What are Northwestern University values?

Northwestern University's core values center on academic freedom, diversity, collaboration, and integrity, promoting an environment for open inquiry, mutual respect, and ethical conduct, with a strong focus on transforming society, fostering community, and driving innovation through interdisciplinary learning and engaged leadership to develop well-rounded individuals and solve complex global challenges.

What are the core values of Northwestern University?

Our Values

• Social Responsibility. We commit ourselves to pursuing a just society for all people through our daily work, our pedagogy, and how we form relationships with students and partners. ...
• Collaboration & Partnership. ...
• Innovation. ...
• Integrity. ...
• Stewardship.

What does Northwestern value in students?

Intellectual Curiosity

Northwestern values students who are intellectually curious. They want to see applicants who explore ideas independently, think deeply, and engage with learning in a meaningful way.

What is the motto of Northwestern University?

Northwestern University's motto is the Latin phrase "Quaecumque Sunt Vera," which translates to "Whatsoever things are true," taken from the Bible's Book of Philippians (4:8) and reflecting the university's commitment to truth, integrity, and intellectual pursuit. 

What's so special about Northwestern University?

Northwestern provides students, faculty, and staff exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal, and professional growth in 12 schools and colleges across three different campuses. Our two main campuses are located on the beautiful and scenic Lake Michigan.

Favorite Things About Northwestern University

Is Northwestern as prestigious as Ivy?

No, Northwestern University isn't an Ivy League school, but it's considered an Ivy equivalent, often ranked alongside or even above some Ivies due to its elite academics, research, strong brand, and selective admissions, making it a top-tier university comparable in prestige to many Ivies. While the Ivy League is a specific athletic conference, Northwestern is a prestigious Big Ten university known as a "Hidden Ivy" or part of the "Ivy Plus" group with schools like Stanford, Duke, and UChicago.
 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Did Meghan Markle go to Northwestern University?

Yes, Meghan Markle attended and graduated from Northwestern University, double-majoring in theater and international relations, and was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She studied there from 1999 to 2003, earning her bachelor's degree from the School of Communication.
 

Is it harder to get into Harvard or Northwestern?

It's significantly harder to get into Harvard than Northwestern, with Harvard's acceptance rate typically being much lower (around 3-6%) compared to Northwestern's (around 7-13%), making Harvard one of the most selective universities in the U.S. and Northwestern also highly selective but comparatively less difficult to get into based on acceptance rates alone. 

What is the #1 university in the world?

There's no single "number 1" university, as rankings vary by methodology, but the University of Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently rank at the very top, with Oxford often #1 in Times Higher Education (THE) 2026 and MIT leading QS 2026 rankings, while Harvard University leads U.S. News rankings for global universities.
 

What is the vibe like at Northwestern?

NU's vibe attracts a certain type of individual that makes students list "the people, the people, the people" as the number one best thing about the school. It seems that Northwestern's exceptional study body of multi-dimensional, engaged learners is a result of two main factors: arts and academics.

Is Northwestern a little ivy?

No, Northwestern isn't a "Little Ivy" in the formal sense (which usually refers to small liberal arts colleges) but is consistently ranked among the top universities, often grouped with "Ivy Plus" schools like Stanford and Duke due to its exceptional academics, highly selective admissions, and prestige, earning it nicknames like the "Ivy of the Midwest". It's a highly respected, private research university, not part of the official Ivy League athletic conference, but academically on par with or surpassing many Ivies. 

What percentage of Northwestern is LGBTQ?

Gender and Sexuality

For the first time ever, more than half of our editorial board identifies as LGBTQ+, at 53.6 percent. These proportions exceed the student body makeup documented by the 2020 Associated Student Government analytics survey, which reported that 25 percent of NU undergraduates identified as LGBTQ+.

What qualities does Northwestern look for?

Achieving a strong academic profile is crucial, such as a 3.75+ GPA, top 10% class rank, and SAT scores above 1500 (or ACT 33+).

What is Northwestern's nickname?

The tradition of Willie the Wildcat was established in 1924 when Wallace Abbey of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "The Northwestern team fought like wildcats yesterday..." The name so expressed the fighting spirit of the team that the name "Wildcats" was officially adopted as the University's athletic nickname.

What is the mission statement of Northeastern University?

Northeastern University was founded more than a century ago with modest beginnings but a clear sense of purpose. Today our mission is more meaningful than ever: To educate students for lives of fulfillment and accomplishment, and to engage in research that improves the world.

Is Northwestern or Duke more prestigious?

In summary, both schools are top-notch, so think about your intended major, campus culture preferences, and extracurricular priorities when making a decision. To make a more informed choice, try visiting both schools if possible, or connecting with current students to get a sense of their overall experiences.

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Why is Northwestern so prestigious?

Northwestern's prestige stems from its elite, interdisciplinary academics (especially in Journalism, Engineering, and Business), high national and global rankings, strong career outcomes for graduates, selective admissions, distinguished faculty, and significant research impact, all within a vibrant campus culture near Chicago, offering a blend of rigorous study and collaborative spirit. Its strong alumni network, producing Nobel laureates, industry leaders, and major media figures, further solidifies its elite status. 

What is Meghan Markle diagnosed with?

Meghan Markle revealed she experienced postpartum preeclampsia, a serious and rare condition involving high blood pressure and potential organ damage that occurred after giving birth to one of her children (Archie or Lilibet). She described it as a "huge medical scare" during her podcast, highlighting the challenges of managing it while navigating new motherhood. There are also discussions about her mental health, with speculation and her own comments on suicidal ideation, isolation, and racism, though these aren't formal diagnoses but rather experiences shared publicly. 

Why did Princess Diana wear a Northwestern sweatshirt?

Coincidentally, Harry's mother Princess Diana once stepped out in a similar sweatshirt, which she picked up on a June 1996 visit to the school, where she appeared at a breast cancer symposium. The trip was intended to raise awareness and funds for Northwestern's Robert H.

What does Kate Middleton have a degree in?

She was educated at St Andrew's School and Marlborough College before earning a degree in art history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she met Prince William in 2001 and graduated in 2005. She held several jobs and pursued charity work before their engagement was announced in November 2010.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche and Business Insider, followed by schools like Florida State University and Tulane University, based on student surveys about campus party culture, access to bars, and Greek life.
 

What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates.