Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
MD Admissions

Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program

The Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program (NUPSP) is an early MD acceptance program for high-achieving Northwestern undergraduate students who have completed two full years of undergraduate study with a demonstrated commitment to a career in medicine into Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 

NUPSP is for students who have committed to Feinberg as their program of choice and requires a binding decision on the part of both the applicant and the medical school. Students must apply and are provisionally accepted during their third undergraduate year for matriculation into Feinberg after their fourth undergraduate year.  The program is not designed to be a fast-track to medical school. Transfer students may apply if they meet the listed requirements and coursework was conducted at a similarly rigorous program.

Each year, approximately 10-15 NUPSP students are offered early acceptance to Feinberg. The accepted student agrees to enter Feinberg in July or August of the calendar year after acceptance and, assuming all program provisions are met, Feinberg agrees to commit a seat to the applicant for that year.

NUPSP does not require program participants to take the MCAT Examination.

This program also supports and encourages program participants to engages in extra-academic exploration and activities during the academic year after acceptance and prior to medical school entry.

 

Program Features

For the number of students admitted into the program each year, NUPSP offers:

  1. Early assured MD OR MSTP acceptance to Feinberg
  2. A wide range of pre-professional experiences at the medical school, including research opportunities, classroom exposure and activities with current medical students
  3. Encouragement and support for personal engagement in extra-academic exploration and activities during the academic year after acceptance and prior to medical school entry
  4. Acceptance during the third undergraduate year for matriculation into Feinberg after the student's fourth or senior year
  5. A path to the following combined degree programs offered by the the medical school:
  6. Submission of only one medical school application (to Feinberg)
  7. Exemption from taking the MCAT examination

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to NUPSP, a Northwestern undergraduate student who has completed two years of undergraduate coursework in residence at the university is expected to receive counseling from a premedical adviser and a college adviser at Health Professions Advising.

Transfer students may apply if they meet the listed requirements and coursework was conducted at a similarly rigorous program.

Students who meet the NUPSP program requirements listed below are to seek premedical counseling between the completion of their second year and prior to submitting an application to NUPSP in the fall quarter of their third year.

Requirements

  • Committed to a career as a medical physician and are able to express their commitment in a sincere and convincing manner, both orally and written
  • Demonstrated their commitment to medicine by participating in several years of on-going extra-academic clinical and research activities
  • Completed two full years in residence at Northwestern University with an overall and science GPA of 3.7 or higher.
  • All four of the prerequisite science sequences listed below must be completed before matriculation to Feinberg

Prior to applying to NUPSP, students should have completed the general chemistry and the biological sciences courses and at least the first quarter of organic chemistry. Preference will be given to students who have completed the organic chemistry/biochemistry sequence prior to the NUPSP application. The prerequisite coursework should be taken while in residence at Northwestern University. If AP credit is given by the university for any of these courses, the Admissions Committee will expect to see upper level coursework in that discipline.

Prerequisites

  • Inorganic, Physical Chemistry: 3 quarters or equivalent (either Chemistry 110, 131 and 132 with labs, or Chemistry 151 and 152 with labs, or Chemistry 171 and 172 with labs)
  • Organic Chemistry: 2 quarters (215-1, 2 with corresponding labs) + Biochemistry 301 OR 212-1, 2, 3 with corresponding labs
  • Physics: 3 quarters (130-1, 2, 3 or 135-1, 2, 3 with labs)
  • Biological Sciences: 3 quarters (Bio 201, 202, 203 with labs 232, 233, 234)

Highly Recommended

The following courses are highly recommended or encouraged, but not required.

  • Highly recommended: English composition, Statistics, Biochemistry
  • Encouraged: Genetics, Global Health, the Humanities, Social Sciences (i.e., Psychology, Sociology, Ethics)

Application Process

Prior to submission of an application to the NUPSP, interested students who have met admission requirements should:

  1. Fully familiarize yourself with the Feinberg's medical curriculum and features of the school by visiting our MD Education site.
  2. Explore fully the extent of their motivation towards a career in medicine.  Also seek advice from your premedical adviser and your college adviser on whether the Feinberg program is a good fit for you and, subsequently, determine your commitment to a binding Feinberg attendance decision.
  3. Meet with a premedical advisor in Health Professions Advising for assistance in evaluating your completed academic course of study and extra-academic activities for the NUPSP application.  If you do not already have an assigned pre-health advisor, email premed-prehealth@northwestern.edu to be assigned an advisor and schedule an appointment.
  4. NUPSP Deadlines:
    • Wednesday, 12/18/2024: NUPSP Application & NU Transcript (with Fall Grades)
    • Friday, 12/20/2024 at 11:59pm CT: Letters of Recommendation
  5. The NUPSP interview dates are Tuesday, 2/4/2025, Wednesday, 2/5/2025 & Friday, 2/7/2025.


    Please note:     The NUPSP application is open for Cycle 2025. We will be utilizing the FSM Applicant Portal for the 2024-2025 NUPSP application process, and applicants should refer to the application guide sent by Health Professions Advising (HPA).

Advising

NUPSP program advising is available through your college adviser and Health Professions Advising:

Health Professions Advising
1940 Sheridan Road, Evanston
847-467-4281
premed-prehealth@northwestern.edu