Hello all! Northwestern has been my top school for years now but the thing that makes me most nervous about applying ED to Northwestern is my uw GPA. Currently ( half-way through Junior Year ) my uw GPA is a 3.5. I have an enormous upward trend - went from a 2.9-3.0 freshman year to nearly a 4.0 in both sophomore and junior years. Rank went from 273/819 - > 102/819. It is very likely that I will make the top 10% because I am excelling in my AP Humanities/Psych classes ( 97+).
One B can seriously make or break me at this point because I got so many B’s and C’s from freshman year.
Although I am doing excellently in three of my AP classes, AP Physics 1 is killing me. I got a 68 on my first test ( went up to an 86 after the curve, though ). This is my first physics class ever and I have no effing clue wth is going on. Literally EVERYONE seems to be getting it more than me, I feel like the biggest idiot in the class. I am excellent in math, so I don’t understand why I am doing so poorly. I really don’t have any interest in science classes and I plan to major in Anthro and Math if I get into NU.
If I can get an A in physics, my GPA can propel up to a 3.7 by the end of junior year and reach a 3.8 by the first quarter of senior year. If I get a B in physics my GPA will be a 3.62 by the end of junior year and will barely reach 3.7 by the end of senior year.
AP Physics stresses me out so much and I hate every second I spend in that class.
TLDR: So all I have are two questions:
A) Is it okay if I just take regular physics this year, and then take AP Physics 1 or AP Bio senior year? Will NU look down on me for dropping it? I don’t think I will make an A in this class. I’m already taking three other AP classes ( english, history, psych ) I’m just not a very physics-minded guy.
B) Does NU calculate look at senior quarter grades for early decision? My school updates transcripts every quarter. Will they compare my old transcript to my quarter grade transcript?
P.S - I’m also asian and my ACT is a 33 cumulative ( science was by far my lowest score lol. Would have gotten a 34 if it weren’t for science )
Your GPA is very low for NU but your standardized test is pretty good. I’d take it again to see if you can get that 34 because it’d really really help you. Unfortunately, your class rank is currently too low but if you can get into the top 10% like you said, that’d help and that’d also be a must to get in. I know people who had a C or B here and there throughout high school and still got in. I got in with a 32 ACT, #9 class rank, 4.29, lots of leadership and extracurriculars, great rec letters and a genuine essay.
They like to see genuine students. So make sure you nail your essay and supplements. Good luck!
@carliec
Thanks for the advice! NU is honestly more of a dream than a tangible reality but I am still fighting to improve as much as possible. If only I cared about school freshman year lol.
Do you recommend I drop out of AP Physics 1 and just take it next year? Do you think NU will look down on me for not challenging myself in a course I’m not very interested/strong in?
Also, do you know if NU ED would have more focus on my senior year quarter transcript? ( If I drop AP Physics I can probably make by then 3.8 easy ) or do they focus more on my Junior year GPA before senior grades are factored in?
Your post is funny to me, and not because I’m laughing at you. Many years ago, I actually took AP Physics my senior year (took AP Chem junior), but dropped out of AP Physics precisely due to a teacher whom I thought incompetent, and the resulting grades were a blemish on my record. And the year previous, I had an outstanding teacher for regular physics, got all A’s, and really loved physics. I still managed some excellent admissions results; not perfect, though close. But I simply could not have foreseen how things would play out.
I cannot advise you whether to drop, or to stay in. Physics isn’t easy, but it can be very rewarding. What I can say is that, with your grades and scores, I too would think twice about ED to NU – it has become quite difficult recently. Another thread posted this year’s number of applicants, and those admitted ED to NU. Looked to be roughly one third, and likely many applicants with stats above yours. You may be competitive, yet I’d think about ED to a school where your chances are a bit better, and you’d still be happy.
But the most important thing is to get excellent grades, and also raise your test scores if possible. Clearly the best thing would be to stay in AP Physics and get top grades, but you have to decide whether this will be realistic for you.
@anhydrite
Thanks! Yeah, I kinda agree with you. Honestly, as much as I like NU, I also equally like Emory. ( Literally the only thing that makes me prefer NU over Emory is the school spirit, vicinity to Chicago, and better consulting placement ) Although NU is an amazing school and I would love to go there, I should probably be realistic. Chances are, I probably won’t be an incredibly strong candidate for NU even if I do get an A in AP Physics.
I’ve decided that I’m going to drop AP Physics 1… I would rather stay sane and enjoy my last few years of high school than stress out about a class I hate. Who knows, maybe going through regular will help me enjoy physics and I’ll be motivated enough to take AP next year.
I just need to work my ass off this year lol. I’m not giving up on NU quite yet, but thanks for reminding me to be realistic. I’ll re-evaluate myself at the end of this year. If I’m not up to snuff to NU’s standards by then, I’ll probably apply ED to Emory, where I have slightly better chances and I ALMOST like equally as much.
You are welcome. Yes, whatever you do, work hard and consistently for top grades. Honestly, good test scores won’t hurt either. I think Emory may be a very good idea ED for you, if you truly do like it. If you maintain good grades / scores, one thing in Emory’s favor (this is impossible to say, just going on historical data) is that they may offer you a nicer financial package, if you are admitted. Also, I rather doubt Emory’s school spirit is any less than NU. They are just a bit different in terms of atmosphere.
Once you’ve done your best and the time comes, don’t sell yourself short, either. You can always apply RD to NU. I’d certainly apply for a few reaches, some match-type schools, and a few safeties, where your admissions and costs would be highly likely and affordable.
I do think that NU will not be particularly happy that you dropped it (I’m 99% sure they can see you dropped it, but don’t quote me) and also if you are doing ED (i did ED also), then they won’t even see your 1st semester senior year grades but they will see the classes youre taking. If you end up doing RD, they WILL see your 1st semester senior grades because you have to turn in a mid-year report.
On the other hand, that GPA is vital if you want a chance to get in. My advice would be to double check whether or not they can see that you dropped it. If they can, I would recommend trying as hard as you can to get an A this semester in the class and then replacing what WOULD have been AP Physics next year with another AP class to raise your GPA and try your hardest to get As and A-s in all those classes. I know its difficult and annoying but that seems like the best route!
If you ED your first semester Senior grades won’t be looked at, just what your signed up for senior year. If AP physics is really dreadful for you (I had a simmilar problem with physics too-- good at every science but that and got a 34 ACT) I would drop it for the lower level. Ideally the time to drop would have been before you got a 1st semester grade in it, but I would say colleges care more about you succeeding and getting good grades than having one less impossible class. As for your low freshman grades, I wouldn’t say that puts you out at all! A upward trend is a really great thing, and NU has a additional comments section for students to explain academic difficulties/ personal struggles that I would recommend using to explain what happened freshman year, which usually helps them understand your transcript a lot better. Admissions isn’t stupid: they can see your full potential from Junior and a Sophomore year and aren’t going to tear you down based on whatever happened your freshman year. Having good activities is important too at this point: your grades are fine now and I would stop worrying about your overall Gpa and be more concerned about other parts of your app because NU doesn’t admit students that don’t do anything but school work. If NU is really your top choice, I would still consider ED because RD round is becoming impossible with over 15x more applicants than ED, if you want to have a realistic shot of getting in.
