<p>Okay, now I need help with the hardest decision I've ever had. It's a long story so here it goes: </p>
<p>Originally, I decided I was going to choose Carnegie Mellon over Northwestern. I live in Pittsburgh and realized that it would be convenient to be at a school so close. I also never visited Northwestern and don't know if I should make a huge decision based on a school I have never visited. I decided to choose Carnegie Mellon because they were offering me 40k in grant money to attend. I realized that reduces the cost significantly. I haven't discovered my Northwestern Financial Aid award, but we'll get back to that. I paid my $800 for CMU already and realized I would not get that back if I choose to pick Northwestern. </p>
<p>Now to the dilemma, I found out that the reason I got accepted to Northwestern is because a friend of my father put in a good word for me (which I really don't like because I'm sure someone else deserved it, but its not like my stats are really that much lower than their standard applicant). I also found out that if I attend Northwestern they will give me a free ride because of said friend (friend is good friends with the person who apparently donated the library to Northwestern). I realize with the free ride CMU may match the offer because Northwestern is a peer institution (although a free ride is a pretty big match). </p>
<p>So, I don't know what I should do. I plan on doing Pre-Med with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Psychology. I also feel that CMU connects with me on a more personal level, while Northwestern is just based on statistics and information I find out from other people. I've also visited CMU and have only seen some of Northwestern. I've been to Chicago, but haven't actually been on Northwestern's campus. I also plan on hopefully having a chance at Harvard Medical School in the future, so a school that could help with that would be awesome.</p>
<p>I also have friends at CMU and one of my cousins went to Northwestern. Northwestern I really don't know much about and only applied on a whim (because said friend planned on writing a letter of recommendation, but decided to call instead and instantly got them to accept me). I really don't know what to do. I guess it depends on whether or not I plan to stay in Pittsburgh, because around here Carnegie Mellon is WELL known, while Northwestern, not so much. Which one is better known (which is important in this economy)?</p>
<p>If you actually read my ramble, thank you! I really need the advice. Any feedback is appreciated immensely. Hopefully, I can make the right decision with your assistance. :)</p>
<p>Does this friend know that you’re not really interested in Northwestern? No one works these kind of favors for someone if it’s not a definite. This should never have happened unless you were 110% certain you wanted NU but since it did happen somehow you really need to go to NU if you ever expect help from this guy again. Given that you’re looking at medical school in the future you might need this guy because there’s little chance you’ll get into Harvard (nothing personal, just a fact) and NU has a great medical program. </p>
<p>Since you don’t know NU it’s hard for you to compare but I will mention one thing - pre-med students are probably the largest group to change their majors and if that should happen to you Northwestern offers many, many, many more options than CMU which is basically a limited trade school.</p>
<p>If you (or your dad) never need this guy again then maybe you can burn the bridge, IMHO, it’s gone too far without you stopping it. Your lack of input in the process has made your decision for you.</p>
<p>SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t Take
ACT: 27 (Superscore)
SAT II: Chem 560, Hist 460, Math II 620
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): Don’t know but weighted 3.93
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 17/460?
AP (place score in parenthesis): Didn’t Send
IB (place score in parenthesis): Didn’t Take
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc, AP Euro, Physics, AP English, AP French, Psychology 2, etc.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): A lot if you want to know PM me (btw nothing extremely spectacular
Job/Work Experience: " " </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Are you serious when you say “it’s not like my stats are really that much lower than their standard applicant”?!!! - Go check NU’s Admission Results. I am offended to say the least, and quite a few would feel the same. U got in because of your URM status and also because of that rich donor’s words, as you state and I agree. </p></li>
<li><p>Since you seem to know already that it is not the true you but other factors that got you into NU and will also get you a potential big grant, my suggestion is: Cough it up for the waitlistees who truly deserve it. That will also save you from your school selection dilemma.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Well you sort of answered your question already. If you applied on a whim, and you were set on CMU, then you should go there! Like above poster said, if you don’t take the place, there are plenty of people on the wait list (like me!) who would really like to attend. Of course, it’s your decision and I’m being a little opportunistic here :P</p>
<p>But seriously, if you can’t connect with NU and only know it in terms of statistics and hearsay, you would probably enjoy attending CMU more than attending NU.</p>
<p>If those are average NU stats my son must be way above average. He has 4.0 UW GPA, ACT:35, SAT II: 760 Math II and 730 Biology and is taking AP Calculus, AP Stats, AP Psychology and AP English Lit this year.:o</p>
<p>No offense harvard521 but this seems kinda trollish…your friend’s father would have needed to be pretty high on the rung at Northwestern to give your app any sort of boost (and if anything it would have been a boost–not an automatic acceptance). Also NU’s financial aid is need-based so I don’t see how they would give you a free-ride unless you needed one financially.</p>
