<p>Right now, I yearn for a Northwestern education in or around my brain. I am a junior at a very competitive public high school in Indiana, but have never been informed (and probably never will be, due to school policy) of my class rank. I am not confident in my mediocre credentials, but hope to improve in the remaining two to three semesters before I fill out an application. So, without further deliberation, please analyze my statistics and make your conclusions, however negative or positive they may be.</p>
<p>Current GPA: 3.6 (Counselor told me it would be possible to raise to a 3.7 in time for senior year application process)</p>
<p>I am also the associate editor of my high school newspaper, a JV lacrosse player, intramural basketball participant, Key Club member, and volunteer for Project READS, a year-long literacy project in which I teach elementary school students reading skills. I know this is a very general run-through, but where do I need to improve and is there hope, assuming I raise my SAT superscore by 150 and GPA by .1, to be a competent NU applicant? Also, should I start looking into Subject Tests? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>It’s really hard to chance your junior year simply because alot of improvement is subject to alot of variables… To help build up though, I’d definately work on improving SAT scores and GPA, try and get a leadership position in one if not more of your EC’s, apply for academic/ newspaper awards (if you can/ there are some available) and definately look into Subject Tests… That’s the one part of the application I wish I had been able to take. </p>
<p>And if NU is your dream, apply ED, it’s a kicker. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Sorry to say that NU is clearly a long shot for you at this point. You would need enormous increases in your SAT scores, good scores on SAT Subject tests, and a materially higher GPA with good grades in very hard courses (preferably APs) to be considered a solid candidate.</p>
<p>SAT scores are low for Northwestern University. Unfortunately, as an applicant from the Mid-West, you don’t even enjoy the advantage of offering geographical diversity. This doesn’t mean that you should not apply, it just suggests that you should consider applying to a few back-ups as well.</p>
<p>I’m with ColdWind.
Of course any improvement makes you more competitive, but NU is a real reach for you.
You also didn’t mention whether you take or will be taking AP courses, and if so, which ones. Which of your courses thus far have been honors level courses, and how did you do in them? The difficulty of your curriculum is probably even more important than the GPA.</p>
<p>Freshman Courses: Honors English 9A/B, Honors Algebra II, World History (the most advanced social studies courses available to freshman at my school).</p>
<p>Sophomore Courses: Honors English 10A/B, Physics I (one of four sophomores who took the course), Honors PreCalculus with Trigonometry, AP US History.</p>
<p>Junior Courses: AP English Literature and Composition, Economics, AP Government, Physics II (my school does not offer AP Physics), Honors PreCalculus with Discrete Math.</p>
<p>Really? I took a diagnostic SAT provided by my school’s Parents’ Club last year and scored a 1680. I raised it by 260 points this month to a 1940.</p>
<p>You should try CA schools. The weather is much better:) Your gpa is low, but Cal Berkeley and UCLA look pretty good with your scores. NU is quite different, but i do luv my so cal. sd is the place to be. I feel the pressure of college. I find out about my #1 school in 20 days! Good luck! try to get ur gpa up for sure.</p>
<p>diagnostic tests and the actual SAT are different, I’d definately log some study time. It’s usually difficult to break a range… But there are always exceptions. I just wouldn’t count on it without working for it.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s true. The real goal is to study journalism in Chicago and another school with easier admissions, Loyola, satisfies that criteria. Loyola’s a match, but I just wanted to know how much of a reach NU is.</p>