Weinberg College
of Arts & Sciences

How does it work?

🙋‍♀️You ask a question You tell us a bit about yourself and what you're looking for

👁‍🗨We find the perfect alumni Our tool matches you with the perfect alum who will be able to answer your question

📧You get answers With our 100% response rate, you're almost guaranteed to get a response in 2-3 days.

Need inspiration? Here's what others like you have asked:

• "I am a pre-med student majoring in Biological Sciences. Although I first entered college intending to pursue a career in medicine, I now know that is not the right path for me. I am finding myself drawn towards other areas of healthcare, but I am uncertain about how to proceed. Should I take a gap year to explore alternative paths? Thanks!"
• "Good day! I am majoring in Gender Studies and Political Science and am at a crossroads about choosing my career path. Are there post-grad options that focus on gender issues or industries around advocacy work you think would be a good fit for someone with my academic background? I would love to hear your thoughts on this, thank you"

And here's just some of the things that happened next:

• An office tour of the Meta offices in London
• 1:1 conversations with the top industry professionals
• A personalized trek to the Art Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

(about Ask a Wildcat, not alumni 😉)

• Does a real person respond to my question?
  
  • Yes! You will always get a response from a real Northwestern alum who has been in your shoes.
• What can I ask?
  • Literally anything to help with your academic or professional development. There are thousands of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends that can help with class projects, building and growing a startup, or figuring out career options.
• What's a good question?
  • Think of your question as an advertisement. Share who you are, what you are doing, and what you need help with. Keep it short and sweet. Here’s a short video on how to craft a great question that will get you results and help build your network.
• Who will see my question?
  • We send your request to the best alumni in your area of interest!
• Can I ask a follow-up question?
  • Yes, of course! Once we make a match you’ll have direct, one-to-one communication and can ask additional questions.
• How long will it take to get an answer?
  • Our goal is to get you answers within three business days. But it depends on what you’re asking. It can go as quickly as an hour to as long as 10 days or more.
• Can I ask as many questions as I want?
  • You can ask as many questions as you would like. In fact, we encourage it as this is the simplest way for you to build your professional network.
• Can I request someone specific?
  • If you are looking to make a connection with a specific Northwestern alum, we recommended utilizing the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program, where you can search for and request to make a connection with a particular alum. If you don’t know who to go with your questions, Ask A Wildcat is a tool that will find the right alumni to answer your unique questions.
• Will my questions and answers be confidential?
  • Your question will not be made public. It will be seen only by matched experts and a handful of administrators.