Chance A Professional Journalist- Is It Even Worth Applying To Medill?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
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<p>Hey everyone, </p>

<p>I just wanted to get some feedback from current students and potential applicants to Northwestern regarding my chances. I realize it is a reach for me, but as a journalist in the making I feel its worth applying to the Medill School at Northwestern. Please give me honest feedback. If I am completely out of the range, then it may not be worth the time for me to apply to the university.</p>

<p>GPA: B+ average ( around 87). My school is on a 4.5 GPA scale so not sure how to convert it.
ACT: 26
AP/Honors Courses: AP English Language, AP English Lit, English 2 Honors, German 3 Honors, Greek 1 Honors, Algebra 2 Trig Honors, Biology Honors
School: Well Respected Private School On East Coast
Recommendations: Both Of My Teachers Recs Are Excellent, Very Personal. I am also getting one from a Northwestern alumnus ( current journalist) that I have worked for.</p>

<p>Activities/Accomplishments: To put into the best words possible, I am a freelancer/professional journalist. I have been writing about sports since my freshman year, and began writing at BleacherReport.com. Since then, my career has taken off as I now write for a site that's an affiliate of ESPN.</p>

<p>Here are some stats: Have 1 million+ total reads on all of my articles between both sites. Last year, I covered the Baltimore Ravens for a blog on NFL.com. That blog was run by a Northwestern alumnus, and some freshman at the Medill school also contributed to the site.</p>

<p>I've had articles published or linked to by ESPN, CBS Sports, and the Houston Chronicle. I will likely send one or two articles to them.</p>

<p>This past summer, I attended a journalism seminar at Columbia University.</p>

<p>Other activities include: lector and volunteer at my church ( since freshman year), baseball coach in my community ( 3 years and counting), 60+ hours of community service with local charities, member of school newspaper, also a campus minister in my high school ( in charge of organizing retreats and school wide masses).</p>

<p>I appreciate the feedback guys!</p>

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<p>Two thoughts:
1- as you recognize, your grades are lowish and your ACT pretty dreadful for NU (the latter is so poor by comparison to others that i have some concern about your getting in over your head if you were admitted);
2- as long as you have a Plan B, why not apply if NU is where you’d ideally like to be? What have you got to lose?</p>

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<p>Thank you for your reply, along with some of your concerns.</p>

<p>As mentioned, I certainly have other options I’m looking at. I’m applying early to a school, but wanted to take a shot at the Medill School as my potential reach… Most of my other schools are either targets or slight reaches, nothing to astronomical. It’s arguably the best journalism school in the country, thus I feel it’s worth applying to.</p>

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<p>Here it my take on your situation… you truly do have some killer credentials going for you, but as stated, your ACT score can potentially be your downfall. can you take the December 10th ACT and shoot for like a 29 or 30? Then you will have a shot because Medill’s ACT range typically isn’t as high as say Weinberg</p>

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<p>I say apply and go for it. Your ECs are very impressive and show great potential to succeed in Medill. Your chances would’ve been stronger ED however.</p>

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<p>Thanks for both replies!</p>

<p>Wildcat339, I am taking the December ACT, and hope to get my score up for my regular decision schools.</p>

<p>Wildcatalum, that is my thinking. It’s a reach but it’s worth a shot and anything can happen. The reason I didn’t apply ED is because since my chances are low to begin with, I didn’t want to waste it. I’m applying ED to Newhouse School of Communications ( original 1st choice), but Medill would be my top choice RD if i were to get in.</p>

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<p>@wildcatalum I’ve also met with the NJ director of recruitment for Northwestern and have talked to dean of admissions telling him my story… I feel it’s worth trying.</p>

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<p>You spoke with Christopher Watson? That’s great, how did you manage that?</p>

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<p>By spoke I only mean through email ha… My bad to make it seem better than it was… But yeah, basically I just emailed him showing my interest in Northwestern, saying why I want to be there, and also sent him an article of mine that was on ESPN… I got to take chances haha</p>

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<p>Good for you, yeah, why not take chances? I have the same philosophy.</p>

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<p>Yup… If I got into Medill, I would sign on the dotted line so to speak… Btw, anyone else who can chance can. It would be appreciated!</p>

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<p>Medill junior here…your journalism credentials are impressive but not the only thing NU will be looking for. Some of the best students in Medill are those who come in with little to no formal journalism experience. Your experience will draw a closer look so I say you have a chance but its going to be tough especially as applications will probably be up again this year for regular decision. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the reply! I do realize it is a reach, but just wanted to see if it was worth appyling. I appreciate the feedback.</p>

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<p>So, it sounds like you understand that your stats are somewhat low for Medill, but based on your journalism experience, you want to apply anyway.</p>

<p>So, Apply – the downside is a few $ and a few hours of your time. And if you don’t apply, your chances of getting in are zero.</p>

<p>What’s important here is that you seem to be realistic about your chances and that you have a Plan B (i.e., other schools where you’re more likely to be a match). If nothing else, you won’t have to go through life wondering whether you could have gotten into NU, and that’s worth something.</p>

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<p>Anyone else have comments?</p>

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<p>By the way, thanks zephyr15 for the kind words! I am going to apply and take a shot at it… Who knows. Anything can happen!</p>

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<p>I would seriously consider taking the January SAT to get your scores up. I am, or was, in a very similar position as you and I can tell you for a fact that you will not get with a 26 ACT. I too write for B/R, and several other local newspapers, I am a legacy, and I scored a 1930 on my SAT, which is comparable to a 28. I got rejected last night for ED, which is even easier than regular decision. Northwestern is an elite school and it is getting more and more popular. At some point, no matter how strong an application, they will eliminate you based on test scores. I wish you a ton of luck and strongly advise you to take the SAT. I took the ACT and couldn’t get higher than a 27 in three tries. The SAT is much more geared to someone who can write well, and understands grammar, like it appears you do. Let me know how it goes!</p>

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<p>Thank you for your concern… Would these regular decision schools take the January SAT?? If so, I am seriously debating to take it and try to get it within the 2000 area…</p>

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<p>^Yep they will. I took the last ACT at the end of October (it was my best) and they received it probably in November/late October and I got in.(:</p>

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<p>Perfect… Thanks!</p>