experience at Northwestern:
- Skyler – Former Northwestern admissions committee, full-time admissions coach, 100+ students admitted to top universities
- Sowa – Northwestern BA in Economics/Psychology, Stanford GSB MBA and student body co-class president
- David – Northwestern BA in Economics/History, Northwestern MBA, ex-Teach for America/LEK Consulting
How To Prepare For Your Northwestern Video
Preparing for your Northwestern University application video is similar to the process of preparing for the application as a whole and how we used to recommend applicants prepare for the alumni interview: it involves thorough research, introspection, and practice. By investing time and effort into this preparation, you can confidently showcase your potential as a Northwestern candidate. Here’s a walkthrough of some things to do to get ready:
1. Research the school
Before the video, familiarize yourselves with Northwestern University's mission, academic programs, and extracurricular offerings. Understand its unique culture and values to ensure their responses align with the institution's ethos. This research will lend credibility to their interest and allow for meaningful discussions during the interview.
When researching Northwestern, explore the university's core values, such as intellectual curiosity, diversity, and social responsibility. Consider how these values resonate with one’s own beliefs and experiences (and plans!). By understanding and embracing Northwestern's values, a candidate can demonstrate their alignment with the university's mission and contribute to its vibrant community.
Start by researching the university as a whole:
- Visit Northwestern University's official website
- Navigate through sections such as "About Us," "Mission & Values," and "Our Community."
- Locate the university's mission statement
- Pay close attention to keywords and phrases that emphasize core values.
- Follow Northwestern University's official social media accounts on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram
- Observe the types of content shared and the messaging used to understand the university's values.
Then look into the majors and minors, curriculums, campus experience, news, and other sources that give you insight into what it would actually be like to be a student at Northwestern:
The university website is a primary source of official information about Northwestern University. By navigating through sections such as "About Us," "Mission & Values," and "Our Community," students gain direct insight into the institution's stated values and ethos. This helps students form an understanding of what Northwestern values, which they can then align with their interview responses.
For example, on its home page, the school lists explicitly "Explore what makes us Northwestern." Listed are several important values to pay attention to: Diversity & Inclusion, Powerful Collaborations, Global Engagement, and High-Impact Research. Check out this video to learn more.
Mission statements often encapsulate an organization's core values and guiding principles. By carefully examining Northwestern University's mission or vision statement, students can pinpoint keywords and phrases that signify the institution's values. Understanding these values enables students to tailor their interview responses to resonate with Northwestern's mission.
Social media also provides a dynamic platform where universities showcase their culture, values, and community engagement. By following Northwestern University's official accounts, students can observe firsthand how the institution communicates its values to a wider audience. This insight allows students to align their interview responses with the tone and messaging prevalent in Northwestern's online presence.
Expert Tip: Connect with current students and alumni to hear about their experience at the school. Ask about what they enjoyed, what resources they leveraged, how they found success and the impact that the school had on their professional journey. Finding alumni/students in your target major/career path can be especially helpful. We highly recommend you do this before you get too far into your Northwestern application and video submission. Not only will it provide you with real insight into this important life decision, but it will show the admissions committee your commitment to the school and give you some great topics to discuss in your application materials.
Once you've done this research, take some time to think about how the school's values, programs and offerings, extracurriculars, community, and opportunities align with your beliefs and aspirations. Your thoughts should show a deep understanding of the school's unique features but also be personalized to your goals and needs.
2. List academic interests, extracurricular activities, and accomplishments
A candidate should take time to reflect on their academic journey and extracurricular involvements. Consider how your experiences have shaped who you are as a person and your aspirations for the future. Then, identify compelling anecdotes that demonstrate growth, challenges overcome, and lessons learned as this will help craft impactful responses during the interview. Here are some brainstorming prompts to guide reflections:
Academics
- Reflect on standout moments in your academic career. Were there specific classes or subjects that were particularly inspiring?
- Think about any academic challenges that you faced and how you overcame them. What did you learn? How did you grow/change because of them?
