<p>My family definitely can't afford full tuition for Northwestern, but it truly is my #1 school and I think it'd be great if I could get accepted. Do you think I should apply ED and hope for a scholarship? My family's income is $175,000 but my dad's retired and I have a twin (also going to college).</p>
<p>I have a 3.67 UW (4.27 W) GPA (most rigorous schedule possible all throughout high school, and my school is known for preparing students well for college) and a 35 ACT. I'm a girl and want to go into engineering. I have pretty solid, well-rounded ECs (two sports, Forensics, Robotics). I'm Editor-in-Chief of my school's award-winning yearbook, and heavily involved in/ have a leadership position in a nonprofit inner-city relief organization. I have 2 part-time jobs, tutoring at Kumon and lifeguarding). I know this is brief, but can you give me an impression on what the realistic outcome will be for me if I apply to NU ED? Thanks!</p>
<p>I can’t say if you’ll get in or not since your GPA seems a little low but you have a great ACT score and being female studying engineering may help. I can offer anecdotal experience that if you are accepted ED, given your financial situation, you may not be offered any financial aid beyond unsubsidized loans. I’m not sure what the impact of the twin in college will be, but without that you might get zero aid.</p>
<p>I’m actually in-state for UofM so I should be able to get in and afford it but I’d like to just be accepted to a selective school if nothing else so I can potentially get better aid at Michigan. I mean, I’d love to go to NU, but if it’s not in the cards maybe getting in could serve some purpose. Who knows, maybe for some reason something will happen that lets me ultimately attend. Do you know if ED at NU allows you to apply EA to other schools? Also, do you think applying ED would in fact impove my chances?</p>
<p>Yeah, while your family’s income isn’t all too much, it still may be too high to really get financial aid. You’re right in that meaty but unlucky area where your family makes (perhaps) too much for financial aid and not enough to be able to afford full tuition especially with a twin - that’s double financial trouble. I honestly have no clue about whether a twin makes any difference, but it is probably not all too likely you’ll be seeing a lot of aid coming your way. You CAN opt out of your binding ED contract should you get in for financial reasons, but I really don’t know if applying ED would be smart considering you probably will get slim aid if any. </p>
<p>As for your chances, NU is a definite reach. Like MomCares stated, your GPA is pretty low. That’s probably the most important part of anyone’s application. I have to agree with you, OP, that you have very solid extracurriculars. Multiple sports, multiple leadership positions, work for a nonprofit, and two part-time jobs are a big commitment that colleges will be forced to take note of. Nothing really all too out of the ordinary/exceptional, but it’s a nice list for sure. Your ACT score is great - you undoubtedly know that. </p>
<p>All of that aside, top colleges strive to find female engineering students which may make acceptance a bit easier on your part (had to say it against my will, sorry). My own high school experience only corroborates that. With your standardized test scores high and a solid list of ECs, it is still an uphill battle even as a female engineer with that GPA. While applying ED might boost your chances a little, I don’t know how smart it would be to do so with your financial situation.</p>
<p>Disregarding the financial situation, do you think ED could pull me in? I will say that freshman year is the primary reason for my subpar GPA–without it, it’s a 3.84 UW. I have a major upward trend, with almost all solid As during junior year. Do you still think it’d be a high reach?</p>
<p>University of Michigan has one of the best engineering departments in the country. While NU is more selective, UM (while maybe a safety) is no backup. Personally, I’d be proud to study engineering there if finances don’t work out. </p>
<p>And yes, you can apply EA to some other schools that are not single-choice EA. Whether they’re single choice or not is up to another school. Although I didn’t apply to NU ED, I applied EA to UChicago - got in, didn’t have to worry about a contract, and didn’t end up attending. Schools like Stanford have single choice EA where you can’t apply anywhere else ED/EA.</p>
<p>Hmmm…junior year supersedes all other years in terms of importance I’d say, and all A’s helps your cause. An upward trend helps too. Listen, NU is a reach for almost everyone so don’t feel all too dismayed. Most top schools are reaches for the bulk of applicants, but in the end someone has to be accepted. Early Decision would boost your chances - that’s the point of ED. Whether it would tip the scales or only help bring about something that would have happened anyway, I don’t know. </p>
<p>Disregarding finances, it is still a reach for ED, but female engineers can be hard to come by. You have a fair chance ED with that new info you provided me, but these things are such crapshoots.</p>