<p>Your best bet is to pick a school where u can maintain gpa of 4.0, so you can get into Harvard med school, which is your long-term goal, eh?! Good luck on that. Oh, during that search, I hope you pick up your dignity.</p>
<p>First, I wouldn’t have posted this if it wasn’t a true dilemma. Second, I understand that I don’t appreciate getting the boost, but here is exactly what happened:</p>
<p>My dad is a school board member and went to the NSBA in Chicago in April (I went too). I met this guy and he said he would recommend me for NU. I asked him for a letter of recommendation in December before I sent my app. He never replied back. In March, I found out I was accepted (completely shocked). My dad went for the NSBA for this year last week, where he saw this guy again. The guy said he wasn’t able to write me a letter of recommendation, but he called his friend at admissions and said, “I wanted to send in a letter of recommendation for ******* (me), but I didn’t get a chance to write it.” The admissions guy, offendedly, replied, “You just did, you didn’t need to write one you just needed to call.” That’s where the acceptance I’m sure has come. Now to the financial aid. My dad told him that I was planning on going to CMU because they offered me a 40k grant. The guy said, “I could get NU to get him in free.” I honestly wish I wouldn’t have been told this because I was happy with choosing CMU, especially since I’ve never visited NU, but going for free would greatly lessen my parents contribution. That’s where my issue is! Yes, I would have liked to believe that my stats got me in, but honestly even if he hadn’t got his help and I got in I would have questioned whether it was because I got in from AA. Another thing is that knowing people in high places (in this world) gets you places. I don’t agree that it should be like that, but it is. For example, if this discussion had been about a job the responses would have been different. When you know someone in a high place hiring people for a position and you are not as qualified as someone else 9 times out of 10 (as long as you have some qualifications) you will get the job. Anywho, I wasn’t asking whether I still have my dignity, I was asking what you would do in this situation.</p>
<p>A guy who doesn’t know you makes one phone call and you get in plus get a free ride? This sounds unbelievable. If it’s true, you might not want to annoy this guy, god knows which of his other connections might appear on your doorstep some dark evening!</p>
<p>That’s kind of funny, but he doesn’t know me he knows my dad. The story sounds unbelievable to me too, but that’s what my dad said he said. Plus, my stats aren’t really all that, so it seems plausible. I really don’t know. All I know is I got accepted, shockingly, and they are offering me money. Whether you believe me or not, isn’t my dilemma. I was just asking for advice because I was trying to get assistance from unbiased sources since each of my friends (and family members) has a different school they want me to attend.</p>
<p>NU CC’ers, I came here to see what you were writing-- I thought this was a ■■■■■ as well.</p>
<p>OP gave you more info- and the story here on NU vs. CMU boards is even more bizarre.</p>
<p>Is this Barack Obama we’re talking about here!!! Geez-- people don’t call up for perfect strangers who didn’t even apply and then magically gain a spot and free one.</p>
<p>OP you got some serious issues with needing attention to write this kind of garbage.</p>
<p>Here’s the CMU threads-- you got more drama going on here. Forget med school- become a creative writing or screenplay writer. HA</p>
<p>NU is not in the habit of handing out money to “random sons of acquaintances of friends of people who donated significantly to the library.” (Deering? McCormick? Engelhardt? Maybe Crown or Pritzker?) someone is pulling your leg or you are pulling ours. </p>
<p>Besides, anyone who ever really did it through inside means would be told not to breathe a word.</p>
<p>I really didn’t ask whether or not you believe me because honestly I don’t care. I just wanted advice, but apparently that was too much to ask without people looking past the issue.</p>
<p>You know what I already made my decision, if it makes you feel better to say I was lying: FINE THEN I WAS LYING!!! Whatever will help you sleep tonight…</p>
<p>Have fun at CMU harvard521! Now NU can save that “free-ride” for someone who actually needs the money, not someone whose income bracket is >$120,000.</p>
<p>Harvard521
With a 27 ACT score you will get chewed up and spit out at Northwestern. Your connections and URM status may have gotten you into NU but you will be the one competing with students who primarily earned their way in (32-34 mid ACT). Avg UG GPA at NU is a 3.4. Your stats suggest you will fall well short of this. Unless Medical schools practice the same tactics in admitting underwhelming URM applications over more qualified applications your time at NU will be wasted.</p>
<p>I want you to think about your story. There are plenty of people who have high-level, close connections to mucky-mucks at Northwestern and can’t get their own kids in. So we’re supposed to believe that someone who’s never even met you, who only knows your father from meeting at a conference, is going to go to bat for you, both for admissions and financial aid? Sorry. Doesn’t work that way. If your father was BFF with the president of Northwestern, I might believe it. But not a random acquaintance at a conference. Sorry. Nice try, but someone’s lying, somewhere.</p>
<p>Since when are test scores an accurately predictor of college success? Also, I didn’t ask anyone to believe me, I just asked for advice. I don’t understand why the validity of my statement has any relevance to giving advice.</p>
<p>People that test well do well in college. If you don’t take tests as well as your peers, your grade–which is predominately based on these tests–will not be as high as your peers. We aren’t saying that you’ll be a complete failure in college. You just won’t be near the top at this particular school.</p>