The Institute, also known as “Medill cherubs,” is a summer journalism program for up to 84 rising high school seniors conducted on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Illinois. It is sponsored by Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. Students learn from accomplished journalists and university professors while gaining practical experience in the field. By the end of the program, students create a body of work, build connections and meet aspiring journalists from around the world.
Location(s)
- Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Schedule
- June 29th - July 25th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- $5,000 tuition (includes room and board)
Eligibility Requirements
- Rank academically in the top quarter of your high school class.
- Complete your junior year of high school in May or June of 2025.
- Meet a high standard of character, dependability and intelligence.
- Give specific evidence of background and/or special ability in journalism.
Deadline
- March 6th, 2025
Application or Entry Requirements
- Online application
- Essay
- List of any experience and activities related to journalism
- A letter of recommendation from your journalism teacher, newspaper advisor, or English teacher
- 3 journalism writing samples (optional, but strongly encourage)
- Ask your guidance counselor to send us the following items:
- A transcript of your high school record including mid-year grades from current academic year
- Your grade-point average and, if available, class rank
- Standardized test scores, if available (PSAT, SAT, or ACT)
- A school profile.
Notifications of Decisions
- March 26th, 2025
Financial Aid Details
- The University has up to $100,000 in financial aid and scholarships available for 2025 students. Complete the financial-aid form if you are applying for financial aid or if you want to be considered for one of the named scholarships listed in the brochure. Students who apply for financial aid automatically will be considered for any of the named scholarships for which they qualify. (No need to complete the form if you are not applying for aid.)
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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Northwestern Medill is an undergraduate and graduate school at Northwestern University that is frequently ranked as the nation’s top program for Journalism and Media & Integrated Marketing Communications. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the Medill School was founded in 1921, and now operates branch campuses in San Francisco and Qatar. The Medill Justice Project was established in 1999 to investigate murder cases in Illinois suspected of wrongful conviction. Medill alumni have been recognized with over 40 Pulitzer Prize Awards, 6 American Business Media Jesse H. Neal Awards, and 71 Emmy Awards. Notable Medill alumni include Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, Rachel Nichols of ESPN, and multi-Pulitzer Prize winner David Barstow of the New York Times.
