<p>18 year old Female from New York. Will need immense amounts of financial aid- Mom is a private school music teacher and Dad does not pay child support and is not in the picture. 3.65 GPA unweighted, SAT: 2100. Senior Schedule: AP English, AP Euro, AP Spanish, Pre- Calculus Honors, French 3 Honors. ECs: Womans Chior( all four years), Show Chior: All four years, Track: Two Years, Yearbook, Peer Leaders, Community Service Club, Federal Reserve Challenge. Spanish Honor Society. Library Comittee, Have Participated in the Musicals and Dramas all four years. Has worked as consular for Summer Theater Camp.Coordinator of Unplugged Cafe Night. Presidential Academic Award. Presidential Fitness Award. Would be applying to the School of Communication as a Theater Major, with a ( not to brag) impressive resume that included off- broadway shows, awards for high school performances, and training at the British American Drama Academy and the NHSI Cherub Program. I am applying Early Decision. I know that I am not a shoe- in and it's definitly a reach, but what do you guys think?</p>
<p>OP said: I know that I am not a shoe- in and it’s definitly a reach, but what do you guys think? </p>
<p>Not a shoe-in (but who is), and probably a reach, but DEFINATELY worth applying.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing – Many (if not all) of the top schools take a holistic approach to applications. In other words so long as you meet minimum academic standards, the decision will in large part be based on the candidate herself. Of course, when talking about grades and scores, MORE IS BETTER, but a unique candidate can certainly be admitted, AND MANY ARE</p>
<p>So, while your grades and scores are perhaps a bit lower than average, they are certainly in the ball park. If you can distinguish yourself, you have a chance. </p>
<p>ED helps, but the biggest problem is what happens if you don’t get the package you need. I understand your dilemma where your father does not provide support – however, I have no idea how a University factors this in in their aid decisions. You’ll need to research this.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>PS – not to make a big deal, since this is only a bulletin board, but make sure you proofread anything you send to colleges.</p>
<p>Your SAT is right in the meat of things, your GPA is low, but you have a nice list of school activities. Jumping beyond that, it seems that your theater resume is wonderful, and odds are you are a gifted actress. Theater admissions can be so competitive and confusing because it’s not as straightforward (if they even really can be called that) as CAS or engineering admissions. They cap it at 100 people, and it is the best people applying - NU theater is second to none. I would’ve said a long shot until I saw that you were applying to SoC who may not look at SAT or GPA - they still do, heavily, mind you - on the same level as the other main schools at NU. Theater program is a reach for anyone, but it seems that you have very good theater credentials and are well-rounded minus a GPA a little on the low side. Obviously, you do not have an audition because that’s just how NU works, but if you were to apply ED, I think you would definitely be in the running for a spot in the program. It’s a reach, but not unreachable if you catch my drift. </p>
<p>But remember, applying ED is binding. You need to know that you can pay for the college in case financial aid doesn’t work out. It seems that you can not however. That’s a bit of risky business.</p>
<p>Thank you both so much! Now, would it be best for me to call the admission office to disscuss my specific financial situation?</p>
<p>I’d talk to my GC as soon as possible after high school is in session, then do what s/he says.</p>
<p>
Here’s the actual rule:
<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf</a></p>
<p>This means that if Northwestern doesn’t offer you enough FA to support attendance, you tell them thanks but no thanks, and apply elsewhere. But you won’t be able to compare FA packages with other schools, so apply ED only to your number one top choice, where your only question is: Can I afford it?</p>
<p>Be sure to have your other apps done in case Northwestern doesn’t work out.</p>
<p>vonlost</p>
<p>This this a couple of days ago in another thread. </p>
<p>Schools view the ED as a binding contract. They will let you out of this contract if they determine that you are not given sufficient aid. NU apparantly wants you to first appeal your FA package, then explain to them why it isn’t enough, then they make a determination whether you can’t afford it.</p>
<p>We really don’t know what happens if there is a disagreement between the student and the family here. All I’m saying is that anyone dependent on FA should find the answers to these questions.</p>
<p>At the very least, I would recommend going to the various financial aid calculators – there’s a link to one on NU’s website, and running the numbers. If the FA calculator comes up with a family contribution significantly in excess of what the family thinks it can afford then there is at least a potential for a problem.</p>
<p>BTW,this is one of the reasons I personally think SCEA is much better than ED.</p>
<p>
Only the family can determine this. The school already has all the data they use to determine their FA offer. BTW, it’s an agreement, not a contract; nothing legal is involved.
Where is the NU web page that says this? Maybe NU is different than most. Appeals do sometimes work.
Absolutely, ED should then be avoided, and RD doesn’t look much better. :(</p>
<p>vonlost:</p>
<p>The discussion about NU’s procedure was in “Chances & question about ED” – see last post.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, I’m sure that this almost always gets worked out. And I think we both agree that using Calcs and talking to GCs is a good idea.</p>
<p>Hmmm. I wonder what happens if the request for release is denied. 
Hint: It is automatic unless NU wants to pay whatever it takes to get the student. Are they going to somehow compel attendance and then expel when the bill can’t be paid?</p>
<p>The bottom line is there is no danger in the non-wealthy applying ED; no family will be bankrupted. Imagine the horrible publicity if any school tried this.</p>
<p>Schools like ED to lock in money from list price payers, and to lock in top academics who might not be able to pay, accepting the financial “loss” to get these students.</p>
<p>The “Conspiracy” Theorists say that your chances of getting merit/financial aid are much less in ED. The colleges say it doesn’t impact your chances at all. I more or less believe the colleges (especially with need-based money). I’m not positive though with merit money (not an issue at NU).</p>
<p>The problem is that with ED, you have much less of an opportunity to shop financial aid packages. So, it’s easier for the more affluent to take advantage of this (since they’re not expecting any need-based money to begin with). This is a common criticism, and is the reason why Harvard and Princeton did away with ED for many years. SCEA levels the playing field more.</p>
<p>Re rejecting ED – my strong guess is that there’s not a problem unless the school thinks you tried to game the system, but I’m not a GC.</p>
<p>Another reason some schools dropped ED was because the less affluent weren’t applying ED, because of imagined fears of it being dangerous to do so!</p>