Let’s step back. I did not suggest Alabama. I’ll get to that later.
I assumed based on your initial comment *" white male, upper class, Jewish" and asking to ED at Northwestern, that you are a full pay student.
This was my two kids but the difference is I self imposed a budget ($50K).
But now you actually sound like my kids - "l be looking for lots of merit scholarship money if possible. "
This was us - and we built a selection set around this. We had schools that would 100% make cost (Bama, Arizona, UF, FSU, Miami Ohio, Purdue for my engineer etc.) and you needed ones that were assured entry.
Schools that would likely but not definitely make cost - U of SC, Charleston (for my daughter), Indiana, U Denver, etc. and were assured entry.
Then reaches admissions and / or financially - meaning these schools were unlikely to get to $$ but they were possible - schools like Vanderbilt, Emory, Rice, UNC, Pitt (financially a reach), Maryland, CU Boulder (also financially a reach), William & Mary, Washington & Lee, American, WUSTL for my son, etc.
In your case - you 100% know the three UCs are not going to give you money plus Northwestern, Cornell, Columbia, Yale, MIT, Penn, Pomona and Princeton. So if you “need” merit, then those don’t work.
But I did “assumed” since you are upper class and suggested you ED to Northwestern that money wasn’t an issue.
I noted you can potentially get into any school in America because you are frankly, amazing (congrats), But I also asked, just in case - while you are upper class, do you parents have a budget?
There are different schools of thought on CC and some will say - we should look at your list and keep money out of it. But often times, it doesn’t matter someone’s income or wealth - their parents have concern at spending $350K+ and that’s why I asked the question. It’s not so easy for everyone, even the wealthy, to stroke that large check twice a year.
And when you bring up merit - that tells me that perhaps this is the case. And if it is, then you need to redo your reach list - to add top schools that have the possibility of merit vs. schools that don’t. And even if you wanted to still apply to NU but truly need a lower cost (there would be no reason to apply) - it certainly wouldn’t be wise to ED.
As for Alabama - again, reading so much about your Jewish past, right or wrong, I assumed having a Jewish life was important to you. My comment was - of course - taken out of context.
What I said was - because you are NMF - “Alabama has a sizable Jewish population and the NMF money is insane. Check out Bloom Hillel. Others have great NMF money but you’d need to look into Jewish life. Maine, Tulsa, UTD, and more.”
Note - even though you said upper class which most would likely take to mean - any school works - I offered up “some” of the schools that reward (i.e. free or close to) for NMF. There’s more schools I listed and I noted to study Jewish life at the others that I’m not aware about. I don’t know if Tulsa or Maine or UTD have big Jewish life - but I know schools like them and others give big $$ for NMF. I do know about Bama because my son went (so he could have his own dorm room and because the campus is stunning) and I know they have 1,000+ Jewish kids and a strong Hillel I listed it (along with others). In other words, you may be upper class and you don’t need to take advantage of NMF - but it’s the golden ticket if you want it. So I was simply pointing it out. There are other schools too that reward NMF in addition to those I listed. Given your accomplishment, it would be silly to at least not look into taking advantage for a “half second” so you know your options.
Since another continually decides to disparage the school, let me note - you have UC Irvine on your list and you’d find far less Jewish life there and a history (although old) of being unfriendly to Jews which is likely why their Jewish student population is estimated at only 500 for approximately 30,000 students. So if you’re going to look at stats, please look at them for all on your list. btw - other “surprisingly” large Jewish populations would be U Kansas for a “smaller” public, William & Mary, and not inexpensive but close to you - U Oregon. But since you’re not looking at UW, I assume you’re not looking in the NW so Oregon would be out. Do note - many publics which might seem “beneath your stats” have top level Honors programs - KU amongst them with ASU Barrett seen as arguably one of the top in the country. And many others.
Finally - again, I wish that my words were not taken out of context. Yes, kids from many schools go to Harvard and other top flight law schools. 174 at Harvard is a HUGE # no matter how someone wants to disparage it. The biggest determinant in talking to a professor about law school opportunities at top schools is the LSAT. Guess what - you crushed it on the SAT - and if you decide that law school is for you down the road, you’re going to crush it on the LSAT. And with your record you’re going to be a top student wherever you go - and likely get into a great school whether you do undergrad at Western Washington, or Wellesley (or Harvard).
Do more attend elite law schools from elite undergrad schools? I’m sure they do - but that’s because those kids were able to get into elite schools to begin with as can you, regardless of where you actually decide to matriculate. The “average” student at Harvard will be greater academically than the average at U Wash, Wisconsin, Alabama, Nebraska - what have you. But guess what, on all those state flagship campuses will be kids who chose the school they did yet turned down Ivy, Northwestern, Duke, etc. And those same kids if they apply to law school will get into top flight law schools (as likely will you).
Please understand my initial message for what it said - and not for incorrect interpretations of my words by another.
I’m glad i brought up “possible merit” because in your case it might matter. That’s a chat to have with your folks to determine - because with your stats they can spend $80K or $380K over four years - and yes you can have Jewish life at all price points. And you can also have elite - yet not spend near $400K…just not at many of the elite schools on your list.
Thanks and best of luck. You have a bright future ahead of you no matter where you attend - and that’s because of you moreso than your school that you attend.
