How to Apply to Northwestern University for Life Sciences and Pre-Med Study: Choose an Undergraduate School, Declare a Major by the End of Sophomore Year, Biological Sciences, Neuroscience and Global Health Studies, Test-Optional, and How Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants Are Treated

Northwestern University is in Evanston, Illinois, and runs on quarters (three a year; tuition is billed per quarter). The site says every applicant must choose one of six undergraduate schools. The life-science and health-related majors are mainly in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS), with a few options in the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), the School of Communication and the engineering school. The U.S. has no pre-med major; Health Professions Advising (HPA) handles pre-health advising. Below are the points for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, then transfer students.

1. Which majors fit, and in which school

• Biological Sciences (WCAS): the catalog lists 10.02 units of program courses; concentrations are Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Human Health and Disease, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Computational and Systems Biology, Molecular Neurobiology and Interdisciplinary Biology.
• Neuroscience (WCAS): offered by the Department of Neurobiology, with five “allied fields” (Biology, Chemistry, Computation and Systems Modeling, Human Behavior and Cognition, Language and Human Communication). The department says it is “very common” for premedical students to major in Neuroscience.
• Global Health Studies: an adjunct major that must be taken with a separate primary major, 11 courses; students newly declaring from fall 2026 also complete an experiential learning requirement.
• Human Development in Context (SESP): 42 units with a one-quarter practicum in junior year; more social-science in character and only mentioned here. The School of Communication also lists a Human Communication Sciences major.
• Others: the majors list also tags Cognitive Science, Psychology, Environmental Sciences and Science in Human Culture as “Health / Medicine”; Biomedical Engineering is in the McCormick engineering school and only mentioned here.
• The lists we read show no nursing degree. Whether each major is STEM and its degree name (BA or BS) were not stated per major on the pages we read.
• Combined programs: the only one the pages describe is the Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program (NUPSP), an early acceptance route to Feinberg School of Medicine for current Northwestern students who apply at the start of junior year. We did not find a BS/MD program for high school applicants.

2. How admission works: choose a school, declare a major by the end of sophomore year

• Applying: you must choose one of six undergraduate schools; the site suggests the school that houses your intended primary major. It says the schools are not restrictive, and taking classes, double majoring or minoring across schools is common.
• “Undecided”: you may apply Undecided to Weinberg, McCormick or SESP, and the site says it is the most common “major” among applicants. Undecided students declare by the end of sophomore year.
• Declaring Biological Sciences: fill in the declaration form with a concentration, the department approves it and forwards it to Weinberg; declaring as early as possible, ideally by the end of sophomore year, is encouraged, and the latest is when you petition to graduate. Entry conditions (GPA, grades) are not stated on the pages we read.
• Biological Sciences courses (catalog): seven core courses (Molecular Biology BIOL_SCI 201 or Fundamentals of Biological Mechanisms 239; Cell Biology 202 or 240; Genetics and Evolution 203 or 241; laboratories 232, 233 and 234; Principles of Biochemistry 301), two 300-level BIOL_SCI electives and three courses in a concentration. Related courses: a chemistry sequence (CHEM 110/131/132, 151/152 or 171/172), organic chemistry (215-1, 215-2 or accelerated 217-1, 217-2), calculus (MATH 218-3 or 220-2), one statistics course (BIOL_SCI 337, STAT 202 or another approved course) and a physics sequence (130, 135 or 140). The degree page says no distance-learning or online course can count toward the major, while in-person transfer courses of the same number can.
• Neuroscience major (new requirements for students entering from fall 2026): related courses are one biology course (BIOL_SCI 201 or 239), a general chemistry sequence with labs, an introductory physics sequence, calculus, one programming course and one statistics course; two core courses (NEUROSCI 202 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, 206 Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience); and four electives (two from Group A, human behavior and the brain, and two from Group B, molecular, cellular and systems mechanisms). Students who entered before 1 June 2026 may follow the old list or switch.
• Honors and research: Biological Sciences has an honors program and research-for-credit courses (BIOL_SCI 398, 399); Neuroscience also has honors. Places and selection are not stated on the pages we read.
• Internal transfer between majors: not described separately on the pages we read.

