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Northwestern University

Bio&ChemEXCEL Program

NOTE: Bio&ChemEXCEL will be held online for the summer of 2025.

Bio&ChemEXCEL is an intensive five-week summer program for incoming first-year students to the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Only those who have been admitted to Northwestern University as a Weinberg College student may participate in the program. Started in 2011, the program provides academic preparation, leadership training, and a community of students, staff, and faculty to support students throughout their time at Northwestern University. In particular, we are looking for students who:

  1. Are planning on taking coursework in biology, neuroscience, chemistry, or other biomedical sciences;
  2. Are the first in their family to attend college;
  3. Didn't have many AP/IB courses offered by their high school;
  4. Have great potential for leadership on campus and in their career

Dates

The 2025 summer program will be offered online from Monday, June 23 to Friday, July 25. Classes will meet every weekday (Monday through Friday) for at least 2 hours. Before the start of the program, we will ask students to fill out a form to indicate what times of the day they will be available to meet online with their classmates, and we will create a schedule that will accommodate as many students as possible.

What will I do in Bio&ChemEXCEL?

You will take an online course taught by Dr. Luke Flores, the Director of Arch Scholars, called "Introduction to Biological Sciences" that will cover topics on genetics, synthetic biology, and research methods. We will dive into the history of biological discoveries, examine why some scientists achieved fame while others were ignored, and develop research projects to solve a world problem by harnessing the power of genetic technology. Upon completion of the course, you will receive 1 elective credit with a letter grade on your transcript.

Outside of class time, you will have the opportunity to engage with a team of undergraduate counselors. The counselors are current Northwestern undergraduates and former program participants who will provide academic support and honest, meaningful advice on how to succeed at Northwestern University as a science major and/or pre-medical student. In this program, you will get to know more about the true college experience, your classmates, and yourself.

MORE Benefits

  1. There is no charge for tuition - participation in the program is free! You only need a stable internet connection and a computer/tablet that can run the Zoom application.
  2. Bio&ChemEXCEL students will get preferred admission into our other Arch Scholars programs that run during the academic year, including Peer Mentoring, Posner, and NU Bioscientist.

How do I apply?

Click here to apply. You should be ready to write a short essay describing why you would like to participate in our programs and what your future goals might be. You may indicate your interest in multiple programs in the same application. Please contact the Director, Dr. Luke Flores, if you have any questions at L-Flores2@northwestern.edu.