Any advice to a high school sophomore looking at Northwestern?

Hey guys,

I’m currently a sophomore and I am really, really interested in Northwestern. I’m legacy and the school has always been a big part of my life. I want to major in political science, so WCAS it is. I’m going to apply ED.

My grades are horrendous (freshmen year GPA was about a 3.6 UW and a 4.0 W), but I’m working on it. I also just began studying for the ACT (I took a diagnostic two weeks ago and I’m still waiting for my scores).

I think my EC’s are pretty good, but I’m still not sure if they will cut it for NU. Here they are:

  • JV Debater (1st year debating and will probably make varsity next year)
  • Section Editor of award-winning school newsmagazine (on track to be EIC as a senior)
  • President of the Feminist Club
  • Young Democrats member (going to apply for leadership next year)
  • I’m in the process of forming two clubs: one focused on humanitarianism and the other focused on empowering teens to become politically active
  • NEHS member next year
  • Piano

I’m on track to have completed 11 AP’s by the end of high school. Currently I’m in AP World and as a junior I’ll be taking APUSH, AP Lang, AP Human Geo, and AP Econ.

I’m a strong writer so I think I will be able to write some solid essays and I have some teachers in mind who would write some good recs.

Also this summer I will be taking a college credit course at NU (some political science-centric one) and maybe an institute at Georgetown. I’m going to also volunteer at a children’s law center. And junior-senior summer I will either intern with some sort of government agency or my congressman during his reelection campaign and I will most likely do a humanitarian trip somewhere and of course, volunteer.

I’m a bi-racial (White and Asian) female from a good public school district.

Do you have any advice? Do I have a shot? Do you think it’s worth it for me to join cross country or MUN next year? Also, any ideas for safety schools with a good polisci program?

Thanks for reading and sorry for being so obnoxious and GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THOSE APPLYING!