Application deadline
1 April 2026
College Preparation Program application deadline.
In-person Program
Expository Writing Credit Course
Northwestern’s writing course develops college-level expository writing through extended essays, seminar discussions, workshops, and individual instructor conferences.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Expository Writing Credit Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Rising juniors/seniors; GPA 3.0+
Age range / Year group
Ages 16-18
Location / Region
Evanston, Illinois, United States
Cost
$6,936
Duration
6 weeks
Format
In-person
HumanitiesSocial SciencesTechnology
Accommodation: Residence hall or commuter
Meals: Residential: three meals daily
Sessions / cadence: Tuesday/Thursday, 1:00-3:30 p.m.; 5 hours weekly
Campus experience: Classes alongside university students
Credit / Outcome: One Northwestern credit unit
Instructor: Robert Ward
Main output: Three or four extended writing pieces
Expository Writing Credit Course summary
This is a college-level academic writing course built around practice. Students develop three or four extended expository pieces through planning, drafting, revision, and editing.
Seminar discussions, workshops, and regular individual conferences provide a structured writing experience. The listed section uses questions about race, culture, and technology as its academic focus.
It suits students who want to strengthen analytical prose and experience undergraduate expectations, rather than concentrate on fiction or poetry.
What is Expository Writing Credit Course?
Expository Writing is an introductory undergraduate English course offered through Northwestern University’s College Preparation Program. Its main purpose is to improve academic writing through sustained practice with extended pieces and shorter exercises. College Prep students study alongside Northwestern and visiting university students.
The scheduled section, Race and Technology: Being Human in the Post-Racial Era, examines how technology intersects with race, ethnicity, and culture. Classes combine seminar discussions and writing workshops, with regular individual instructor conferences. Students work through planning, drafting, revising, and editing rather than producing only a single final essay.
Why Succeed highlights Expository Writing Credit Course
Three or four extended pieces give students repeated practice across the full writing process.
Regular individual instructor conferences add personal attention to seminar discussions and workshops.
Studying alongside university students offers a direct test of undergraduate academic expectations.
The race-and-technology theme connects academic writing to substantial contemporary questions.
College credit and a recorded grade provide tangible academic outcomes.
Who is Expository Writing Credit Course for?
Best for
Students who want to improve academic prose through sustained writing, revision, and individual conferences while testing undergraduate study.
Not ideal if
You mainly want fiction or poetry, or need a flexible schedule that permits missed classes.
Is Expository Writing Credit Course worth it?
The strongest reason to choose this course is the combination of repeated writing practice and regular individual instructor conferences. For a student ready to revise seriously, that structure offers more depth than a brief introduction to essay writing. Undergraduate classmates and formal credit add a realistic college experience.
The financial commitment is substantial, especially with residential charges or additional classes for international enrollment. Attendance matters, and the experience requires independent time management. Choose it for the writing development and academic challenge; participation does not guarantee admission to Northwestern.
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A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$6,936; includes Undergraduate credit-course instruction., Seminar discussions and writing workshops., Regular individual instructor conferences., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Free Writing Place tutoring while enrolled., Residential room and board includes three meals daily..
Accommodation
Residence hall or commuter
Meals
Residential: three meals daily
Provider details
Review the Northwestern College Prep provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
6 weeks; Evanston, Illinois, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Expository Writing Credit Course need?
Effort level
High for a summer writing course.
Best started
Begin application preparation six to eight weeks before the next published deadline, allowing longer for English testing or visa planning.
Main challenge
Balancing drafting and revision with undergraduate attendance expectations.
Typical preparation
Ask your school how to arrange official transcripts and gather your activity dates.
Draft the approximately 500-word personal statement around a rewarding academic experience and your reasons for choosing the course.
Review a recent academic essay to identify writing habits you want to improve.
Plan around both weekly class meetings, and discuss housing, dietary needs, and any international enrollment requirements early.
Useful if
You want sustained practice in college-level academic writing.
What do students do on Expository Writing Credit Course?
You develop college-level expository writing through seminar discussions, workshops, and individual conferences. Extended pieces move through several stages, while shorter exercises let you experiment with techniques and explore ideas.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Explore questions about race, culture, and technology through the section’s academic focus.
- 2
Plan and draft three or four extended expository pieces.
- 3
Participate in seminar discussions and writing workshops.
- 4
Meet regularly with the instructor in individual conferences.
- 5
Revise and edit your extended pieces while completing shorter writing exercises.
Expository Writing Credit Course dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Programme dates
22 June-2 August 2026
Student check-in
21 June 2026
Residential students: 3:30 p.m.; commuters: 5:00-6:00 p.m. Central Time.
Student orientation
21 June 2026
6:00-7:00 p.m. Central Time for residential and commuter students.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 April 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Programme dates | 22 June-2 August 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Student check-in | 21 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Student orientation | 21 June 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Rising high school juniors or seniors.
Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Official high school transcripts in English.
Personal statement and extracurricular activities list.
English proficiency score when primary language or schooling is not English.
Instructor permission is listed for this section.
Commuters must live with a responsible adult over age 18.
Medical insurance is required during participation.
How much does Expository Writing Credit Course cost?
One-course commuter fee
$6,936 — $5,781 tuition plus the $1,155 mandatory program fee.
Funding or discounts
- Six-week room and board: $4,830 — Calculated from $805 weekly; additional for residential students.
- Application fee: $60 — Nonrefundable.
- Program deposit: $1,000 — Nonrefundable; applied toward the total program cost.
- Tuition scholarships: Need-based — Domestic US rising seniors with strong academic and extracurricular achievement.
