Do I even have a chance? Low GPA, Decent Test Scores

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Hello, it's the summer and I'm already starting to write application essays and getting a bit nervous. Wanna help calm my nerves and give me a chance? Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Cali/Male/Asian</p>

<p>1st generation to go to college in USA
born outside USA
One of the most competitive schools in Cali (1H, 1Y, 1P, 2S this year, 6-7 to each UC, 1UPenn, 1JHU, 1Cornell)
Top 10%</p>

<p>GPA: ~3.61 UW & ~4.045 W (10th-11th) Does Northwestern include 9th or 1st semes. of 12th?
SAT: Superscore 2180; 2100 (640CR, 720W, 740M), 2100 (600CR, 720W, 780M) ,retaking for 2250+</p>

<p>SAT II: MathIIc 800, Phys 750 (retaking), Bio (pending)
APs: Calc BC (5), Calc AB Subscore (5), Eng Lang. (3), Phys Mech (3), Phys E&M (3), World History (3)</p>

<p>Frosh: HGeometry, HGlobal Studies, Bio
Summer: H Alg 2. @ CC
Sopho: AP World, H Eng, H Pre Calc, Chem, Phys
Summer: H US History @ CC
Junior: AP Calc BC, AP Phys C, AP Eng Lang
Senior: AP Bio, AP Stat, AP CS, AP Gov&MacroEcon, AP Eng Lit</p>

<p>ECs: Piano - 7yrs, Marching Band - 4yrs (Instrument for 6yrs), Bio-related Research Internship - current summer, Siemens/Intel - (pending), Local Science Fair - (pending), Math Club - 4yrs, Riddle Club - 2yrs (President), Web-Designing for non-profit as well as commercial - countless hours since freshman year, very good recommendations from all the organizations I've designed for</p>

<p>Wanting to apply Bio Engineering
I will most likely be applying ED but what are my chances with ED & without?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Considering that both honesty and rudimentary counting skills are prerequisites and that your superscore is a 2140, not a 2180, I'd lean against.</p>

3

<p>Eh, embarrasing mistake -_-</p>

<p>Other opinions please?</p>

4

<p>why would you retake a 750 in Phys. It's good enough and you'd be wasting your money.</p>

5

<p>^^ I agree. My SAT II's consisted of a 600 in Lit, 620 in US History and a 720 in math. I would have loved a 750 in any of those. But I still got into NU ED.</p>

6

<p>Thought I should point out NU doesn't superscore.</p>

7

<p>^^^ Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure that NU does superscore. Do you have a link to their website that proves it?</p>

8

<p>There was JUST a thread about that on here...</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=367331%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=367331&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

9

<p>your GPA isn't low if you're in the top 10%... you just go to a hard school.</p>

10

<p>does northwestern count 9th grade in thier gpa?</p>

11

<p>yes. and sorry if I'm annoying, but it's spelled "their."</p>

12

<p>It's not about "counting" your 9th grade GPA or superscoring your SAT, I'm pretty sure. It's about your application as a picture of yourself. NU takes into account all essays a lot, especially Why NU, and uses your grades/test scores to factor into the decision. It's been said so many times that a low 9th grade GPA isn't what will make or break you, it's whether or not you showed improvement in GPA over time to represent your drive/dedication as a student. Likewise, if you retake your SAT and finally get an amazing superscore, I don't think it would be weird for NU to consider how much you improved on the SAT and to take your other scores into consideration as well (I mean, it still was YOU that got the "bad score" the first time, so just because you pulled it up shouldn't erase that initial score). But anyway, one thing isn't going to determine your admission, it's more of a package deal. Although great scores across the board wouldn't hurt, of course. (Sorry, most unhelpful post.)</p>

13

<p>"^^ I agree. My SAT II's consisted of a 600 in Lit, 620 in US History and a 720 in math. I would have loved a 750 in any of those. But I still got into NU ED."</p>

<p>Are you kidding? That would make me feel a whole lot better. I was stressing over this one 610 I made in Physics.</p>

14

<p>I would say that the chance of you getting in regular is less than 50%, given your fairly average GPA and only slightly above average ECs. In your case, I think that the essays and recs will make or break you. Also, if you are seriously interested in NU, applying early could make the difference. An intel/siemens award would help alot as well.</p>

15

<p>my stats are just a bit lower than yours (lower uw gpa, higher weighted, lower sat) and i was accepted through the waitlist. to answer your question, you have a chance</p>

16

<p>Provided you put in a solid effort in your application...definitely a decent to pretty good chance ED. RD would be around average chances. I would try Michigan also if you're looking for BME at an elite academic institution (OOS). Of course the UCs should also be on your list.</p>