<p>Did you get in?</p>
<p>Do you think its helpful for a person who isn't as strong grade-wise [upward trend] but in other aspects is? </p>
<p>Sorry for all these threads, scared for next year.(:</p>
<p>My son attempted to schedule an interview but wasn’t able to. He did get accepted and my suggestion is to see if an interview can be arranged but focus more effort on your supplemental essay. I believe that is what separates a candidate as you can see that almost all of them have 700+ SAT’s, 30+ ACT’s, and high GPA’s. </p>
<p>He really wanted to go to NU and I think it was brought out in his essay which he spent a lot of time on and edited multiple times over a few week period.</p>
<p>I concur with Kdog044. I would add that while those elements are key, there are enough applicants with them that you’ll also need to show some achievement in areas outside the classroom. Nail that essay.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman. He was attracted to the Integrated Science Program and that just sang out in his essay. I discovered later that NU prides itself and is a leader in such interdisciplinary study in many different fields as well.</p>
<p>Interview’s are non-substantive and have almost no effect on admissions outcomes.</p>
<p>the supplemental essay is incredibly important. i went to a northwestern presentation and the rep said that morton shapiro wanted students who really loved to come to northwestern. i dont think using a generic essay " why i want to come to this college" will help at all.</p>
<p>I got in without an interview. To me, it seemed like compared to other schools, NW doesn’t put too much emphasis on the interview. However, if you really want to get in, you need to write a great, specific, “why nw” supplement essay. If feasible, a visit might help to show that you love the school, and it will help you write a unique essay. But you certainly don’t need to visit to be admitted.</p>
<p>I also got in without an interview even I tried to schedule one via the link they provided. I do feel my essay probably made a big difference. I talked about my CTD experience when I was in 8th grade and how it impacted me in choosing NWU.</p>
<p>I had an interview and although many people say they’re basically useless, I think it was what tipped the scales in my favor [though I have good grades and ECs]</p>
<p>The only time an interview will do anything is if it is extraordinary or far better than an average good interview. NU was definitely my best interview, but I’m also a very talkative, energetic person.</p>
<p>Overall, an interview can’t hurt, but most likely won’t do anything.</p>
<p>No interview and got in. My parents were super mad that I never took the time to schedule one. I spent a lot of time on my supplemental essay though.</p>
<p>No interview and no campus visit – and we live in Chicago. But my son did take the extra time to fill out an ISP application, which might have confirmed serious interest.</p>
<p>Yep, same for me as Twins. I didn’t have time to apply for an interview, but I worked hard on my Why NU essay alot though.</p>
<p>No interview/visit but I was still accepted</p>
<p>I think that is what deffinately separates people: the essays. However, writing essays is the WORST for me. I can write a decent argumentative or synthesis one but one like NU requires? UGH! I am spending all my time from September - November (ED) on the app but still.:/</p>
<p>LoremIpsum: Did he get into the program as well?</p>
<p>I got in without an interview. I’m pretty sure they sent a postcard offering one and I ignored it.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how important the essays really are. However, I think many applicants approach them in the wrong way. IMO, the primary goal is to complement the rest of your application and produce a cohesive picture of yourself. My “Why NU?” essay never actually explained why I would want to attend Northwestern instead of some other school. But it did provide the background explaining my academic interests and future plans.</p>
<p>I got in with an interview, but the interview wasn’t like stellar. It was a little disappointing, actually, because my interviewer didn’t actually attend Northwestern full time - she was in the graduate business program that involved internships and such - so she didn’t really have anything good to talk to me about. We did talk about books and theatre, but it certainly wasn’t as stellar as some of my others.</p>
<p>Signed up for but was not offered an interview. I was accepted.</p>
<p>Neither my best friend or I got an interview but we both got in. I’m pretty sure that interviews don’t have that much weight… I had an interview for UChicago but was waitlisted. Though that probably isn’t a legit comparison.</p>
<p>No interview or visit for me, and I was accepted.</p>
<p>I thought Northwestern’s interviews were informational, not evaluative?</p>
<p>Even though I live in Chicago and it would’ve been easy to schedule an interview, I didn’t, and I was still accepted.</p>
<p>I concur with the people who said that the supplemental essay is one of the most important things–it allows you to express your interest in Northwestern and explain how you would be a good addition to the school’s community.</p>