How Oakton College Alum Nathaniel Hall Became a Double Purple Graduate
Nathaniel Hall checks the Northwestern application portal on his phone while grilling dinner in the common area of his apartment complex. After earning his associate degree from Oakton College, he applied to the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies (SPS) part-time undergraduate program.
Like many hopeful prospective students, Nathaniel recalls feeling stressed and anxious. "I'm thinking, 'Am I going to get in? I'm supposed to get an answer today,'" he says. Finally, "I click on it and... I felt like I couldn't breathe. I just started crying and called my parents, telling my girlfriend at the time to come downstairs. She thought I'd dropped something or burnt something,” he laughs, “But I'm like, 'No, no. I got in. I got into Northwestern.'"
Five years later, Nathaniel Hall ’23 became a “double purple graduate,” earning both his bachelor’s degree in Organization Behavior and MS in Regulatory Compliance at Northwestern University.
However, he describes a long, challenging journey, beginning with leaving college in Mississippi before completing his degree. "I was really ashamed of dropping out when I was younger. [When I arrived at Oakton], it had been over 10 years, and so I felt like I knew nothing. Whenever I did my placement testing, that feeling was solidified by being placed into rudimentary math. I felt like my English or grammar skills weren't great either,” he says. “So, I had very low self-esteem, but I decided that I was going to work very, very hard.”
Over time, Nathaniel found the confidence and a support system to restart his academic journey. “I didn't feel like I was enough until I got into Northwestern. And even then, there were times when I still didn't feel good enough. But I was lucky that I ran into very compassionate, caring people who [supported me along the way]," Nathaniel says.
Choosing the part-time undergraduate program and MS in Regulatory Compliance at Northwestern SPS
A pivotal experience in his educational journey happened while waiting tables at a restaurant in Evanston, where he met two professors from Northwestern University who encouraged him to apply to Northwestern’s part-time undergraduate program. “It's a flexible program at a very high-ranked school, so it just feels like a win-win,” he says.
When applying, he remembers feeling particularly intimidated by the entry essay and seeking help from his new connections at Northwestern and multiple advisors at Oakton. “This wasn't something I was doing alone, and I'm not ashamed to say that because it's scary. It's really intimidating. And that's why I try to cheerlead and mentor people that are applying to SPS. [Since applying], I have helped multiple people with their essays.”
Shortly after completing his undergraduate degree program in organization behavior, Nathaniel pursued a MS in Regulatory Compliance. In this program, he found many fellow students driven by a desire to improve healthcare. “I really appreciate that healthcare regulatory compliance is all about accountability and transparency. Although we have to be profitable to keep the doors open, it’s about ensuring that patients feel seen and cared for. We're going to treat them with respect because that's going to help them heal,” he explains, emphasizing these as key values he aims to bring into his regulatory compliance career.
Supporting community college students transferring to Northwestern SPS
Today, Nathaniel is passionate about supporting community college students interested in continuing their undergraduate studies at Northwestern SPS. Drawing from both his experiences in healthcare regulatory compliance and as a first-generation, low-income student, he believes in using his voice to support students from all backgrounds and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.
“I feel like Northwestern is making way for people to feel more welcomed. So, know that you do belong here and that you can reach out to people for help,” he says, “There are resources. There are people that want to help you, but you will need to ask for help. You can't do it all on your own.”
In his recruitment and advocacy efforts, Nathaniel also emphasizes the importance of transparency in the admissions process and concrete measures to increase access to a top-tier education.
On August 31, 2023, Nathaniel attended a signing event at Northwestern’s Evanston campus where leaders from Oakton College and Northwestern University signed into effect the Northwestern Early Admission Transfer Program, marking a historic partnership between the two institutions. The program creates a clear path for Oakton College students to earn a part-time bachelor’s degree at Northwestern SPS. Specifically, the program provides transparent guidelines for transferring Oakton courses to Northwestern and offers guidance during the admission process.
Now that the program is in place, Nathaniel believes that Oakton students interested in pursuing a degree at Northwestern SPS will benefit greatly. Reflecting on its potential impact during his time at the community college, he says, “This pipeline would've tremendously helped me transfer credits, save money, and save time. I think new students taking advantage of this pipeline will feel the same.” Nathaniel also notes that that the program will help applicants understand Northwestern SPS's holistic application review process, which values diverse professional and life experiences, goals, and perspectives.
When speaking about Northwestern SPS to prospective and new students, he says, “Here's this program that's going to work with you. You can work and you can do this in your [own time]. I feel like it has a lot of great features for busy people,” he says. For those who are skeptical that they can succeed at a top-tier university, he assures them that, “if you do your hard work and ask for help when you need it, you'll make it through,” he says, “You deserve to be here.”
Are you an Oakton College student interested in transferring to Northwestern University? Visit our Early Admission Transfer Program for Oakton College students page for more info.
Northwestern University School of Professional Studies offers many degree and certificate programs, with evening and online options available. To learn more about how Northwestern University's MS in Regulatory Compliance prepares graduates to advance their careers, fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you soon.