Welcome to the 2026 College Preparation Program!
On this page you'll find steps to secure your space in the program:
- activate your Net ID, Email, and provision your Zoom Account (online students only)
- make your nonrefundable deposit
- submit your SchoolDoc program forms
- program forms will be emailed to you by mid-March
Please submit the above items within three weeks of your acceptance date. You can also find detailed information about the 2026 CPP program in the Student Handbook (Step 7). Please follow directions carefully and complete all documents accurately.
Students Located Outside Central Timezone
Credit Courses: If your course is not an asynchronous credit course it will take place in “real-time” (Central Time). Please consider whether the time zone in which you will be taking the class matches your ability to attend the program.
1. Activate Your Net ID and NU Email
2. Make Your Nonrefundable Deposit
You are required to activate your NET ID before making your nonrefundable deposit.
Nonrefundable DEPOSIT INSTRUCTIONS
3. Read the Frequently Asked Questions
This document will help answer many of the questions you may have about the program. Please read it thoroughly!
4. Complete Program Forms
Once we have received your deposit, an email will be sent to the parent/guardian to begin the program forms. Students will be directed in SchoolDoc to complete their Registration Form, only one form is needed. Program forms will be emailed to you by mid-March.
It is important to note that the deposit will take two to three days to show up in our system. Both student and parent/guardian must complete our program forms. Parent/Guardians are required to access and complete their portion the forms first using their email address to create an electronic signature. Once the parent/guardian portion is submitted, the forms will be sent to the student for their signature. Program forms are required to be completed in this order to avoid authentication issues. Please do not forward any authentication or signing emails.
5. Complete Attestations
Log on to your CAESAR Student Account and ensure you complete the required attestations. If you fail to complete these attestations, you may have a hold on your account, which will prevent you from registering.
6. International Students Only
Domestic students proceed to step 6
Online Credit Students
International students enrolled in solely online courses are not eligible to have an F-1, J-1 or B-1/B-2 visa since participation in Northwestern summer online courses does not entail entry into the U.S.
Residential Credit Students
Students enrolling in the on-campus study option qualify for F-1 visa status. As part of the F-1 visa requirement, international students enrolling in the college credit on-campus study option must enter the U.S. on an F-1 visa and enroll as a full-time student taking a minimum of two classes.
All International Students enrolling in College Credit Courses must submit an Immigration Document Request Form through the OISS Portal. Please visit the Northwestern University Office of International Student & Scholar Services website for details. Under the "International Students" link, select "Steps for New Students." Please begin your request as soon as you receive your NetID to allow sufficient time to apply for your visa. Your I-20 will be sent to you electronically once it has been issued.
Contact our office if you have an active immigration document, such as I-20 or DS-2019, from another institution, such as a U.S. high school, as you may not be required to request immigration documents from Northwestern University or enroll in two courses.
If you need a VPN you may set up and use GlobalProtect VPN.
Note: All visiting students at Northwestern University are required to maintain adequate health insurance coverage as a condition of their approved stay. More information will be provided when completing registration in the SchoolDoc platform.
7. Review CPP Student Handbook
In the handbook you will find important information which will answer many of your questions.
8. Set Up Microsoft Teams
You will use Microsoft Teams to communicate with your Instructor and Teaching Assistant(s) during the program. Residential Students will also use Teams to communicate with their RA group. All students need to download Teams before arriving to campus, in order to resolve any tech issues ahead of time. In order to set up Microsoft Teams, download the desktop or mobile app, then sign in with your full Northwestern email address and authenticate via Online Passport with your NetID and password. Please reach out to NUIT if you encounter any issues at consultant@northwestern.edu or 847-491-4357.
9. Online Students Only - Set Up Your Zoom Account
In order to join your class sessions, you must go to the zoom for students page to learn how to provision your account. An active Northwestern email address is necessary to provision your zoom account.
Students taking classes on campus need not provision their Northwestern Zoom account.