3. The pre-med route

• The site says most students interested in medicine follow pre-med as an advising track; they may choose any major while taking the science courses medical schools require. HPA serves current undergraduates and undergraduate alumni and encourages clinical experience, research and community involvement.
• Prerequisites in Weinberg’s first-year pre-health guide: one year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology and physics, and two to three quarters of calculus. Some medical schools also ask for English/writing, biochemistry, behavioral and social science, humanities and advanced biology.
• HPA FAQs: Northwestern does not provide a committee letter, and medical schools know this; more than 80% of students take one or more gap years before medical school; those wanting to go straight in should take the MCAT by spring quarter of junior year.
• NUPSP: see section 1; for current students, apply at the start of junior year, matriculate at Feinberg after senior year.
• Medical school admission statistics: the FAQ mentions a three-year acceptance and matriculation handout but the pages we read give no rate.
• International students: the HPA pages we read do not describe limits for international applicants to U.S. medical schools; contact HPA (premed-prehealth@northwestern.edu).

4. High school preparation

• Weinberg, Medill, SESP, Bienen and Communication: at least 16 courses (most applicants have more): English 4 full-year courses; foreign language at least 2 of one language; history and social science at least 2; laboratory science at least 2; mathematics at least 3; plus 1–3 additional full-year courses.
• McCormick (for contrast): laboratory science at least 3, chemistry and physics preferred; mathematics 3.5–4, calculus preferred.
• The site does not set separate high school requirements for Biological Sciences or Neuroscience.
• AP / IB credit: credit is awarded for eligible AP and IB higher-level results (details with the Registrar); results of other international curricula are evaluated individually. The Biology department says an AP exam can earn undifferentiated biology credit, and some related courses (calculus, physics, general chemistry, statistics) may be waived through placement exams or AP scores. Neuroscience says an AP Biology 5 serves as a prerequisite for NEUROSCI 202, but the biology major will not count an AP Biology 5 as a prerequisite for further BIOL_SCI courses.
• First- and second-year sequence: Biological Sciences suggests chemistry (through CHEM 132/152/172), calculus (through MATH 218-3 or 220-2), statistics and, in spring quarter, BIOL_SCI 201 or 239, with physics usually later. Neuroscience suggests the chemistry and math “related courses”, BIOL_SCI 201 or 239 in spring, and the two core courses in sophomore year (NEUROSCI 202 is offered fall and winter, 206 winter and spring); premed students should take no more than two CHEM, PHYSICS, BIOL_SCI or NEUROSCI lecture courses in a quarter.
• Chemistry and math placement: chemistry placement is by test; common starting points are Accelerated General Chemistry (151/152), Advanced General Chemistry (171/172), or CHEM 110 followed by 131/132; students with high AP or IB scores may start with organic chemistry.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• QuestBridge: 1 October 2026.
• Early Decision (binding): due 1 November 2026, decisions in mid-December, deposit by 1 February.
• Regular Decision: due 4 January 2027, decisions in late March, deposit by 1 May.
• Aid deadlines: the dates-and-deadlines page gives 1 December (ED) and 1 February (RD); the international aid page gives 2 January to request aid consideration in RD and 2 February for the CSS Profile. The two pages do not fully agree, so check the dates for your own plan.
• Platform and fee: Common App or Coalition with Scoir; $75, waivable.
• Materials: transcripts and school report, two recommendations (a counselor and a core-subject teacher), the Northwestern supplement (one required 300-word question and one or two optional 200-word questions), an activity chart; the Common App personal essay is no longer required; no alumni interviews.
• Testing: optional. If submitted, SAT code 1565 and ACT code 1106; you may self-report and enrolling students send official scores.
• Entry only in the fall quarter.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: the site says the rate is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. 2026-27: full-time tuition $23,934 per quarter ($71,802 for three quarters), fees $1,260, estimated on-campus housing and meals $22,941, books and supplies $1,239, personal expenses $2,079, loan fees $54, transportation varies; on-campus total $99,375. The NU-SHIP health plan premium for 2026-27 is estimated at $5,996 and is listed separately on the tuition page. No extra fee for biology or health majors was shown; not stated on the pages we read.
• Aid: the site says Northwestern meets demonstrated need and that the aid package is the same for ED and RD. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, see the financial aid pages.
• Testing: optional. A home-state preference is not described on the pages we read.
• Research and labs: Biological Sciences has research-for-credit courses and an honors program; Neuroscience offers honors. Place numbers are not stated on the pages we read.

