applying RD, do i have a shot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Male
Public HS in MA
16/268
GPA: 88.5/100 unweighted (not sure about weighted), upward trend
SAT: 620/800/650 (CR/M/W) (Jr Year)
600/700/660 (CR/M/W) (Sr Year)
SAT II: Biology 550 (Fr)
US History 750 (Jr)
Chemistry 720 (Jr)
Math II 680 (Jr)
AP's: Chemistry 5 (Jr),US History 4 (Jr); this May: Physics B (C isn't offered), Calculus AB (BC isn't offered), European History</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
Boy Scouts of America <a href="6%20years,%203hr/wk,%2042wks/yr">Life Scout, almost Eagle</a>
Order of the Arrow <a href="3%20years,%201+%20hr/month,%2012%20months/yr">Brotherhood</a>*
Student Council (4 Years, Secretary, Award Winner) (2.5hr/wk, 35wk/yr)
National Honor Society (2 Years, 2+hr/month, 10 months/year)
Church Youth Group (3 Years, 2hr/wk, 32wk/yr)
Invisible Children Schools-for-Schools (1 Year, 1+hr/wk, 40wks/yr)
French Club (2 Years)
Latin Club (1 Year)</p>

<p>*time dependent on service projects and other organization obligations</p>

<p>Sports:
High School Football (4 Years: 1 Freshman, 1 JV/Varsity, 2 Varsity) (Letter Winner)
High School Indoor Track and Field (3 Years: 1 JV, 2 Varsity) (Letter Winner)
High School Outdoor Track and Field (3 Years: 1 JV, 2 Varsity) (Letter Winner)
Babe Ruth Baseball (5 Years)</p>

<p>Scholastic Awards:
National Latin Exam Maxima Cum Laude Silver Medal (2006)
National French Exam Certificat d’honneur (2006)
National French Exam Certificat de Réussite (2007)
High Honors (1x)
Honor Roll (8x)
Perfect Attendance (5x)</p>

<p>Community Service:
100+ Hours
examples:
Mentor/Chaperone dances
Clean up, clear trails at local parks and schools
Repaint church
Project Bread: Walk for Hunger
Fundraising for Invisible Children
Helped at school for reaccreditation</p>

<p>Paid Work:
Job 1, 10th-12th 30hrs/wk, 12wk/yr (Summer Job)
Job 2, 10th-12th, 14hr/wk, 15wks/yr
Job 3, 7th-12th, 8hr/wk, 10wks/yr</p>

<p>I know Northwestern is selective, do i have a shot of getting in during regular decision? I haven't visited campus either, so that is probably going against me too.</p>

2

<p>There are a lot of things going against you, unfortunately. Your gpa is not too competitive and neither is your standardized test scores. Your ECs aren't "stellar", although your involvement with sports is impressive. You'd really have to write an eye-opening essay to be considered as a top applicant, in my opinion. Good luck</p>

3

<p>I concur with ep1th3t</p>

4

<p>Of course you have a chance for gaining admission to the WCAS at NU if you write compelling & convincing essays. But the chance is about 15%, which is slightly lower than the RD round is expected to be this year. At first read, your profile suggests that Notre Dame should be an option for you to consider.
Did you take a review course for the SAT between the first & second sittings?
P.S. Your GPA is fine since you are in the top 5% of your class.
P.P.S. Also your profile appears weaker than it should based on your achievements because you have not presented a reason for wanting to attend Northwestern University.
P.P.S. Moral of the story is don't mess with an 800?!?
Your chances will be greatly diminished, in my opinion, if your grades--like your SAT scores--also declined in your senior year.</p>

5

<p>a superscore of 1420/2080 isn't bad, imo.</p>

6

<p>The 1420 isn't a superscore & it is below the average SAT I for Northwestern University (1429/1600 last year including all schools) and low for the WCAS (about 1440/1600 SAT I).</p>

7

<p>your SAT won't get you rejected basically. I was admitted to WCAS and Bienen with a 1240/1600. However, I also have many leadership positions in my extra curriculars, wrote a (what I believe to be) compelling essay, and had a piano audition. You just have to make up for what you lack in other components of your application.</p>

8

<p>^^ very true, NU isn't just a numbers school. I got in with a 1420/ 2100 SAT, but I spent a ton of time on my essays and had pretty decent ECs.</p>