I am a rising junior, but I am really eager for college and have begun my search quite early. Therefore, even though I have a year, I am fairly certain that I will be applying ED to Northwestern. This school has been on my radar for a while and I have done a significant amount of research on it, including taking a visit to the campus (not an official tour, but my friend’s parents who went there showed me around), online information sessions, and a Purple Preview talk (through NU, talking with a current student). My parents have agreed to me ED-ing, but I would like to know my chances of actually getting in.
Background:
White, Jewish, Female
Currently living in Long Island, NY
Stats:
GPA: N/A UW, 99.5025 W (my school only provides weighted averages and uses a scale of 100)
Class rank: N/A (top 15% of 350-ish students)
Courseload/Exam Scores: All honors and APs for my core classes; Sophomore year: AP World History: 5, AP Physics: 3, AP Seminar: 3; Junior year: AP Physics C, APUSH, AP Lang, AP Research, AP Calc BC; Senior year: AP Psych, AP Lit, AP Spanish, AP Gov; I am also taking creative writing this year and news literacy next year (which are related to my major/minor choices)
SAT Subject tests: Biology M: 770, Math 1: 740, Chemistry: 610 (won’t report); I’m not sure if I should take more… most people say 3 is a good amount to report, but I’ve also heard that they don’t mean anything
SAT/ACT: 35 ACT
Extracurriculars:
School Robotics Team: (4 years)
Leadership Positions: PR Secretary (Sophomore), Secretary (Junior), Community Service Chair (Junior), I am hoping to get Vice President my senior year
From January to March: 5-10 ish hours/week (depends on the week), and 10 hours of community service; Other months: 2-ish hours/week
Varsity Tennis: (4 years)
Leadership positions: I will be captain my senior year as I was the only freshman on the team my first year
I also participated in the Counties Tournament Sophomore year (and will most likely if it runs Junior and Senior year)
From late August to mid-October, 15 hours/week
Theatre Tech Club: (4 years)
Leadership positions: Head of Sound (Sophomore), Co-President (Junior and hopefully Senior)
Time varies each week depending on drama club’s performances/school events
Science Honor Society: (4 years)
Leadership Positions: applying for PR Secretary in the fall (assuming clubs are allowed)
10 hours of community service each year I participate
Sound Tech Head for Temple Brotherhood Productions: (4 years)
Run the sound board for annual temple musicals
From January to late March upwards of 5 hours/week
BBYO: (5 years)
Leadership Positions: Chapter Secretary/Social Media and Communications Chair (Sophomore), Editor-in-Chief of Regional Newsletter (Sophomore), Regional Secretary/Social Media and Communications Chair (Junior), Hoping to be Regional President or VP of Membership as a Senior
Time varies weekly
Research: (4 years)
My school is really competitive about research and fairly successful in competition. I am enrolled in the class but we don’t enter competitions until Junior and Senior year.
Summer Program: Explo (1 year)
3 week program going into 8th grade. I studied robotics and interior design. Required an application and acceptance to attend. Located at Wellesley College
Summer Program: Summer Institute for the Gifted (1 year)
3 week program going into 9th grade. I studied engineering, global issues, medical microbiology, and took a fitness class. Required and application and acceptance to attend. Located at Yale University.
Summer Program: International Leadership Training Conference (1 year)
Usually a 3 week program given through BBYO. It was online this year (going into 11th) because of COVID and shortened as well.
Summer Program: School of the New York Times (didn’t get to go)
I was supposed to attend this two week program, but it was cancelled (going into 11th). I was planning on studying creative writing. Required an application and acceptance to attend.
Online Class: Pilot Script Writing through Michigan State (5 weeks)
During quarantine I took this online class and completed a script for a pilot episode of a TV show.
Awards:
I don’t know what qualifies as an award… I was an AP Scholar, my robotics team won the Community Service award my freshman year, and the mentor award Sophomore year (I helped to write this essay). I also received an academic excellence award in robotics class this year.
Community Service:
I complete a good amount of Community Service through UJA, BBYO, Robotics, and school
Essay:
I am only a rising junior, so I have not written my essay yet, but I am told I am a good writer so I am hopeful about this. I am still debating over what to write about though.
Letters of rec:
I will ask my research teacher, who I will end up having for 4 years. My counselor and I have a great relationship so I am hoping that the rec will be good as well. Otherwise, I am not sure who to ask, although my creative writing teacher will probably be a good option, and one of my english teachers as well.
I want to study Playwriting/Screenwriting and Journalism (either double major or major/minor… I’m still figuring that out).
Given all that, although I know it is early for me, I am wondering if I have a shot at getting in? Are there any other schools I should be looking into (I’m also interested in Vanderbilt, USC, Michigan, Georgetown, Emory…) Thanks for reading! Sorry it was a bit long.