I applied to Weinberg as an undecided major for RD. Today I got an email about an Integrated Science Program offered through Weinberg and it said something like “you may be interested in science”. I’m confused since I applied as undecided, but science might be something I’m interested in. Does every applicant get an email like this?
It also said that I should take SAT II tests (but I havent). I can’t take them since the next testing date is in May. Should I even bother applying? The email says, “We are fairly flexible with our testing requirements, but we do require demonstrable skill in math, physics, and chemistry through coursework and/or testing” but will I be competitive? On their website they only have 26 freshmen in the program so it seems very competitive.
The ISP program is very intense and is not for the faint hearted!
Agreed! I think S’s ISP cohort admitted 32 and is now down to 14 (none leave NU, but many switch to less intense majors). S absolutely loves the curriculum, but he is fully commited to a career in research science.
I applied RD as well as a math major and got the email too. I’m pretty interested in the program actually! I’m not sure if my background had anything to do with it though. I applied after not being matched through the QB NCM for RD, and I think I remember getting a likely letter of sorts for Northwestern. By the end of high school, I’ll have finished 10 AP’s and I did a graduate-level Chemical Engineering internship at ND last year, so I wonder if that had something to do with the email. (I’m not sure though)
I’ve taken the SAT II’s but they were only okay so I’m not sure that I’ll send them. In the program, it says they can hold a decision until you report AP tests - so I might do that so I can send my BC and Physics scores at the end of the year. But I could get rejected without sending them from the program - who knows!
I figured I would fill out the application to ease my mind as I wait for RD decisions to start coming.
I got an email, too, but I’m hoping to get into MMSS.
ISP sounds great, though. Maybe you could contact some of the students in the program to learn more.
Good luck to those of you who apply!
ISP is extremely demanding. It’s not for those who are not committed to devoting many hours a week (as in at least 30+, but usually more like 40+ or 50+) out of class to science and math (studying and problem sets).
I’d recommend it only to those folks who absolutely love science and math. That is, those people who’d be doing math proofs and solving physics problems for fun in their spare time.
Or those super-geniuses who can get through those tough math problem sets that take a regular smart person 10 hours in only 1 hour.
Another NU poster on CC described ISP as a mini-Caltech/MIT sitting in the middle of NU, which I think is spot-on.
In terms of how demanding it is, I’d put it closer to Caltech than MIT.
However, for those who graduate from it, ISP also has a rather impressive success rate in the sciences (however you want to define success; PhDs/entrance in to elite professional schools/prestigious student awards earned/whatever). With a rate that is on par with or even surpasses Caltech & MIT.
Last year S did ISP while also playing in the NU Jazz Orchestra and playing club soccer, and this year he is quite active in his frat, so don’t think that ISP kids are all work and no play. 
And it does seem that participation in the program can open some really impressive doors, so do consider it if you enjoy science (btw I don’t think S solves physics problems for fun in his spare time but I’ve been wrong before… hah!).