Chances for an average student at Northwestern

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi I'm new, i've been lurking for a long time and am terrified because of all the people with perfect stats who got rejected from northwestern or who don't have much of a chance!</p>

<p>I'm a senior in high school and I want to go to Northwestern for engineering. I have a 4.57 as of right nowand had a 4.1 average last year. My unweighted GPA is gonna be around a 3.5 if i keep a 4.57I'm only an average student though... but i have kind of a story</p>

<p>I come from an abusive home, so I've been in foster care since about 6th grade. All that moving around has taken a serious toll on me, and I've been diagnosed with depression. I barely passed 8th grade, and naturally didn't do to well in 9th and 10th grade. I failed about 6 classes between the 2 years out of 12 classes.</p>

<p>I did so bad because I just didn't feel like getting out of bed in the morning, I wanted to just sleep away all the pain. I know that sounds ridiculous but its the truth.</p>

<p>I've had an upward trend in grades since 9th grade, but like i said i failed pretty miserably. I read somewhere that just one C might mean a rejection from NW, so thats really scary.</p>

<p>I did pretty well on the SAT, I got a 2100. I know thats not that competitive but for a kid like me to pull that off, i think its pretty good. I've also become involved and I hold several leadership positions at school, and i've won a national award. I've also participated in some selective conferences and workshops for engineering students in my state.</p>

<p>If I have good recs and a good essay, do you think its even worth applying? If I explain to them what happened and how I picked myself up off the ground and how much of motivated student i am...do you think they'll even consider me? Or should I not bother applying at all?</p>

<p>Thanks for any suggestions...</p>

<p>by the way I'm from Indiana if you can't tell from my name... I don't know if that counts towards anything</p>

2

<p>From a fellow hoosier:
If you explain your situation and how you picked yourself up, you have 90%+ chance due to 2100 SAT which is just above the median for Northwestern. Apply there and I say you will get in for sure.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your help. Does anyone else have any suggestions? I'm definately a special case and want to know for sure - the application fee is 65 bucks! </p>

<p>I'm really nervous... pleaaaaase help if you can</p>

4

<p>90% chance? That seems pretty high for someone with a 3.5 GPA.</p>

5

<p>I don't want to agree with that person, but i kinda do! 90% chance for me? That can only be like a dream or something... haha</p>

<p>I really wanna go to Northwestern and want to know if you think they'd be sympathetic to a kid who did really bad under the circumstances but then did really good because....going against all those kids who just did really good...period...but may have not had the bad circumstances i did...</p>

<p>I really wanna know my chances but can only dream that i have a 90% chance...</p>

6

<p>You will never know for sure until the letter comes. But as a foster child, why not ask for a fee waiver?</p>

7

<p>i'd say like 50% chance...90% is way too high. NU is a really competitive school, i think you have a chance, but no one has a 90% unless you have like a 2400 or a 36.</p>

8

<p>I will disagree with what scribble hearts said. Northwestern is not as hard to get into as people make it out to be. I now of a friend of mine, with a single parent, who got in with 1340 (old SAT) and 3.7 GPA, so to say it is extremely competitive is a misnomer. 30% of applicants are accepted or 3 out of 10. Now, all colleges want people of different lifestyles and experiences to create more diversity and various knowledge, so her chances increase to 6 out of 10. Add the notion of overcoming a difficult burden and chances increase even higher to 8 or 9 in 10 chance of getting in.</p>