<p>What if I score well on my SAT subject tests and write a great essay? I’ve been told I’m a great writer…haha. Plus my recs should be good and my counselor says she’ll explain that my frosh grades don’t demonstrate my aptitude for coursework. And I mean my school’s #3 in the state and kinda known for grade deflation.</p>
<p>You have a pretty good chance if you apply ED…it’s like you’re pulling my teeth here physicz lol :p</p>
<p>Now I’m going to tell you that nothing is for certain, NU is still a reach, and a bunch of other cliches that won’t come to me at the moment! But you’ve got a decent chance nonetheless</p>
<p>Hahaha sorry tinfoyl</p>
<p>It’s okay haha. By the way, colleges don’t just look blindly at your GPA and stamp your application Pass/Fail based on first impression. From my experience, freshman year isn’t really too important in college applications. If you’ve done exceptionally well at one of the best grade deflating schools in your state in sophomore and junior year, then I wouldn’t worry too obsessively. Also, do you have a class rank or an assumption of where you stand amongst your peers? At some schools, a 3.8 GPA might be a salutatorian or even a valedictorian - it’s all relative.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t rank, but I’m definitely top 10%. Where do you go</p>
<p>Hi again, liv4</p>
<p>I think NU is a target for you whether ED or RD. </p>
<p>As far as financial aid – go to the College Board’s financial aid calculator. In our case, NU’s calculations came pretty close to this.</p>
<p>As far as ED – please discuss this with your guidance counselor. If you apply early decision, you agree to go to the school if admitted, and withdraw all other applications. The early decision agreement form is signed by you, your guidance counselor and your parents. Here is a link to the form from NU’s website.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_EarlyDecisionAgreement.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_EarlyDecisionAgreement.pdf</a></p>
<p>Even though most schools, if pressed, won’t hold you to this, I would be super concerned that you would hurt your chances at another school if your guidance counselor (or Northwestern) notifies every other College you apply to that you were accepted at NU ED, unless you had a compelling reason to withdraw from NU.</p>
<p>I don’t know for sure that this will be the consequence, but unless you’re 100% sure that it won’t be, it can’t be worth the risk.</p>
<p>I think you have a great shot. Pros: amazing ACT, Engineering + Girl, EC’s. No cons, just a slightly below av. GPA [my uw GPA is close to yours]. If NU is truly your number 1 choice, go for it and just seek money wherever you can [scholarships are just waiting for you(:].</p>
<p>Thanks! You didn’t reply to my inbox though…</p>
<p>hi zephyr!</p>
<p>oh NU would notify all schools I apply to if I get in?? I forgot about that!!</p>
<p>what if I decide i can’t go because of financial reasons? they wouldn’t do that in that case, would they?</p>
<p>and by “most schools won’t hold you to this,” you’re saying that most schools won’t actually force me to withdraw should NU notify them I’m accepted ED, right?</p>
<p>All I really know is what was mentioned at various information sessions.</p>
<p>That the will let you out if there is a financial reason and many schools do let out one or two a year. Also, the bottom of the form I linked indicates that you don’t have to withdraw all forms if you’ve applied for financial aid.</p>
<p>In saying they won’t hold you to this – well, let’s face it, they can’t force you to go. </p>
<p>However, I don’t know what they do if you can’t show demonstrated need, or what your guidance counselor may be ethically required to do. I don’t know for sure whether NU tells all other schools, or whether schools share lists of who they have accepted ED as a matter of course. And if another school does find out and doesn’t think you had ample reason, will that school view it badly for your application?</p>
<p>So, what I’m saying is that it may be very serious.</p>
<p>This is why I recommend talking to your GC about this before heading down the path. Make sure you’re not hurting yourself.</p>
<p>Oh wow, good points. Only one or two a year?! My dad suggested I apply ED, pretty much thinking we’d ultimately opt out (while I still love NU, I think Michigan is a much more realistic choice for me unless my family is magically able to afford it all of a sudden). Do you actually need to show you’d be dirt poor if you were forced to pay their tuition? Or is it more like, you can just say it’s not in the cards? Do you have an idea?</p>
<p>liv</p>
<p>The first thing you should do is go to the aid calculator and determine whether you’re likely to qualify. With more than one student in college, you may qualify even with your family’s income. The formulas really are more generous than most people think.</p>
<p>As to the rest, I really don’t know the answer, which is why I recommend talking to your guidance counselor or a college counselor when you return to to HS.</p>