Can I get into Northwestern University?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Background: I am a white male, attend boarding school, and come from an upper-middle class family.

Currently a junior (HS class of 2016)

I will be applying ED

My school’s grading scale is on a 7 scale, and my GPA is currently 6.36. This translates roughly into the 4 scale as a 3.91, although our school reports GPA to colleges on the 7 scale. The 3.91 is just for your reference.

Our school does not do class rankings, due to its competitive nature.

My first ACT (with no prep work) was a 32
My second ACT (with prep work) was a 33
I plan to take it again in June
I will be taking Chemistry and Math II Sat II tests in May

Our school offers very few APs to non-seniors, and even fewer to underclassmen. This is due to the rigorous coursework associated with an AP class.

APs taken: Biology
APs Senior Year: Calculus BC, Physics C Mechanics/E&M, German, Economics, Chemistry

Extra Curriculars: Varsity Soccer Goalie, Student Ambassador, Model United Nations, Film Club, Indian Culture Club, Table Tennis Club President, hopefully a dorm Prefect and Morgan Leader (These are leadership positions within our school)

I am also an Eagle Scout

I have great recommendations from my teachers

I have held 2 summer jobs: Pharmacy Technician at a local independent Pharmacy (3 summers)
Website Designer/IT specialist at a wholesale auto dealer

My intended major is Mechanical Engineering, and possibly Medical School afterwards

Any feedback would help, thanks!

2

You have really good stats, especially for ED. I got in this year ED with very simmilar stats and ECs. The only thing that might hurt you is that McCormick is generally the hardest school to get into with a higher average ACT, GPA! AP kids, etc. If your thinking med school afterword anyways, maybe apply to Weinberg as some sort of science major like chemsitry, and then once your accepted try to double major across schools or switch immediately to engineering (even before classes even start, it’s incredibly easy and would probably improve your odds-- you don’t even declare your major to sophomore year anyways). Even if you don’t do that, you have balanced ECs and good grades. With ED you’d almost certainly get in. Try to spend a lot of time on the essays though because it has a huge impact on your decision if you make it generic and don’t spend any time on it. Good luck, you’ll do fine, if NU’s your first choice hope to see you next year!

3

You sound like a great candidate for Northwestern! Based on your stats, ECs, and GPA - you seem great to me! I can honestly say that as long as you continue to get good grades, hold leadership roles in your EC’s and write some darn good essays - then you’ll be in a really good position.

Also, make sure that some of your EC’s mirror a potential major/concentration you hope to pursue… it looks really good!

I got into Northwestern RD and I had nowhere as good a resume as you. I can say that you need to do something creative in your commonapp essay - not just some regular expository stuff… something awesome, mind-blowing, some different, if you can. That is for sure what got me into Northwestern (And Cornell, and Notre Dame, and Berkeley).

Good luck! If you have any specific questions, concerns…etc… please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I’m here.