Sophomore Admission
Due to Covid restrictions that prevented us from meeting in person in 2020, we have a video recording from Director Ely that you can view regarding the the Sophomore-Entry process.
- Click here to listen to a five-minute overview of the MMSS Program from Director Jeff Ely - recorded 09.01.2020
The MMSS Program admits approximately 30 first-year and 30 sophomores each year. A student who enters the program as a first-year student completes the MMSS coursework in his or her first and sophomore years; while a student who enters the program as a sophomore completes the MMSS coursework in his or her sophomore and junior years. Both first-year-entry and sophomore-entry students write their thesis during senior year.
First-year students already enrolled at Northwestern are invited to apply to enter the MMSS program beginning their sophomore year. First-year students enrolled at another university who are applying to transfer to Northwestern may also apply to enter MMSS as sophomores.
Entering sophomores are excused from the taking the first-year MMSS mathematics sequence if they have taken another mathematics sequence in their first year covering the same material. In this case, students take the second-year MMSS mathematics sequence in their sophomore year. Sequences that substitute for the first-year MMSS mathematics sequence include: Math 230-1, 230-2, 240; Gen Eng 205-1; Math 290-1,2,3; Math 291-1,2,3; and ES APPM 252-1,2, Gen Eng 206-1. Although a relatively large share of entering sophomores have generally taken one of these sequences, applications are also welcome from students that would need to take the first year MMSS mathematics sequence in their sophomore year.
It is possible that sophomore entry applicants may have taken ECON 310-1 as first-year students. In these cases, students are excused from taking MMSS 211-1 upon acceptance to the program.
The application deadline for students wishing to enter the program as sophomores is April 1. Completed applications will include the following:
- These five, short-answer essay questions (400 words or less per question). Questions include:
- Why MMSS?
- Which social science question or problem interests you most?
- Please explain how you plan to utilize the MMSS curriculum to enhance your academic and professional goals.
- Describe your extracurricular interests and activities you are involved in on campus.
- How did you hear about the MMSS Program?
- An up-to-date college transcript. (NU students should submit a transcript that includes winter quarter grades.)
- At least one letter of recommendation from a professor. Faculty should send letters of recommendation via e-mail to mmss@northwestern.edu.
Application for 2024 Fall admission will be live in Winter Quarter