I remember breaking into a cold sweat while copying and pasting my personal essay into the Common App. Yes, Northwestern encourages applicants to embrace their authenticity. But will mentioning my 504 plan impact my chances? Does Northwestern actually accept students like me who learn differently? Should I even bother applying? If I could travel back in time to senior year, I would tell myself: absolutely. However, I had my hesitations at first.

I initially assumed that Northwestern, as a private university, would be exempt from providing the accommodations I needed at my public high school. After I submitted my intent to enroll, I was somewhat anxious about how I would perform on exams without testing accommodations. Not to mention the thought of taking handwritten class notes if any of my professors wouldn’t allow computers. But during Wildcat Welcome I realized I didn’t have anything to worry about thanks to AccessibleNU!

AccessibleNU ensures that all students with learning differences are afforded necessary accommodations, equal access, and full participation. The office provides services like adaptive software, note-taking services, and even priority registration for classes. They even connect students with one another who are willing to meet folks with similar experiences. I’m grateful that AccessibleNU referred me to join Eye to Eye, an after-school mentoring program. Every Tuesday, mentors work on reflective art projects with local middle schoolers who share our learning differences.

The registration process for AccessibleNU is more straightforward for students like me who were privileged to have Individualized Education Plans, 504 Plans, or similar support in public school for documented disabilities. However, there are also students who don’t realize that they have learning differences until they get to college. And that’s totally fine! I have two friends who were able to register with AccessibleNU with temporary accommodations while seeing professionals on campus at CAPS (or nearby) for review and recommendation. Many folks think you need medical documents as “proof” to receive accommodations. Surprisingly, documentation is not designed for “proving” a disability… it’s less needed when a student’s condition is clear.

The community within AccessibleNU truly makes the resource so special. Every time I walk into the alternative testing center, I feel at ease when a smiling employee wishes me luck with a purple stress ball. My incomparable adviser, Lauren, makes me feel like I matter. While the vast majority of Northwestern professors are incredibly supportive and include their commitment to AccessibleNU on their syllabi, I did have one challenging experience with a visiting professor. After checking in with Lauren for advice, I held my breath and stopped by my lecturer’s office hours. The professor was actually really receptive once I pulled up the AccessibleNU website! Sometimes you just have to advocate for yourself but assume best intentions as well.

While AccessibleNU promises confidentiality, I’ve found that opting to connect with other students who learn differently has made me more accepting and proud of my ability status. Had I known that Northwestern and its community were so supportive of students with learning differences, I would have centered my experience even more in my personal essay. I’m in my final year at NU which means I get to complete my student teaching in January. Just like Lauren taught me to be direct about self-advocacy, I look forward to supporting students who learn differently as an educator myself for future generations of potential wildcats!