could I get into Northwestern?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a high school sophomore hoping to get a dual degree at Northwestern in music composition and political science. </p>

<p>I've studied music theory and been in chorus since 7th grade, and I play guitar and am starting piano. I also took a 3 week class in songwriting the summer before my sophomore year, and can't go back to take it again because of financial issues. I'm looking into taking music theory/composition classes over the summer or possibly getting a composition teacher to gain experience, since I mainly write songs for acoustic guitar right now and I think I may be behind.</p>

<p>Right now my GPA is a 4.25 (out of 5, 3.754 unweighted) at a fairly competitive high school. I took 5 honors classes last year, this year I'm taking 4 honors and 1 accelerated, next year I'll be taking 1 AP (APUSH, the only non-science AP offered to juniors, and I don't plan on pursuing science in any way), 3 honors, and 1 accelerated, while my senior year I'll probably take 4 APs and 1 accelerated class.</p>

<p>I took the PSATs in the fall and got a 213 overall, and I'm planning on practicing a lot over the summer and taking the SATs fall and spring junior year and possibly fall senior year depending on how the first two tests go- I'm aiming for somewhere between 2250-2360. </p>

<p>I don't play any sports and don't plan on taking any- my coordination is quite poor and frankly no sports interest me at all. I've been in our school's GSA since my freshman year and should hopefully be an officer next year, and I may also be an officer in Amnesty International, which I joined this year. I also just joined the school paper, and am involved in our school's theater program (I was involved in 1 play last year and 2 this year, and hope to to 2-4 shows each in my junior and senior years, mostly doing sound crew but occasionally acting)</p>

<p>Does this look ok so far, or do I have to do more? I know that I should be doing more in music but don't really know where I should go to get more experience. Does my GPA seem good enough, or do I have to start trying harder in school- and do I need more ECs/leadership roles- I should have at least 1 starting next year and if I don't get the position in Amnesty I can probably get something my senior year, but do I need to be doing more?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your feedback!</p>

2

<p>I could also mention that my great-grandfather was a professor there which could help my chances, but I’m not sure if I should say anything about it or not- I’m not sure if it will be seen as giving additional information or expecting special treatment in some way, which I’m not- I’ve just been told it can make a difference, so I’m not quite sure what to do.</p>

3

<p>bump 10char</p>

4

<p>yes 10char</p>

5

<p>You don’t seem to have enough ECs for someone that wants to pursue a Music Comp degree; just “studying” music theory and “being in” choir does nothing to bolster your chances. Unless you’re coming out with an independent guitar album in the next year, I’d say your chances are slim.</p>

<p>Those kinds of majors are almost completely talent and experience intensive. There much more of a focus on what you’ve done, and what those accomplishments say about you.</p>

6

<p>I recently decided to just do a minor in music composition- i don’t think I’ll have enough experience for it so I’m probably going to major in poly sci and take some music classes. Based on my grades and ECs alone would I be able to get into northwestern, not specifically the bienen school of music?</p>

7

<p>bump 10char</p>