7. International applicants

• Process: international applicants follow the same procedures as domestic ones, with no separate application; apply in your final year of secondary school, having completed a program that allows entry to an accredited university in your home country.
• English: required if your first language is not English or your secondary schooling was not in English. Accepted: Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT (not “TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution”). There is no minimum score; competitive applicants typically score in the high range on all sections. Scores may not be self-reported and must be sent officially by the testing organization; MyBest is not reviewed and there is no superscoring. TOEFL code 1565. International transfer applicants already attending a U.S. institution are generally not required to submit a test.
• InitialView: optional for applicants from schools abroad; complete by 6 November (ED) or 16 January (RD).
• Documents: foreign transcripts need certified English translations from any service, including one in your home country; EducationUSA centers can help.
• Admission and aid: international admission is need-aware. The site says Northwestern meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted first-year students for all four years and issues four-year aid awards. Tick the financial aid box on the application; use the CSS Profile (code 1565), or the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) if the Profile is impossible or causes hardship; there are no CSS Profile fee waivers for international students; parents’ tax or employer income documents need official English translation.
• Caps: the site says Northwestern does not limit the number of international students or any country’s share.
• AP / IB / other curricula: see section 4.
• Limits on international students in restricted majors or clinical placements: Northwestern has no undergraduate nursing major; limits on lab or clinical placements are not stated on the pages we read. Proof of funds and visa steps were not on the pages we read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages we read do not mention the Gaokao. They say only that testing is optional and that SAT or ACT is not required. Whether the Gaokao is considered is not published; contact the international specialist (nuinternational@northwestern.edu).
• Transcripts and exam records: non-English transcripts need certified English translations; requirements for school-leaving exam records are not stated on the pages we read.
• English: if your school’s language of instruction is not English you need an English test (section 7); the site specifically says “TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution” is not accepted.
• Other China-specific guidance: not published on the pages we read.

9. Transfer students

• Who transfers: anyone who earned post-secondary credits after secondary graduation applies as a transfer. Successful transfer applicants have typically completed at least one academic year of full-time coursework (24 semester or 36 quarter hours) and must be in good standing at their last institution.
• Deadlines: Early Decision transfer 1 March 2027, Regular Decision transfer 1 April 2027; aid materials the same day; fall quarter only; RD transfer decisions in mid- to late May. The fee is $75.
• Materials: Common App or Coalition, the transfer writing supplements (two 300-word questions), secondary transcript and proof of graduation, all college transcripts, College Report, one academic evaluation; the ED agreement for ED. Testing is optional.
• Credit: the Registrar evaluates credit after admission. Courses that do not transfer include those from unaccredited institutions, physical education or hygiene, credit by examination rather than attendance, courses under three quarter hours or two semester hours, ESL and P/S-graded courses. Transfer credit appears as “T” and is not counted in the GPA; credits are converted to Northwestern units by a formula. For the Biological Sciences major, only in-person courses of the same number count, not online or distance courses.
• The chemistry, biology and calculus sequences and any GPA needed to transfer into Biological Sciences or Neuroscience are not stated on the pages we read; ask the department.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Choose an undergraduate school (Weinberg allows “Undecided”); ED 1 November 2026, RD 4 January 2027; testing optional; $75 fee
• At least 16 high school courses with 3 math and 2 lab science; Biological Sciences needs chemistry, calculus, statistics and physics sequences, with BIOL_SCI 201 or 239 in spring of year one

International applicants (including China):

• English proof (Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL iBT) sent officially, no minimum; certified English translations of non-English transcripts
• Admission is need-aware; CSS Profile code 1565; ask the international specialist how the Gaokao is treated

Transfer students:

• ED 1 March, RD 1 April; typically a full year of college first; no online courses toward the Biological Sciences major

Sources: Northwestern University, Majors and minors; Degree options; Your academic path; Biological Sciences undergraduate; Biological Sciences: first-year focus; Biological Sciences: degree requirements; Catalog: Biological Sciences major; Neuroscience major; Neuroscience: major requirements; Neuroscience: first-year focus; Global Health Studies adjunct major; Human Development in Context; Health Professions Advising; Pre-med FAQs; Weinberg first-year guide to pre-health; Dates and deadlines; Application materials; High school courses FAQ; International applicants; International FAQs; Aid for international students; 2026-27 tuition and fees; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Transfer students; Transfer FAQs. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures); check Northwestern’s website for the latest.