FAQs – Students
Q. Who is eligible for the program? Is NUPIP open to international students? Masters degree students? Recent alums? Non-Northwestern students?
A. NUPIP is open to any Northwestern graduate who will have completed at least a Bachelors degree by the time they start the Fellowship. Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. for at least the year following graduation. (International students are typically able to obtain OPT extensions; unfortunately, neither NUPIP nor our employers are able to sponsor visas.) While most Fellows apply as seniors and participate in the year following graduation, the program is also open to Masters degree students and recent alums. Some Fellows participate after completing a year of service or another fellowship program, taking time off, or making a career transition. Unfortunately, NUPIP is not open to graduates of other universities.
Q. How can I learn more about the program? How can I make sure my application is competitive?
A. Interested candidates are encouraged to attend an information session during Fall or Winter Quarter to learn more about the program and application process. Candidates preparing applications are encouraged to visit NU Career Advancement or the Office of Fellowships for support and feedback on developing resumes and cover letters, and for interview practice and coaching.
Q. Am I required to attend an information session?
A. No. While information session attendance is recommended, it is not required. Most information presented can be found on our website. You can also typically view a recorded presentation from a previous season or year, and contact us with any specific questions.
Q. Why are there two deadlines? Why would I choose one over the other?
A. Candidates who are considering the program early in the recruitment season are encouraged to apply by the Priority Deadline. Early applicants receive priority consideration in the selection process and an earlier decision on their status as finalists, maximize the time they have to develop materials and prepare for interviews with host organizations, and most importantly, maximize their number of prospective matches by participating in an additional early round of matching. Note that some NUPIP host organizations complete their hiring early in the season, and may only consider candidates who apply by the Priority Deadline. Candidates who learn about the program later in the recruitment season, need more time to prepare their application materials, or are awaiting word about preferred opportunities they are considering are encouraged to apply by the Final Deadline.
Q. What would my role be as a NUPIP Fellow?
A. NUPIP Fellows contribute to meaningful social change through the work of their host organization. Fellows may work in a range of issues areas and types of positions. In addition to their placements, Fellows participate in biweekly professional development seminars and meet at least quarterly with a professional mentor. NUPIP Fellows are expected to be active members of the NUPIP community, and are encouraged to stay involved with the program, helping their peers, NUPIP alumni, community partners and NUPIP staff develop a strong ongoing NUPIP community dedicated to making positive change in the world.
Q. What are the professional development seminars like?
A. Seminars offer an introduction to the public interest sector, as well as skill development, career development, and opportunities for reflection and community building, and are an important component of the NUPIP program. Seminars are typically two-hour sessions held twice a month from September through June, most commonly on Wednesday mornings or sometimes late afternoons or evenings. Seminars are held at public interest organizations throughout Chicago, typically featuring nonprofit or government executives or other community leaders. Fellows are expected to attend all seminars.
Q. What is involved in the mentorship component of NUPIP?
A. Each Fellow will be matched with a professional mentor (often a Northwestern alum), outside their host organization but in line with their long-term career interests. Mentors can serve as a sounding board on a range of topics: career development, workplace issues, graduate school plans, the post-college transition, and more. Mentors and Fellows meet with one another at least quarterly, and many pairs meet more frequently and/or stay in touch beyond the Fellowship term.
Q. What would my compensation be as a Fellow?
A. Stipend amounts are set by individual organizations, and generally range between $40,000 and $50,000+ annually. Host organizations are also responsible for providing basic health insurance coverage (or an additional stipend to purchase health insurance if needed) and paid time off, and may offer other benefits, such as dental and vision insurance, disability and life insurance, retirement savings, transit benefits, professional development benefits, and more.
Q. Can I seek student loan deferment or forgiveness as a NUPIP Fellow?
A. Yes, there are often arrangements you can make regarding your student loans, but what your options are and what forms you need to complete to request them can vary, so it’s best to check with your student loan provider about that. While some fellows have opted for deferral, we tend to recommend income-based repayment plans, as they allow you to start to pay your balance down, likely at the lowest rate for which you will ever be eligible, and if you are staying in the public interest field, allow you to count this year toward your eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Also note that if you have Perkins loans, you may be eligible for Perkins Loan Cancellation for each year you work in the public interest field, depending on the type of organization/work. Learn more about loan forgiveness and cancellation. Note that your options may vary based on the types of loans you have, so again, you should contact your student loan provider directly for more information about your options and any required forms.
Q. I really like one of the host organizations that NUPIP has worked with in the past. Can I apply for a Fellowship position specifically at this site?
A. Because organizations are submitting their host proposals at the same time that students are submitting their applications (or sometimes later), we cannot be sure that any particular site will be part of our program this year, especially early on in the process. Students are therefore encouraged to apply to NUPIP with an open mind to a variety of organizations.
Q. I know of a really great organization never before affiliated with NUPIP that I’d love to introduce to the program. Can I apply and secure a placement at this organization?
A. NUPIP encourages applicants with connections to public interest organizations in the Chicago area to reach out to them to share information about the program (NUPIP can provide organization-facing recruitment materials if desired), and/or to connect organization contacts with NUPIP staff at nupip@northwestern.edu so that we can reach out to them directly. If a site that you recommend applies, we will match you to the site and you would likely be a strong candidate for hire. However, we cannot guarantee a Fellowship position at the site, as each site has the freedom to interview and select from all of the candidates who apply to the position. Alternately, you could secure a position at the organization on your own and bring it into the program (see below).
Q. I have already received an offer to work at an organization that is unaffiliated with NUPIP. I would love to be part of the program and I think this organization fits the criteria of NUPIP host organizations. Is there a way to accept this offer and still be part of the program?
A. Yes, some Fellows in each cohort bring their own placements into the program. The organization must be engaged in public interest work in the Chicago area, support the Fellow’s attendance at professional development seminars, and contribute a small fee to support the Fellow’s professional development. If you have already secured a position, you can apply to the program and indicate in the application that you are interested in bringing in your own placement. Or once you are accepted into the program, if you receive a job offer from a public interest organization in the Chicago area, you can reach out to our team, and NUPIP staff will work with you and your host organization to bring the position into the program.