I really want to study Chemical Engineering at Northwestern in the next few years. This is my junior year. I am taking the ACT in a month and am planning to retake the SAT in June.
Highschool: 1st in Indiana
GPA: 3.99 (unweighted)
4.4 (weighted)
Class Rank: Top 3% (class size 1230)
SAT:
(CR): 700
(M): 740
(W):730
AP:
Human Geography (4)
Chemistry (this year)
Psychology (this year)
Microeconomics (this year)
Macroeconomics (this year
Physics I (next year)
Calc AB (next year)
Biology (next year)
IB:
English (exam taken next year)
Visual Arts (exam taken next year)
While I haven’t taken most of these exams I have As in all the course and know I can get at least a 4 on all of them.
Extracurriculars:
GKOM mentor
National Honor Society
Gold Key at Scholastic
Carmel Arts Council Member
STEM club president
TEDx Club president
Chemistry Lab internship over summer at IUPUI
Volunteer:
Help out at habitat for Humanity for 100+ hours
I’m planning on writing a stellar essay for my application and am going to spend all summer on it.
What are my chances and what do I need to work on? Oh and I’m a female if that would change anything. Thanks!
You are definitely qualified. I’d say you will most likely get in. But having received several rejection letters by now, they all say that many qualified students are still not admitted. You should definitely try your best and show interest since it is your top school.
Good luck!
“Most likely get in.” No, not unless OP applies Early Decision. NU’s overall acceptance rate is about 10%, and a large % of the class is admitted ED, with the acceptance rate for ED being MUCH higher, so the RD % is less than the general acceptance rate.
I’m not using acceptance rate as a measure of likeliness to get in, but what I am saying is that academic qualifications will only get your foot in the door. For every qualified applicant admitted, 8 or 9 (or higher) more qualified applicants are denied or waitlisted. It will be up OP’s essays and the presentation of the application to get her into NU.
With a great essay and good ACT (preferably 33-34 range, but anything above a 30s fine) your almost a definite admittance ED. RDs a lot more tricky recently, but I’d still stay your a very strong candidate for that too with a good ACT. I don’t know how income affects you, but so you know when deciding if to ED or not, NU have very good financial need-blind aid. I’d maybe look at a their net price calculator, as if NU is one of (or your top choice) it’ll probably be finance that will determine if you decide to ED as that’s the primarily factor for most people. My advance is if NU is your top choice you shook strongly consider ED (ESPECIALLY for engineering because that is so TOUGH to get into compared to say Weinberg) bc RD is actually becoming so insane in terms of odds especially looking at this year where half the NU class (including me!) was admitted ED. Anyways, I’m going on a tangent, your extremely well qualified!
You’re right @hungryteenager I used the wrong word. I meant “competitive” instead of “qualified.” Most people who apply are probably qualified, but far less are actually competitive academically and in terms of extracurriculars. I would say OP is competitive, since she’s in the middle 50 for SAT and has an almost perfect GPA.
But obviously nothing can guarantee you are going to get into NU until you receive your admissions letter.
Definitely retake the SAT though. That CR score is just 10 points above the 25th percentile for the freshman class, so it could hurt you. Aim for a 740+.
@undecidedac96 I feel that her SAT score won’t be viewed in that light. I think the 25th-75th percentile markings just say cumulatively what the score averages are, but in reality, most (or a lot) of the people accepted probably got 75th percentile on one section and 25th on the other, or some variation of that. It doesn’t necessarily mean that a lower score in one section will decrease chances by very much, if it will affect it at all. I feel that the overall SAT composite is what is slightly worrisome. Even then, she has a foot through the door with being in the 50th percentile.
But, of course, any increase in scores will be beneficial.
Overall, I feel that her SAT scores won’t hurt or help her–they’re just there. Other parts of her application have to be very very good, such as her high GPA.