Engineering
Female
ACT 30 (27M, 28Sc, 34 R, 33 E)
4.0UW, 5.4 W
Top 5% of Class (600+ in class)
All Honors Classes Throughout HS
AP Bio, AP Lang (4 AP test)
AP Senior Year - BC Calc, Psychology, Literature
4 years Tennis (2 Varsity)
NHS
I year Softball
1 year Basketball
4 years Interact (400 hours Community Service)
Chair for volunteers for Challengers Baseball Fundraiser (Baseball for mentally/physically impaired children)
Biological Sciences
Male
ACT 32
4.0UW, 5.4W
Top 5% of Class
All Honors Classes through HS
AP Bio, AP Lang (4 AP test)
AP Senior Year - BC Calc, Chemistry, Literature
4 years Wrestling (2 Varsity) - Will be team Captain Senior year
Interact 2 years (159 Hours Community Service)
Sponsorship Chair for Challenger Baseball Fundraiser
I usually don’t respond to chance threads - because the ONLY people who can actually answer your questions about stats,and more importantly - getting in - are the NU adcoms - and they are not going to say anything until later.
However, as a parent, of 2 NU kids myself - I will comment:
- Your D’s ACT score is on the low side - she should re-take - OR - as my D did- take the SAT. (My D took the ACT twice and did not score well - but she did pick up 2 equivalent ACT points with the SAT. Good enough to get into NU.
- NU does not give scholarships per se. However, they are a needs met school, so look at the FAFSA and see what the EFC number is. NU will make up the difference. Using round numbers as an example: If EFC is $20,000 for both ($10,000 per kid). COA (Cost of Attendance) at NU = @ $65k x 2 = $134k. (minus $20k EFC) = Grants and work study should be @ $110k for both.
- How come only 4 AP tests? - If your school doesn’t not offer many then you might be ok. If your school offers 10-12 and they only took 4, then not so good.
- Your D is interested in Engineering - I think that will be a plus.(mainly in a tie-breaking situation.)
- Varsity Tennis and Varsity wrestling = Good.
Good luck - if you have follow up questions, you can PM me.
Sorry - I meant they got score of 4 on the AP test for AL Lang. They did not take the AP Bio test because Son wants to go into Med and have to take Bio in college for med school admit. Told daughter that she could only take one AP test Junior year because they are $95/test.
Maybe that was short sighted. Too cheap I guess.
Daughter is going to take the ACT again in September. Had 34 Eng, 33 Reading, 27 Math, 28 Sc. She did not review math concepts enough before test. Had been awhile for Algebra and Geometry.
Thanks for your thoughts. Very insightful.
Both you children have okay stats for admittance but its really hard to judge. I agree that probably you and them have the best idea of their chances, but there are some general things they could consider:
A slightly higher ACT/SAT could benefit both of them but their scores are still within the school’s range which is good. Both your children have really good GPAs which honestly is the the most important component. They might want to consider applying ED because it does boost odds a lot (though it is binding so if they both want to attend the same school and one gets in/one doesn’t that could be bad).
Also taking all AP exams would be really good this year. AP credits are really useful even though it won’t obviously satisfy a class requirement for med-school because they can help you with class placement: usually with good AP scores like AP Chemistry for example you can place out of low-level Chemistry courses you normally can’t place out of from regular placement exams which saves a lot of money (since each class typically costs thousands of dollars) and makes it easier to finish requirements for certain majors. AP Credits can also fulfill up to 2 NU distribution requirements which is really helpful, because it allows more room to take classes you actually want to take (which is also useful for discovering potential majors/career ideas).
I can also vouch for financial aid being fairly good. For me NU is cheaper than the local state school UIUC, and my family’s not exactly dirt poor, and they’re fairly good about making sure you can reasonably afford tuition if you communicate and appeal to the financial aid office within reason. The Net Price Calculator on NU’s website basically gives your exact price for tuition so I suggest looking at that if you haven’t already.
Other than that, wish them good luck!
I don’t think they will apply ED because ultimately what school they go to will be based on COA. They are applying to University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and University of Iowa. Not UIUC because too expensive and do not give aid to in-state.
I agree about practice. If only I could get both of them to do it. Daughter took ACT as Soph and get 27. Took as Junior and get 30. No studying either time. Maybe she will crack the book this time!
Son took the test as Junior for first time and stated it was his practice. Did not study and got 32.
We told them that since we are paying for the test they need to study this go round. Late July with test in mid-September and still have not studied yet.
Any sage advice on how to motivate would be greatly appreciated!! (
Just so I do not sound like it is ALL about money. I feel I made a mistake with my oldest son by letting him go to IU. He had to work too much to make up the difference between my help ($15K/year) and loans (Stafford) to be able to attend. He wanted to go thee because many camp friends were going there (from wealthier families).
Older daughter went to University of Minnesota and received in-state tuition. She was able to go with my contribution (same as above) and loans (Stafford) and did not have to work. Graduated with one B and rest A’s in Child Psychology. Better college experience.
My twins will get the same monetary contribution from me. That is why COA is so important. Lot of working detracts from studies.
Sorry - just had to clarify why COA is important to me.
One other question: Does legacy make a difference? My father went there and would be thrilled if they attended.
Thanks for all of the input so far. Very beneficial!!!
cyclonesgrad - Yes, legacy helps - but as I understand it - primarily with ED.
re: Test practice - One kid did - one kid did not. Of course the kid that did NOT practice scored higher…
re COA - Do the price calculator. You might be surprised, since you will have 2 attending at once.
and FYI - Iowa State was #1 backup for 1 kid, and Minn was #1 for the other. Ames & Dinkytown both pretty cool!
nugraddad - you are right about the Calculator. Looks like NU, Minny, and Iowa State will all come in at the $20 - $22K/year range for Tuition/fees + Room/Board. That is if they get in-state tuition from Minny (hopefully). From that point, they will have to make the decision.
BTW, I loved Iowa State when I was there and older Daughter went to Minny and Dinkytown is really cool. I like all 3 campuses; Northwestern (Evanston), ISU (Ames), and Minny (Dinkytown). Started at ISU in Econ and switched to engineering my sophomore year.
Heisenbergyk - Thanks for your input also. Including the Calculator since you said it is pretty accurate.
Thanks for all of the input!
@nugraddad @Heisenbergyk - My daughter informed me last night that she has no interest in NU. Too close to home for her. Son will definitely apply. I think he will try for something that will help to get into med school. Any majors suggestions?
I have twins starting to look…will be juniors.
We have run the NPC for dozens of schools. The SCHOOL’s EFC’s (not equal to FAFSA EFC, particularly for private schools like NU) range from a low of ~$19,500 to high of ~$30K.
NU’s is one of the highest, with our data, at $29,500 (and assumes $5500 loans and $2500 work-study to get to that EFC). With no merit aid, it’s not too likely a choice for us.
Cyclonesgrad - one avenue for Med School - Bio-medical Engineering. BTW - Too bad your D thinks NU is too close. we think close is a selling point! We are @ 1 hour away, so we got to go see our kids play, and of course, only went there when invited. Good for the kids - good for us, but as they say, everyone is different. Good luck.
@nugraddad Maybe she will relent. Who knows.
I have mentioned Biomedical Engineering and get a look of “no way”! His sister is going into Biomedical Engineering for two reasons: keep the door open for Med school and good juob if she decides to start working after her Bachelors.
Thanks for the advice.