Admitted Students
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine welcomes you to the Physician Assistant Program. To get a better idea of what to expect during your time in the program, please review the academic calendar information below, then follow the steps on our to-do list leading up to orientation.
Academic Calendar
The following academic calendar is subject to change based on programmatic needs.
1st Term | Term Begins | Tuesday, May 30, 2023 |
---|---|---|
Juneteenth Holiday | Monday, June 19 | |
4th of July Observance | Tuesday, July 4 | |
Labor Day Holiday | Monday, Sept. 4 | |
Term Concludes | Tuesday, Sept. 26 | |
2nd Term | Term Begins | Wednesday, Sept. 27 |
Fall Break | Sept. 27 - 29 | |
Thanksgiving Holiday | Nov. 23 - 24 | |
Holiday Break | Dec. 16, 2023 - Jan. 2, 2024 |
|
MLK Jr. Holiday | Monday, Jan. 15 | |
Term Concludes | Tuesday, Jan. 30 | |
3rd Term | Term Begins | Wednesday, Jan. 31 |
Spring Break | March 27 - 29 | |
Exam Week | May 6 - 10 | |
Term Concludes | Friday, May 10 | |
End of Year Break* | May 11 - 27 |
*Dates are tentative
Onboarding Steps by Month
Below are the next steps to confirm your admission offer and plan for the start of classes.
Upon Receiving an Offer of Admission
Submit Acceptance Form and Enrollment Deposit. Information about the enrollment deposit and acceptance form will be outlined in the offer letter. Both must be received by the date on the admission offer letter.
January
1. Submit your official transcripts
Enrolling students are required to submit official transcripts from all prior college coursework directly to the Northwestern University PA Program for student record purposes. This includes all official transcripts originally sent to CASPA as a required part of the application, and official transcripts from coursework completed after the application was submitted.
Enrolling students may begin sending final, official transcripts in January preceding June enrollment. Official transcripts originally sent to CASPA cannot be reused or forwarded. Wait until any in-progress coursework is completed (with letter grade) before sending your transcript. All official transcripts must be received by May 28, 2023.
2. Begin familiarizing yourself with Chicago.
Housing & Neighborhoods
This map developed by Google depicts most of Chicago's neighborhoods. The Northwestern University Chicago Campus is located in Streeterville, just North and East of the central Loop District.
These links will help you get to know the neighborhoods. You should also reference the MD Program's housing resources guide for more information.
Public Transit
Students are automatically enrolled in the Chicago Transit Authority's Ventra U-Pass Program, valid for the CTA "L" and bus systems (not Metra or Pace systems). Students are issued a Ventra U-Pass for the summer, fall and spring terms. The first year's summer pass will not be issued at the start of classes and may be delayed up to one month after classes begin. Students should plan accordingly, and any incurred costs will not be reimbursed. Ventra U-Pass costs are considered a mandatory fee of attendance.
- CTA: Chicago Transit Authority
- Divvy: Bicycle Sharing Program
- Metra: Regional transit system serving Cook County and 5 surrounding counties
- Pace: Regional transit bus system for the Chicago suburbs
Shuttle Services
Parking
February
Schedule immunizations
Mandatory health entrance requirements must be completed by all students prior to the start of classes. It is strongly advised that newly admitted students begin completing these health entrance requirements as soon as possible, so ample time is allotted to complete the antibody titer testing, tuberculosis screening, and vaccination history.
The Student Immunization Form can be accessed online through Northwestern Medicine Student Health Service. Complete and submit the form on or before May 1.
March
1. Log into CAESAR with your NetID and activate your Northwestern University email account.
In February, you'll be emailed once your NetID has been activated. The email will include instructions on how to access CAESAR (the student portal) and activate your email account.
- CAESAR portal
- Northwestern University Email (Feinberg-specific)
- CAESAR Help and FAQ
- For NUIT assistance, call 847-491-4357 then Option 5. Have your University-assigned NetID available. Or, email consultant@northwestern.edu.
2. Submit FAFSA and NU Aid Applications.
Visit the Financial Aid page for full information on the cost of attendance and how to apply for aid.
Tuition billing statements are accessible as early as the 10th of the month preceding the start of a new term. For first-term tuition billing purposes, this date is May 10. Enrolling students should monitor their account on CAESAR for Financial Aid distribution information and billing statements. The enrollment deposit is applied to the student billing statement for the first-term of the first-year.
April
1. Submit your White Coat Ceremony RSVP.
Enrolling Northwestern University Physician Assistant Program students are invited to join faculty, staff and guests at the White Coat Ceremony to celebrate their induction into the medical community and recite the Physician Assistant Oath. Enrolling students are required to attend. Friends and family are welcome to attend.
2. Review the textbook list (if finalized).
The text book list for the new academic year will be available in April preceding Orientation. Admitted student will be emailed the textbook list. The following are recommendations for the purchasing of text books:
- Northwestern University Bookstore Chicago Campus location: Abbott Hall, First Floor
- Directly from the publishers
- Other online resources and text book distributors
May
1. Remember these important dates.
- May 1: Admission Health Record (immunizations) due.
- May 5: Parking permit request due.
- May 28: Official transcripts received.
2. Complete Book Club assignment.
Associated with the Behavioral & Preventive Medicine class, Book Club is an initial assignment in which students are assigned a non-fiction book prior to the start of classes. During Orientation week, first-year students participate in discussion that interrelates the content of the book, the PA Program's mission and vision statements, and the focus of the Behavioral & Preventive Medicine course.
3. Accept or waive health insurance.
All students are required to have health insurance while in their studies at Northwestern University. If you do not have your own health insurance at the time you enroll, you will automatically be enrolled in the University's health insurance plan.
Northwestern University provides a student insurance plan at competitive rates for enrolling students. Once enrolled, students are automatically enrolled for subsequent academic terms after a mandatory July renewal to coincide with the annual cycle for Student Insurance processing. If you do not want to enroll in the Northwestern University plan, you can waive this option and you must provide proof of outside coverage.
For questions, please contact the Student Health Insurance Office for the Chicago Campus at 312-503-1242.
June
Attend Orientation: May 30 - June 2, 2023
A schedule will be released closer to the date.