- Consider how your academic and personal experiences have shaped your goals and aspirations for the future.
Extracurriculars
- What are all the different extracurriculars you’ve been involved with – clubs, sports, community service, etc? Why did you join them?
- When did you have opportunities for leadership in them?
- How have your extracurricular activities influenced your personal growth? What impact have they had on you and your goals? How will you bring these interests to the diverse backgrounds of your potential student body at Northwestern?
During the video, you can share specific examples of how your academic and extracurricular experiences have prepared you for success at Northwestern. Here are some potential talking points to incorporate into interview responses. These are examples to be used as inspiration; what you focus on should be related to what you, uniquely and specifically, bring to the table and are excited about. Don’t paint the picture of what you think they want to see. Your superpower is what makes you, you.
- Passion for Learning – Discuss academic projects, research opportunities, or moments during high school that ignited your curiosity and pushed you to explore new ideas. Highlight how specific academic subjects, mentors, or experiences have shaped your intellectual journey and inspired your pursuit of excellence in learning.
- Balancing Commitments – Share examples of managing a demanding schedule that includes your academic course load, extracurricular leadership, and personal responsibilities. Focus on how you developed strong time management skills, prioritized effectively, and maintained a commitment to your goals without compromising quality.
- Dedication to Personal Growth – Talk about a meaningful challenge you faced, how you tackled it, and the lessons you learned along the way. Highlight how the experience helped you grow as a student, leader, or teammate, showcasing resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from setbacks.
3. Think about common questions
This application component is no longer an alumni interview, so no one is asking you questions. But, thinking about questions someone might want to know about you can be a helpful way to brainstorm topics
Also, practice makes perfect, and the video submission is no exception. Practice with friends, family, or peers to gain confidence and figure out the best possible narrative. By doing so, you will be better equipped with the right anecdotes to navigate the video fluidly and coherently.
Here are a couple of the most common questions that the alumni interviews used to ask and our tips on brainstorming answers.
“Why Northwestern?”
- Focus on genuine, highly personal motivations. If someone else could answer the exact same way, the answer is not personal enough.
- Highlight specific interests in programs or opportunities. Is there a specific professor whose research was really insightful and interesting? What about a club or group to join (or start)? Any unique classes that would be exciting to take?
- Always align it with your unique goals and aspirations. You want to make sure that you are clearly showcasing their understanding of what Northwestern has to offer.
“Tell me about yourself”
- Provide a brief overview, focusing on what is most important to one’s story. This should not be a rote regurgitation of one’s resume. What makes you, you?
- Highlight relevant experiences. Another way to think about this question is, "Who are you, and why should we care?" Highlighting interesting, unique experiences targets the latter half of that question.
- Always bring it back to Northwestern. Draw connections between experiences and interests and how they align with Northwestern's values and offerings.
Other common questions include:
- What did you like about your school and community? What would you change about it?
- What do you want to major in and why?
- What challenges have you overcome?
- When have you worked with a team to achieve something?
Think about the follow-ups to these questions! A lot of times in the interview, the interviewer would ask a preliminary question and then ask students to expand upon their response, providing more details, going deeper, or looking at it differently.
How to Conduct Yourself During the Video
During the Northwestern University alumni interview, it is crucial to make a positive impression and effectively communicate one’s qualities. Keep these tips in mind to conduct oneself in a manner that aligns with the university's expectations.
Be authentic
In its guidelines, Northwestern offers a glimpse into what it’s looking for in these videos when it says: “Share a 60–90 second video helping us get to know you better: your values, your perspectives, your background or experiences—whatever you feel matters and may not otherwise come through fully in your other application materials.”
Take these guidelines to heart. Think about your application and what you wish you had space for but didn’t include in your personal statement/essays, recommendation letters, etc. You have, presumably, four years of interesting experiences. What will help the admissions committee get to know you better?
Communicate effectively and authentically
Effective communication is key to a successful interview. Listen actively and respond thoughtfully to each question. Speak clearly, express thoughts coherently, and maintain eye contact to establish rapport with the interviewer. Authenticity is equally important, so a candidate must be themselves and let their passion for Northwestern shine through.
