From City Colleges of Chicago to Northwestern: Jasmine Qureshi’s Path to a Degree in Humanities
In 2021, "everything clicked and came together” for Jasmine Qureshi (’25) when she set her sights on a new career goal—and determined that an undergraduate degree in Humanities was the path to get there.
Raised in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, Jasmine began her college journey at Loyola University and then Harry S Truman College, where she accumulated enough credits to eventually earn an associates degree. However, she found it too difficult to work full-time and attend class, so she paused school. Years later, while taking an online genealogy course for fun, Jasmine realized how much she enjoyed her coursework and decided to resume her formal education. She reapplied to Loyola, but an advertisement for Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies made her revisit a high school dream.
“I remember standing under the arch at Northwestern University as a teenager, thinking, ‘I could never go here.’” Fast forward to 2021, when she challenged herself, saying, “‘Let's see if we can do it.’” She was accepted to Northwestern’s part-time undergraduate program and was pleasantly surprised by how “seamless” the transfer process was. “I got in, and I've been doing well.”
The right undergraduate degree for the right career path
While taking her genealogy course, Jasmine reflected back on an early resource of hers, her high school librarian. "She was always available whether I had a research question or had to vent about school stress or teenage life. I trusted her as a source of truth.” After years of working in nonprofits, Jasmine decided that if she was going to go back to school, she would explore a career pivot as a librarian. She decided an undergraduate major in Humanities would be her best option, given its foreign language and research requirements and her affinity for both subjects (she is now studying Spanish and Italian.)
Of her coursework so far, Jasmine has found fulfillment in continuing her history education, thanks to professors like Sian Olson Dowis. “She did a fantastic job of reframing how we view history as a subject and not viewing these people in the past existing in a historical vacuum,” Jasmine says.
John D. Márquez’s Latino Studies course also helped her get a better sense of her place within the educational system. “He exhibits pride and power in his roots and who he is. Too often in higher education, I’ve tried to fit into now antiquated ideas and expectations of what’s considered proper and formal in educational settings.” While introducing the students to challenging subject matter and guiding important discussions, Jasmine says, “He modeled how we can authentically move and exist in this setting.”
Jasmine is currently on track to graduate from Northwestern University in June 2025. This fall, she’s applying to a master’s program in Library Information Science and looking forward to exploring different library studies tracks.
A smooth transition from community college to Northwestern SPS
As a single mom with a five-year-old son and a job as a coordinator for a mentoring program at the nonprofit ONE Northside, Jasmine finds that the part-time undergraduate program works well with her schedule. She studies after her son goes to bed at night and does her coursework on her off days. Every quarter, she tells her friends and family, "I'm so glad I'm at Northwestern." The faculty and staff have made her feel like she belongs. “I truly love the culture at SPS. I think they do an exceptional job, especially the professors, to make us feel like we’re valued members of Northwestern's community.”
Jasmine cites Reyes Morán’s Spanish classes—her introduction to Northwestern coursework—as a comfortable entry point. “Her class was made up of a blend of students from various schools across the University. Her kindness and confidence in my ability helped prepare me for the rest of my career at the school."
Returning to school as an adult, taking classes sometimes with undergraduate students 15 years younger than her made her slightly nervous. But Jasmine felt welcomed both academically and culturally. “A lot of my classmates have worked in completely different fields. They come with unique life experience and professional experience, and it enriches our classroom.”
A financial boost from Osher and Crankstart scholarships and other forms of aid for returning adult students have further facilitated her experience, says Jasmine. "That financial support has truly made life a hell of a lot less stressful.”
To those considering returning to school or embarking on a career pivot (or both, like her), Jasmine advises: "Start. You don't need a perfect timeline. There is no perfect timeline. Start where you are, even one class at a time. If it takes you five years to get your degree, at least in five years, you'll have your degree. Otherwise, five years from now, you'll still be saying, ‘I need to go back to school.’”
Northwestern University School of Professional Studies offers many degree and certificate programs, with evening and online options available. To learn more about Northwestern University's part-time undergraduate degree programs, complete the form below and we will be in touch with you soon.