Chances @ NU. Do I have any?

<p>Stats:
High School: Public, sends many grads to top schools (probably b/c our high school has 3000+ students)
Ethnicity: Korean-American
Gender: Male
Junior</p>

<p>GPA:
Class Rank: 36/1100
Unweighted: 3.8 ish
Weighted: 5.8 (don't bother with this, my school has a ridiculous ranking system)
Freshman Year: all honors classes (all A's with a B in algebra 2)
Sophomore Year: all honors classes (all A's with a B in precalculus)
Junior Year: all honors classes with 2 AP's (all A's so far but possible B in calculus by end of year)
Senior Year: Planning to take 4-5 AP courses next year</p>

<p>APs:
11th: AP US History, AP English
12th schedule: AP Gov, AP English, AP French 5, AP Stat, possibly AP Chem (cant decide if that or honors physics), possibly AP Econ (by cutting out 3 lunches)</p>

<p>SAT:
800 cr/720 m/700 w (may take again next year)
1520/2220 composite/total
No SAT IIs yet</p>

<p>ECs:
Projected National Merit Seminfinalist (219 PSAT in Pennsylvania)
Newspaper section editor (11, 12)
Key Club member (11, 12)
Church youth group webmaster, assorted leadership positions (9, 10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>Miscellanea:
AAUW Excellence in Writing winner</p>

<p>I did post this in the chances forum but I got little in the way of chances and none regarding NU. NU is my top choice school and I'll be applying to Medill next year, considering ED but money is an issue. What are my chances of getting in ED/RD? I realize my ECs are really lacking. Anything I can do to improve my chances at this point? Thanks.</p>

<p>I think you have a decent shot.</p>

<p>Your GPA is about the same as mine, your rank is way better (19/189 for me), the rigor of your courses is about the same, and you got about the same score as I did on the SAT (though I submitted my ACT [score of 34] and not my SAT). Your ECs are about the same quality and quantity (maybe better) as mine, too. I was accepted to McCormick this year though, and I don't know enough to know if Medill is harder to get into than McCormick.</p>

<p>I'm not very good at predicting chances, but I just wanted to comment and say holy **** at how large your class size is.</p>

<p>sure, i think you have a good chance. you have great test scores, great class rank, ok ECs. Work on your essays and apply ED if you can find a way to work out finances. Maybe start asking around and get a feel for what kind of money northwestern gives to ED applicants. Just this year they implemented a program where the maximum amount of loans a student has to take out is $20,000, anything above that they convert to a grant.</p>

<p>and 3,000+ is nothing, look at new trier or stephenson, i think they both have over 5 or 6,000</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments. Glad to hear that I have at least some chance of getting in, though i hear Medill is the hardest to get into.</p>

<p>The new financial policy would really help me out but ive heard some nightmare financial aid stories so I'm a tad wary of locking myself in.</p>

<p>6,000 is ridiculous. Just 3,000 is overwhelming for me. Imagine how competitive the sports must be in a school like that.</p>

<p>sainclaire: Do you have any ECs related to journalism? Medill is difficult as are SESP and the School of Communications acting/drama major as well as the School of Music. In some respects, the easiest schools to get admitted to at Northwestern are WCAS, McCormick School of Engineering & the RTVF major in the School of Communications. WCAS accepts the highest number of students by far -- about half of all students accepted to Northwestern University each year. The next highest number of acceptances are to the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Each of the six schools that make up Northwestern University's undergraduate offerings (actually there is also a school of continuing studies) look for different qualities in their applicants. A high math aptitude, for example, is necessary for engineering while the School of Music requires an audition in addition to strong SAT I or ACT scores. Admission to any of these six schools, however, is highly competitive. My intended point is that you need to tailor your application to highlight your strengths, abilities & desires with respect to journalism if you plan to apply to Medill.</p>

<p>I think newspaper is the only journalism related EC I have. By far, I think extra curriculars are my weak point. Any suggestions for what I should do in terms of journalism ECs? Thanks for your reply.</p>