- Returning-student fee waiver: $60 application fee — Former CPP students may request the published application fee waiver.
What's included
Undergraduate credit-course instruction., Seminar discussions and writing workshops., Regular individual instructor conferences., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Free Writing Place tutoring while enrolled., Residential room and board includes three meals daily.
How to apply to Expository Writing Credit Course
- 1
Use Northwestern’s College Preparation admissions page for the credit-course application process.
- 2
Prepare the approximately 500-word personal statement and extracurricular activities list.
- 3
Arrange official English-language transcripts and any required English proficiency score.
- 4
Submit the complete application and $60 application fee under the published cycle instructions.
- 5
After admission, activate your NetID and set up guest access and Northwestern email.
- 6
Pay the deposit and complete SchoolDoc registration so CPP staff can register you in the course.
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What does Expository Writing Credit Course cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Expository writing
Develop extended academic pieces through planning, drafting, revising, and editing.
Writing techniques
Use shorter exercises to experiment with techniques and explore ideas.
Race, ethnicity, and culture
Examine race as a social construction and its expression in society.
Technology and society
Consider how social media, virtual reality, and technological design shape relationships.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Expository Writing Credit Course?
A typical day during the program.
Class meetings
1:00-3:30 p.m. Central Time: 2.5 hours per meeting, five hours weekly.
Writing and conferences
Extended pieces, shorter exercises, and regular individual conferences support progress.
Residential check in
10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; residents remain inside until 6 a.m.
Who teaches on Expository Writing Credit Course?
Robert Ward teaches the scheduled Expository Writing section. Seminar discussions and workshops are supplemented by regular individual instructor conferences.
Free Writing Place tutoring is available to CPP students while enrolled.
Where do students stay on Expository Writing Credit Course?
Residential plan
- Assigned double rooms: Share an air-conditioned room with a CPP participant of the same gender identity.
- Three meals daily: The mandatory campus dining plan includes vegetarian, vegan, and low-fat choices.
- Residential support: Residential staff live in the hall and help students balance academic and social commitments.
- Study and shared spaces: Residence halls offer wireless internet, common lounges, and quiet study rooms.
Non-residential plan
- Commuter living arrangements: Live at home or with nearby relatives and a responsible adult over age 18.
- Activities and campus access: Commuters can join Get Ready Series workshops, excursions, and shared social activities.
- Commuter meals: Meals can be purchased at Norris University Center.
Students may explore without staff but must follow check-out and nightly check-in rules.
What happens after Expository Writing Credit Course?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Develop three or four extended expository writing pieces.
Earn one Northwestern credit unit upon successful completion, unless otherwise noted.
Receive a recorded undergraduate course grade.
View an unofficial transcript and request an official transcript.
Build experience with undergraduate writing and academic expectations.
Credit equivalence does not guarantee transfer acceptance, and participation does not guarantee Northwestern admission.
Where does Expository Writing Credit Course take place?
Classes meet in Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319 on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. CTA buses and trains connect Evanston with Chicago, and Metra serves surrounding suburbs.
CPP does not provide airport transportation; families arrange travel from O’Hare or Midway.
Expository Writing Credit Course FAQs
The focus is college-level expository and academic writing. Students develop three or four extended pieces and complete shorter exercises to explore techniques and ideas.
Robert Ward meets regularly with students in individual conferences, alongside seminar discussions and workshops. Free Writing Place tutoring is also available to CPP students while enrolled.
Credit courses normally carry one Northwestern credit unit unless otherwise noted. This is typically equivalent to four quarter hours or two and two-thirds semester credit hours; transfer acceptance depends on the receiving institution.
Yes. College Prep credit students take undergraduate classes with Northwestern and visiting university students, with university-level expectations for commitment and involvement.
Residential students share assigned double rooms and receive a mandatory meal plan with three meals daily while on campus. Commuters must live with a responsible adult over age 18 and can purchase meals at Norris University Center.
Students may explore campus and nearby areas without staff, but must check out and return for nightly check-in. Residential staff live in the hall, and residents must remain inside from curfew until 6 a.m.
International on-campus credit students generally need F-1 status and at least two classes. Students with existing immigration documents should discuss exceptions with CPP; English proficiency testing and health insurance requirements also apply.
No. Participation is one part of an application profile and does not guarantee undergraduate admission to Northwestern.
Alternatives to Expository Writing Credit Course
Compare these options if you want creative writing, journalism, or a research-based writing experience.
Alternatives to Expository Writing Credit Course
A summer program focused on creative writing.
Creative Writing
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
15-18
St Andrews
In-person
Best for
Students comparing creative writing with academic prose.
A summer program focused on journalism.
Media Studies
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
14-18
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Students interested in writing for media.
Online one-to-one research mentorship in writing and literature.
Literature
Deadline: Not announced
From $3900
14-18
Online
Online
Best for
Students seeking an individual online research format.
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Expository Writing, English, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, 2026 Summer: Class Descriptions - Northwestern University
- International Students, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Campus Life, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Pre-College Summer Programs for Credit: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Admission, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Tuition and Fees, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- FAQs, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- College Preparation Program — Summer 2026 Student Handbook
- Expository Writing: Northwestern University School of Professional Studies
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official course description checked
Application deadline verified
Eligibility requirements reviewed
Fee components reconciled
Class timetable checked
Housing policies reviewed
Credit outcomes verified
International requirements reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Expository Writing Credit Course
by Northwestern College Prep
Upcoming
May qualify for the £300 Succeed Programme Award.
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