RED101 Days
You're invited! After you've been accepted for admission, join us for this exclusive event. You'll get an in-depth look at life in Raider Nation.
Your parents are invited too! As you spend your time exploring what it's like to be a Northwestern student, your parents are invited to attend sessions with staff from various campus offices to learn more about their role in supporting your transition to college.
2023-24 Dates
- Nov. 12-13
- Jan. 14-15
- Feb. 18-19
- April 7-8
RED101 Days schedule
| SUNDAY | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Campus tours (optional, register in advance) |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner in the cafeteria (optional, register in advance) |
| 6:30 p.m. | Welcome |
| 7 p.m. | For students: RED101 activity with NWC students For parents: Q&A session with residence life, campus life, and financial aid staff |
| 8:30 p.m. | Praise & Worship (optional for parents) |
| 9:30 p.m. | Hang out with NWC students and stay overnight in the dorms |
| MONDAY | |
| 8:15 a.m. | Check-in and registration for Monday-only visitors |
| 8:30 a.m. | Our Promise: Northwestern College Will Prepare You to Stand Out |
| 9 a.m. | Options: Individual appointments and auditions (arranged in advance upon request), ID photos, foreign language placement indicator, career exploration, dorm tours, campus tours, and Orange City tours [see option details below] |
| 10 a.m. | Academic meetings |
| 10:40 a.m. | Student Experience Session |
| 11:45 a.m. | Catered luncheon |
| 1 to 3 p.m. | Optional individual appointments and auditions (arranged in advance upon request), campus tours, ID photos, foreign language placement indicator [see option details below] |
- A taste of academic life at Northwestern—why it's excellent and what makes it unique
- Opportunities to hear from current students about campus life
- The chance to meet with a professor, coach or other potential mentor
- Information for parents, including the chance to ask questions about financial aid
- An overnight in the dorms with a current student
- Career exploration session – You’ll meet with staff from our Compass Center for Career & Calling to learn how they can help you explore career options. You can also take a career assessment, which gages your skills, talents and abilities and how they might transfer into a career.
- Orange City van tour – See all Orange City has to offer! The tour will include an overview of downtown businesses, the local hospital, Landsmeer Golf Club, restaurants, parks, churches and more.
- Meeting with admissions staff – You and your parents will meet with a member of our admissions team to talk through the admissions process, transferring credits, financial aid and more.
- Music and theatre auditions – If you’re interested in auditioning for a music or theatre scholarship, you can do so during your visit. (These need to be arranged in advance. Learn more: Music + Theatre)
- Individual coach appointment – Meet with a coach from your chosen sport to learn more about practice schedules and what a day in the life of a Raider athlete entails.
- Staff appointment – Take this opportunity to meet with our financial aid director; learn more about study abroad and mission opportunities; or find out how you can get involved in campus ministries. Note that you’ll meet with a group of students regarding your chosen academic interest at a different time.
- Residence hall tours – You and your parents will take a tour of NWC residence halls, led by a member our admissions team. You’ll learn more about life in each dorm—including dorm-specific traditions!
- Attend a class – You’re invited to sit in on a college class, where you’ll observe and learn more about homework expectations. We will do our best to accommodate your subject-matter requests or give you the option of sitting in on a NWCore requirement class.
Soon after you're accepted for admission, you'll receive a RED101 Days invitation with details and registration information. (Or, as soon as you have your acceptance letter, you can go ahead and register.)
Registration for each RED101 Day closes one week before the event, or earlier if it reaches capacity. Be sure to register early so you can attend on your preferred day.
From the north , take the Beresford, South Dakota, exit (Exit 47) and turn east on S.D. Highway 46. Follow the highway approximately 17 miles as it turns south and becomes Iowa Highway 10 entering Iowa. In Hawarden, look for the sign for Highway 10 East and Orange City and turn left (east) onto Highway 10. Orange City is approximately 20 miles east of Hawarden. Highway 10 intersects Northwestern’s campus. Once you are in Orange City, turn left (north) onto Albany Avenue at the first stop light. Go one block and turn left (west) onto 6th Street SE. Drive one more block and you'll reach the entrance to Northwestern's campus. Enter the boulevard and park in the lot on your right or left. The admissions office is in the Vogel Welcome Center, the first building on your left when you drive down the boulevard.
From the south, take the Iowa Highway 75/20 bypass (Exit 144A) on the south side of Sioux City and follow U.S. Highway 75 north to Le Mars. Stay on the four-lane divided highway as it bypasses Le Mars and becomes U.S. Highway 60 on the north side of town. Travel another 10 miles on Highway 60 until you reach Carnes and turn left (north) onto county road K64 for five miles to Orange City. Northwestern College is at the intersection of K64/Albany Avenue and Highway 10. Continue on through the stop light at that intersection for one block and turn left (west) onto 6th Street SE. Drive one more block and you'll reach the entrance to Northwestern's campus. Enter the boulevard and park in the lot on your right or left. The admissions office is in the Vogel Welcome Center, the first building on your left when you drive down the boulevard.
Take Interstate 29 north and follow the above directions.
From the east, take the first Worthington, Minnesota, exit (Exit 45) and head south on Minnesota Highway 60. Take Highway 60 approximately 50 miles south to Alton and turn west on Iowa Highway 10 for three miles to Orange City. Northwestern College is at the intersection of Highway 10 and Albany Avenue. At the stoplight at that intersection, turn right (north) onto Albany Avenue, go one block, and turn left (west) onto 6th Street SE. Drive one more block and you'll reach the entrance to Northwestern's campus. Enter the boulevard and park in the lot on your right or left. The admissions office is in the Vogel Welcome Center, the first building on your left when you drive down the boulevard.
Airport transportation
Northwestern will provide transportation to and from airports in Sioux City, Iowa, (45 minutes from Orange City) and Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1.5 hours from Orange City). Visitors flying into other airports should arrange their own transportation to campus. (If your trip includes a visit to another college, we'll provide transportation at least to or from the airport, but not necessarily both.)
Your parents can find accommodations at one of our local hotels. Both Orange City hotels offer a discount for the college’s admissions office guests. Just call the hotel directly and indicate you are a campus visitor to get the special rate. For RED101 Days, Northwestern has a block of rooms reserved at the Hampton Inn. Ask for the RED101 discount when you make your reservation.
Northwestern will help pay for your visit to campus. Visit our reimbursements webpage for more information about how to qualify for this benefit.
