Graduate study at McCormick prepares students to take the lead in this fast-changing world.Academics / Graduate / AdmissionsAdmissions Frequently Asked Questions
In the following, we provide answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQ's). If there are issues that are not addressed here, please contact the CS Office of Student Affairs.
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- Can you look at my resume and tell me if you think I should apply?
- Should I specify the MS or PhD degree in my application?
- How do I apply for financial aid?
- I'm an international applicant whose native language is not English. What must I do to demonstrate proficiency in the English language?
- What institution and department codes should I use for the GRE and TOEFL?
- What if I do not have a proper BS background (e.g. my undergraduate degree is not in CS)?
- What if my background is related to CS, but I want to shift the major of my ms studies (e.g. from CE to CS)?
- Are there evening/weekend courses?
- I'm an international student, but I don't have a visa yet. What can I do?
- I've received a notification from the department that I am admitted. What are the next step(s)?
- If I am admitted as an MS student and perform well during my studies, will I be considered for continuing in the PhD program?
Can you look at my resume and tell me if you think I should apply?
We receive hundreds of requests weekly, so regrettably, we cannot assess an applicant's chances individually. If you feel strongly about your qualifications, we encourage you to apply.
For comparison purposes, here are the median scores for applicants we made offers to last year: GRE Quantitative 169, GRE Verbal 156, GRE Analytical Writing 3.5, GPA 3.73, and TOEFL 106.
Should I specify the MS or PhD degree in my Application?
Applicants pursuing a doctoral degree should select the
How do I apply for financial aid?
There is no separate financial aid application. Financial aid, including tuition and stipend, is offered to all admitted doctoral students; however, no financial aid is offered to terminal master's students. There are several sources of loans available, and as a graduate
Please feel free to follow up with
If your ultimate goal is to pursue a
I'm an international applicant whose native language is not English. What must I do to demonstrate proficiency in the English language?
You must either:
- Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn a score of 90 or better (100 or better recommended), or
- Take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and earn a score of 7.0 or better, or
- TGS does not require English language testing scores from those who have earned an undergraduate degree or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English.
Additionally, international students admitted to the PhD program are not eligible for funding as Teaching Assistants until they have met The Graduate School (TGS) English Proficiency Requirement described here: (https://www.elp.northwestern.edu/english-proficiency-testing/index.html). Note that TGS provides extensive help and support for international students (https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/before-you-apply/international-applicants.html) including many ways to further improve English proficiency https://www.elp.northwestern.edu/index.html )
What institution and department codes should I use for the GRE and TOEFL?
The institution code for Northwestern University is 1565 for both exams. The department code doesn't matter for the GRE. Use 0000 if you need to specify something. For TOEFL, the department code for The Graduate School is 01.
What if I do not have a proper BS background (i.e., my undergraduate degree is not in CS)?
While a CS degree is not required, we receive over 1300 applications a year, mostly from those with CS or CS-related degrees. To be competitive, you need the equivalent of at least a minor in computer science. That means programming experience in more than one language, data structures (including trees and graphs) and discrete math, comparable to what's covered in our undergraduate-only CS 211, 212, 213, and 214, as described here:
https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/computer-science/academics/courses/
Note: Online MOOCs on these topics, while helpful, carry much less weight in our evaluation than courses taken from a campus-based college.
What if my background is related to CS, but I want to shift the major of my MS studies (e.g., from CE to CS)?
Undergraduates in an existing campus-based program who are planning to apply to the MS program are advised to take courses comparable to CS 111, 211, 212, 213, and 214. These courses are described here:
https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/computer-science/academics/courses/
Are there evening/weekend Courses?
No, the CS department does not offer evening classes for graduate students. However, there are evening and/or weekend options at Northwestern. The School of Professional Studies offers a Master's Degree in Computing and Information Systems (MSCIS), obtainable by taking evening and weekend courses, and working professionals can earn a Master's in Information Technology (MSIT) in two years of Saturdays.
I'm an international student, but I don't have a visa yet. What can I do?
You must first be accepted by the university before any visa work can begin. International students can learn about the visa process for newly admitted students at the Northwestern University International Office website.
I've received a notification from the department that I am admitted. What are the next step(s)?
The very first step after receiving a notification
If I am admitted as an MS student and perform well during my studies, will I be considered for continuing in the PhD program?
Although we have had such cases, it is rare (approximately 6 percent of the students admitted to our MS program in the past have been offered to continue for a