<p>Hey guys, I'm an upcoming senior in high school and I plan on early actioning to Northeastern University, but I want to see if you guys think I have any chance of getting in at all. </p>
<p>Grades: My freshman and sophomore year I did terribly, getting around a 3.0 weighted with 4 honors classes overall. My junior year however, I got a 4.0 weighted, taking 1 AP class and 1 honors. My overall GPA isn't that great but I did improve and I'm taking hard classes my senior year.
SAT/ACT: I only took the SAT once my junior year (and I didn't study) because I was so busy and I got a 1750. However, I did so badly on the math section that if I get a 650 on math next time, I will already be at 1900. And I am taking a class before my next SAT so I think I have a good chance of doing well. I also plan on taking the ACT for the first time in September.
Extra Curricular:
-I made varsity soccer my sophomore year and have been playing since, as well as basketball freshman year (quit for winter track) and winter/spring track since sophomore year.
-I am a girl scout and I have my bronze and silver award. I am trying to get the gold award currently.
-I volunteer at the Learning Ally (reading for the blind) and I started this year, but will continue throughout the summer.
-I am about to become a lifeguard so I will have worked for this summer.
-I am in band and have been playing flute for over 10 years.
-I take flute classes out of school, and I took an improv class as well.
-I also recently got on student council as Secretary for my senior year. </p>
<p>Thanks guys! </p>
<p>There’s always a chance, but yours is a slim one. Your GPA is not very competitive, and though an upward trend is good, I think it is more effective when the GPA goes from good to great, not okay to good. Also, this is important to note: if you plan on using your senior year grades to boost your GPA/overall rigor of schedule, do not apply early action! Apply regular, when the school will see your first semester grades. Otherwise (at least in my opinion) they are way more likely to toss your app without giving it a chance.</p>
<p>Furthermore, as you said the SAT needs work, and with your current score your chances are low. If you can improve like you’ve predicted, chances are better. Again, if you plan on retaking in the fall (including taking ACT) I’d apply regular, when you will be able to get scores back and likely take each test again before applying to really secure your best score. Northeastern does not really provide a big advantage for kids applying early action, and they definitely don’t hesitate to defer (or deny). I think you’d want to step with your best foot forward, and that’d be with senior year improvements, so apply regular.</p>
<p>What is your UW GPA?</p>
<p>Hi, I have to completely agree with nova. </p>
<p>Definitely getting good grades senior year (All A’s) will be important and look good. SAT does need a bit of a boost (Ideally, 2100 for a solid chance to get in). </p>
<p>I applied regular last year with stats of: 3.8 Weighted, 3.4 u/w (hard magnet school in cali), 2150 SAT, lots of extra-curriculars and got into the business school. </p>
<p>Have been loving it ever since! Feel free to reply if you have any questions or shoot me a message. </p>
<p>Hi!! Thanks so much for commenting. I know that applying regular will give them a chance to see my senior grades, but I feel early decision would show them how much I really want to go there. I have a 3.47 weighted right now, and I’m really nervous. I’m hoping my essays help me!! How did your application to NU go?</p>
<p>It’s not early decision, it’s early action. Considering ~40% of the overall applicant pool applies early action, it won’t provide the advantage you seem to think it will. I reeeeally recommend waiting until you have stronger grades and scores, because as I mentioned they have a LOT to sort through and if you don’t step with your best foot forward, it’s easy for them to toss your app in the trash and not bat an eye. For example: I applied early action because it was the best decision for me (didn’t include senior year grades, wherein I bombed calculus first quarter). Applying regular would’ve hurt me, I think. For you, if you improve like you plan, it will be much smarter to apply regular where they can continue to see that trend. Do what you think is right, but please consider what I’ve said carefully.</p>
<p>Personally, I applied early, ~94/100 GPA UW (school doesn’t weight), 35 ACT, captain of track team, newspaper editor, tutor, a few AP’s, an internship, etc.; accepted EA, with honors and Dean’s 20k/year. I, and many others I believe, found this year’s admissions pool to be very test-score based (for EA, at least) with most all admitted in the first round to have SAT’s >2100 and ACT’s probably >31 or 32. They were very quick to defer, it seemed. With the number of applicants, they pretty much have to focus on objective more than subjective, so while it is important to have good recs/essays, neither will likely be your saving grace. Good luck, feel free to ask me any specific questions.</p>