Show your enthusiasm for Northwestern University
Throughout the interview, showcase your enthusiasm for attending Northwestern University. Highlight specific campus programs or initiatives that align with your interests. Express genuine excitement about becoming an integral part of the Northwestern community and contributing to the university's vibrant culture.
Remember: A candidate’s behavior in the interview will be perceived as a direct representation of how they will be as a Northwestern student. They must present themselves as organized, prepared, and thoughtful.
Key Takeaways
- Thoroughly research Northwestern's mission, values, and unique offerings to align your application materials and videos effectively.
- Practice your script to refine your response and build confidence. Make sure to have powerful anecdotes and examples ready to go.
- Be yourself. Use the video to highlight experiences not elsewhere listed in your application.
Get Into College With the Help of an Expert
There are tons of things a candidate can do on their own to prepare for their application. However, nothing beats the advice and support of someone with admissions committee experience who has helped tons of people submit the most compelling applications possible. Here are some of Leland’s most popular coaches, browse all of them here.
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FAQs
Does a Northwestern alumni interview matter?
- Your Northwestern interview matters. Though optional, it can provide an additional perspective on who you are as a person. Your Northwestern interview also lets you learn more about the school and what it can offer you. All Northwestern interviews are done virtually with volunteers from the Alumni Admission Council.
What to wear to a Northwestern interview?
- For both men and women, the professional standard is to wear a two-piece, matched suit. A well-tailored or fitted suit will help you present yourself professionally and con- fidently.
What do Northwestern admissions officers look for?
- There are eight factors that Northwestern University ranks as being ``very important'' to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, and talent/ability.
Does Northwestern meet 100% of demonstrated need?
- Their commitment to affordability begins with financial aid that meets 100% of every student's demonstrated financial need.
Does Northwestern interview every applicant?
- For students applying from international high schools, Northwestern accepts interviews from InitialView. Similar to Glimpse videos, InitialView interviews are not required and applicants without one are at no disadvantage in our review process.
What is Northwestern looking for in applicants?
- To be a competitive candidate at Northwestern, you should have a GPA between 3.9 and 40 and minimum SAT/ACT scores of 1530 and 34, respectively. Successful applicants also have relevant extracurricular activities, a compelling essay, and strong recommendations.
What does it mean to get an interview at Northwestern?
- An interview gives you the opportunity to share your story; eg what you like to study, your activities outside of school, or something you might not be able to explain in the application. The interview also allows you to ask questions about Northwestern's academic programs and to learn more about us.
What does Northwestern prioritize?
- To help put Northwestern's ambitions into action, President Michael Schill last year announced a set of priorities that embody the University's commitments to global eminence in research, innovation, and education, and the strengthening of its communities across three campuses.
How difficult is it to get into Northwestern?
- The Northwestern acceptance rate is 7%, making it one of the most competitive universities in the world. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is
Does legacy matter at Northwestern?
- While being a legacy applicant can have a positive effect on your admission chances at Northwestern, it's important to remember that the impact varies and is not a guarantee of admission. Legacy status is just one factor that admissions officers consider in the holistic review process.
What is Northwestern best known for?
- Northwestern University Northwestern is a leading research university that is home to more than 90 school-based centers and 35 University research centers. With an interdisciplinary culture, our research spans a spectrum of areas including neuroscience, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and drug discovery.
How many international students does Northwestern accept?
- According to U.S. News & World Report, Northwestern University's acceptance rate for international students is 7%. This means that the university is most selective when it comes to admissions.
What degree is Northwestern known for?
- The school is particularly well-known for its programs in communication and journalism, engineering and technology, business and economics, life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences.
How long are Northwestern interviews?
- The interview lasted about 45 minutes.
Is Northwestern as prestigious as Ivy?
- Northwestern, though not an Ivy League school, holds a highly prestigious reputation. It's a member of the Big Ten Conference and is a part of the Association of American Universities (a group of 63 leading research universities in the United States and Canada).
