HELP! Would I be able to get into Northwestern with a 3.6 (un-weighted) and a 34 ACT? Plus, legacy, over 150 hours of community service, and many extra curriculars? I also attend a hard private school, and I’ve heard that colleges do in fact take that into account.
someone please help!!!
Tough call. It’s a reach. NW looks for a 3.8ish but depending on the rigor of your course load it’s definitely worth a shot!
3.6 isn’t that bad and won’t get you disqualified immediately.
ED might help you out tremendously. Definitely consider it.
GPA is likely an issue.
Is there anything I could do to boost my chances? Also all my classes are AP/Honors
Definitely apply ED
would my scores be a better match for duke or georgetown? I have a passion for law and politics and my extra curriculars really show that. My college counselor said I would be a perfect match for Georgetown
As stated, your rest chance is ED. ACT its you in the running but GPA is relative weakness.
I would agree you should apply early decision. While your ACT is very good, 3.6 is low even with a rigorous course load. If you have very good essays and I’ll assume good EC, although you have been vague about that, you have a change but definitely not guaranteed. A lot of applicants have that score AND a better GPA. So, worth applying but don’t get your hopes up.
You should ok but it wouldn’t hurt for you to “play politics” a little bit. You know, rub shoulders with the powers to be at NW.
And if you’re able to get that down packed there, then maybe step your game up, head south off of 55th and try it there (hell, its a WAAAY better school than NW!!)
oh and to follow up on one of your other questions:
Georgetown…meh, you SHOULD be fine.
Duke…politics X2 down there! they’re HUGE not just on grades but on who you know. plus their rankings/popularity is climbing amongst researchers and scholars. in some rankings they’ve bested 3-4 out of the 8 ivy leaguers.
so if i had to rate your list from easiest to hardest its:
UChicago (i added this one…GO FOR IT!!)
Duke
Northwestern
Georgetown
@dnstudent26, my other activities include debate, model un, soccer, volunteering at a hospital, internship at a law firm, writer+ editor in chief for school app, and part of a leadership club
@HisTyNess thank you, but I didn’t know UChicago would be the easiest.
Would doing summer activities at any of these schools help boost my chances? Ex: like a journalism summer intensive (I want to major in journalism)
@171College how easement admission depends solely on YOU!! Ok?! No matter where you choose, if you REALLY want to go there (and they see that) then you’ll get in! Never forget that! 
His TyNess goes around giving poor advice; at first I thought it was as a joke, but now I think it’s just to be annoying. The difficulty list was probably backwards, although all these schools are about the same difficulty.
Legacy will be more helpful if you apply ED, but only do that if it’s your first choice.
well thanks @usualhopeful i really hope i get innnnnnnn
I would disagree with @HisTyNess . U Chicago is definitely not the easiest to get into. It has a lower acceptance rate than Duke, Georgetown and Northwestern. If you’re not set on a specific school than you’re best bet is to apply to a lot of schools. The more schools you apply to the better the chance you’ll get into at least one. Nothing is guaranteed. You’re ECs are good but are nothing that will set you apart. This is why I say apply to as many as possible. A summer program would be a good idea.