Is it possible for me to get into Northwestern University?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, this is a Korean girl who lives in Seoul and lived in Tokyo for 16 yrs. My English is pretty bad because I started to learn it when I moved to Korea two years ago. My first language is Japanese and I consider myself is a Japanese. I'm gonna apply to Emerson College for Early Action and Northwestern University for Early Decision. My dream school is Emerson, but I still want to challenge NU. I chose schools that are famous for brilliant communication studies programs because my dream is to become a teacher and then a TV producer. </p>

<p>However, my SAT scores are terribly bad. 450 for Reading, 580 for writing, and 670 for math. I want to make 700 for each section on the October test. I have never taken SAT II because my academy teacher told me that I have no time to spread my focuses on other tests that are not required(both NU and Emerson don't require SAT II for communication major). Also, I only have taken AP Japanese when I was in 10th grade and I dont take any APs this year. Next year, I'll take AP World History, AP Comparative Government, and AP Studio Art.
For extracurricular activities, I'm in two volunteer clubs and one art(photo) club, and I will upload five 7min videos and 12 artworks on my resume, which will be the website format. I have done a few volunteer activities, such as habitat in humanity, poor animals in need, and helping victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I'm also a LGBT-friendly and I have attended to LGBT parades that were held in Tokyo. I'm worrying because I havent been a leader of any organizations and I dont do any leadership, academic, or athletic activities. Next year, though, I'll join varsity volleyball team.
For Common app essay, I'll write about my failure of communication skills that I experienced when I visited a small town in Vietnam where there is no toilet or electricity. I learned so many things through the experience, but I'm not gonna go farther here.
Oh, and I forgot to mention my GPA. Currently, I have 3.98. Hopefully, I'll make it 4.2 or 4.3 because I'm taking some APs.</p>

<p>Apparently, only 5 months left until the deadline of Early Applications. If I make my SAT scores above 2100(700 for each section), do you think is there a possibility to get into NU(or Emerson)? If not, what do I have to do? </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Northwestern Unviersity is a prestigious college with below 13% admission rate. Even with 2100 in SAT may not be enough. Also, it is very unlikely to bring up your reading/writing score to 700+ within months. My D is a native speaker born here and yet, it took her a whole summer to bring up her reading score from 680 to 720. If you want a 400+ boost in SAT, it is not likely to achieve in a few months. If you do get that, ETS may hold your score because of the sudden change.</p>

3

<p>A middling SAT score does not make you a viable NU applicant, I’m afraid. Have a look here:</p>

<p><a href=“***Official Northwestern Class of 2018 RD Results ONLY**** - Northwestern University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1628013-official-northwestern-class-of-2018-rd-results-only.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“***Official Northwestern Class of 2018 ED Results ONLY*** - Northwestern University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1588405-official-northwestern-class-of-2018-ed-results-only-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>You may have to come to the US to improve your English, stay in Korea is not going to raise your Reading from 400 to 700. Most foreigners come and study in Community College or language schools to improve their language or other deficiencies before applying for a 4 year college. Applying to NU will be a waste of your money at this point.</p>

5

<p>Emerson’s threshold seems lower: <a href=“Regular Decision - Class of 2018 - Emerson College - College Confidential Forums”>Regular Decision - Class of 2018 - Emerson College - College Confidential Forums;

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<p>Northwestern isn’t possible for you. However, there are lots of very good schools for communication in the US. Be aware that communication does not lead to teaching though. What do you want to do? Journalism? Digital media? TV?
but before anything, the key question for any international student is: will you be full pay? If so, there are lots of excellent colleges where you’d both stand a chance (not definite but good) and would get terrific programs in communication, film, journalism, etc. Look into Syracuse Newhouse or Ithaca College, University of Columbia Missouri School of Journalism, perhaps Chapman.
Getting from no English to 450 in CR in 2 years is extremely impressive, but getting to 550 is probably the best you can hope for. You can probably boost writing a little to 600 and bring math to 700, for a total of 1850. That should be your target score and the score you look at for colleges.
Don’t forget the TOEFL. If you score 100, you’re good. :slight_smile: (Don’t worry the way some Korean students do: colleges only look at the TOEFL as an academic indicator if you don’t present any other test. If you take the SAT or ACT, THOSE are the scores they’ll look at, the TOEFL only establishes you have the basic English proficiency to succeed there.)
Here’s a list of colleges that could be safeties, matches, and reaches for an SAT in the 1850’s.
<a href=“http://www.collegesimply.com/guides/1870-on-the-sat/#.U3E-eii9tOk”>http://www.collegesimply.com/guides/1870-on-the-sat/#.U3E-eii9tOk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Check Columbia College Chicago. A bit like Emerson. Open admissions, pretty much. </p>