Chance Me

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

I’m a 17 year old, female junior looking to see my chances of getting into this prestigious school.

[ PSAT/NMSQT ] -Total Score 1180
*Reading/Writing Score: 610 ; Math Score: 570

[ ACT ] - 25
*My reading/english scores were 28/30, while my math/science scores were 21/20.
*I took the ACT back in December right before finals with a ton of stress. I also had not put more than an hour into studying for it. I plan to begin studying within the month to take it in April at my school.

[ PLEASE NOTE ] My high school is very small and does not offer much in advanced coursework. We were only offered 1 AP course this year in the entire school, as well as their being no honor classes. I have taken the most advanced classes I could possibly take throughout my years, as well as maintaining high grades during times of great emotional stress at home due to family problems throughout my sophomore and junior year.

[ GPA - Weighted ] Basically a 4.0

[ FRESHMEN YEAR ]

Biology I - 93.5%
Geometry - 90.5%
( 1 Sem ) Grammar & Rhetoric - 96%
Keyboarding/Computer Apps - 96.3%
Lit & Comp I - 96%
( 1 Sem ) Nutrition & Culinary Arts I - 89%
PE - 98.5%
( 1 Sem ) World History I - 97%
( 1 Sem ) Drivers Ed - 90%
( 1 Sem ) Geography S2 - 94%
( 1 Sem ) World History II - 93%

*AP classes are not offered for underclassmen.

[ SOPHOMORE YEAR ]

Algebra II - 99%
Chemistry - 96%
( 1 Sem ) Health - 96%
Lit & Comp II - 103%
PE - 98.5%
Publication Production - 98%
Spanish I - 96.5%
( 1 Sem ) Topics in US History from 1940 - 100%
( 1 Sem ) Dramatic Literature - 100%
( 1 Sem ) Earth Science S2 - 94%

*AP classes are not offered for underclassmen. Also this year I went through emotional/mental problems with my parents divorce that did not hinder my grades at all.

[ JUNIOR YEAR ] * = Final Grade Still In Progress

*American Lit III - 97.5%
*AP US History - 90.5%
*PE - 99%
*Physics - 94.5%
*Pre-Calculus - 90.5%
( 1 Sem ) Psychology - 95%
( 1 Sem ) Sociology - 95%
*Spanish II - 95%
( 1 Sem ) Modern World Issues - 99%
( 1 Sem ) *Parenting - 104%

*I have been going through emotional/mental problems due to stress from my friends and family.

[ PROJECTED SENIOR YEAR ]

Civics
( 1 Sem ) Senior Seminar
( 1 Sem ) Consumer Economics
Brit Lit & Advanced Comp.
PE
AP Calculus
( 1 Sem ) Multi-Media Presentations
( 1 Sem ) Speech
( 1 Sem ) Web Design & Development
Publication Production
( 1 Sem ) Sports & Entertainment Marketing

[ EXTRA CIRRICULARS ] * = Leadership Role

  • *Drama Club ( 9, 10, 11, 12 ) Secretary/Treasurer
  • F.C.C.L.A ( 9, 10, 11, 12 )
  • Operation Teen Safe Driving ( 9 )
  • Student Council ( 10, 12 )
  • *Skin Deep ( 9, 10, 11, 12 ) Leader
  • National Honor Society ( Inducted year 10, 11, 12 ) *I plan to take a leadership role next year. Leaders are elected at the end of Junior year.
  • Science Club ( 12 )
  • Cheerleading ( 10, first half of 11 )
  • Save the Earth Club ( 12 ) *I plan to start this my senior year of high school to clean up trash along the sides of roads.
  • T.A.L.K. Leader ( 12 ) *I plan to become a leader, interviews are at the end of Junior year.
  • Taek Won Do form 3-4 Years
  • I attended NIU Art Camp for 3 years in a row
  • I worked at Monsanto in the summer for 2 years
  • I also recently held a babysitting job for 2 months but quit due to the mother/children
  • Volunteered at the Soup Kitchen ( 8 )
  • Volunteered at Feed My Starving Children ( 10, 11 )
  • Volunteered to set up for a School Board Dinner ( 10 )
  • Volunteered at a Race Fundraiser for the School ( 10 )
  • Volunteered at an Author Fair for my English teacher ( 10 ) *I also interviewed with her on local television for the fair
  • Most Comedic Performance by An Actress - Drama Club ( 9 )
  • No Small Role - Drama Club ( 10 )
  • Student of the Quarter Award - 1st Quarter ( 11 )
  • Superior Ribbon for my (had one other student help) NIU History Fair Poster Board ( 11 ) *We qualified for State and may go, but it's the day before the AP Exam

[ INTENDED MAJOR ] Psychology with a focus in forensics if possible

[ CLASS RANK ] 8 out of 45 ( guesstimate )

[ HELP ] Is their any way to improve my performance? Or classes to switch to Senior year if possible? I would love to be able to attend

2

I don’t think that your chances of admission are good, nor do I think it would be a good fit for you because your test scores suggest (strongly) that you would be out of your league at NU.
I am sorry to say this, but I think it is true. There are plenty of fine schools where you will have a better chance of admission and at which I think you would be less likely to feel overwhelmed.

3

Current student here. Your chances of admission are pretty slim to none at this point. You’ll have to bring your SAT score up at least 350 points to compensate for the lack of academic rigor in your highschool curricula (lack of AP classes). I don’t think this is particularly hard, just buy a SAT book and put your nose to the grindstone until you get a 1500+. Nobody likes test scores, but what this shows is that you can take care of business when you need to.

When it comes to extracurriculars, you have a lot of things listed, which would be good in the context of better scores/grades/rigor. If you want to stand out, you’ll need to talk about initiatives that YOU spearheaded, YOUR individual impact in growing a club, starting a new organization, YOUR ability to lead, etc. You should show how some of these clubs would not have been the same without YOU, to really stand out here.

Like WCASParent said, there are hundreds of other wonderful colleges out there you can apply too, and you’ll probably feel more at home there as well.