just submitted, now REALLY nervous.. chance me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
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<p>Now that my Northwestern application is finally submitted, I'm getting really nervous! Anyone care to chance me? I'm applying to SoC.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.63 UW, 4.1 W (and got a C junior year in AP Chem...)
Rank: school doesn't rank
SAT: 720 CR 770 M 800 W (2290)
SAT IIs: 700 Chemistry, 730 USH, 710 Literature
APs: USH 5, APLAC 5, Chem 4; I took 3 last year (school doesn't offer a lot of English/Humanities APs, so I had to wait until junior year) am currently taking 3
School: pretty competitive, located in CA, usually send about 2/3 kids to NU each year</p>

<p>ECs:
Debate (4 yrs, won some national debate/speaker awards; leadership 1 yr)
Figure skating (13 yrs, won some local, state competitions)
Newspaper (3 yrs, Editor 1 yr; won a national award; newspaper has won lots of prizes before too)
MUN (3, won one award there)
buncho community service clubs and hours
NHS</p>

<p>Work:
figure skating coach (2 yrs, help out as assistant coach at local ice rink)
tutoring (2)
debate coach (i guess this counts as volunteer though, since i dont get paid for it)</p>

<p>Teacher Recs: I didn't get to read them
Counselor rec: She concentrated on figure skating, it was probably okay
Why NU:
- talked about SoC (Comm studies) and its classes, professors, and the flexibility w/the Comm studies major as it suits both my interests in media communications and political communications
- talked about NU's activities. I mostly focused on its figure skating team, debate team, and publications
- then there was the usual generic stuff about double/triple majors, internships, chicago, etc.</p>

<p>I know that my GPA is probably my biggest weakness, but amidst that, do you think I have a shot at Northwestern?</p>

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<p>I think you’re probably good to go for SoC.</p>

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<p>Everything is solid except GPA is really low. I think your gender/ethnicity could impact things also, seeing as you didn’t list it. I don’t think you have a great shot b/c of the gpa. Maybe 25%… Good luck!</p>

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<p>from hearing some of the ED admits, please confirm how well you can financially afford NU, too - that is, IF they admit you, you might have another thing that is worrisome.</p>

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<p>ilana26 - I’m female and asian; English was not my first language, was born in Korea then immigrated to US along with parents. I guess this probably affects me negatively then ><</p>

<p>roderick - I checked the box for need-based aid, but I probably won’t get a lot since i’m upper middle class. However, now I’m wondering if I should have even checked that box in the first place…
But I guess if I don’t get any aid from NU, it’s fine.</p>

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<p>skateskate- are you a US citizen? If not that’s gonna be a problem.</p>

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<p>arbiter213 - yep, I’m a US citizen</p>

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<p>To arbiter213: I’m just a little curious as to why it would be a problem if she was not a US citizen?</p>

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<p>Much higher standards for admission. And NU makes no/much curtailed promises regardingin financing for internationals. </p>

<p>E.g. One of my best friends from HS was a green card holder but not a citizen. 2390 SAT, 3.9+ GPA, tons of super strong ECs and all 5 APs etc etc.</p>

<p>Only got in Cornell, Dartmouth. Full ride at Dartmouth, no money at Cornell. He needed scholarships to attend, is at Dartmouth. As an aside, his family LOVES me because I wrote his Dartmouth peer rec and they give me credit. Lol.</p>

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<p>If you are a “permanent resident” (legal obviously), you’re entitled to financial aid. You don’t have to be US citizen.</p>

<p>If you are neither, you are considered international and the competition is stiffer.</p>

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<p>Interesting. Perhaps my friend wasn’t a permanent resident at the time.</p>

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<p>@arbiter, I believe as long as you have a permanent resident status, I don’t think there would be any disadvantage to getting the FA. Also, I know quite a lot of people who had stellar scores and ECs such as your friend’s but couldn’t get into top IVYs nor Stanford. AND they were all US citizens, some naturalized but others born here. So that wouldn’t necessarily be the reason why he didn’t get in.</p>

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<p>While I recognize that’s true, he was a superior applicant even by my HS’s standards (where the top 20% (300+ person class) all go to Ivy or equivalent schools). He was pretty convinced his results had a lot to do with being an international applicant applying for financial aid. It also would explain the discrepancy between his aid packages at Cornell and Dartmouth (0 vs. full ride). He was also not eligible for federal work study or federal loans.</p>

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<p>@arbiter, if he had a permanent resident status, he wouldn’t have been an international student so I guess you are assuming he applied before he got his green card. That would make it a different case. It is surprising that Dartmouth gave him a full ride though he’s an international student. Very generous…</p>

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<p>That must have been the chronology of it. I remember him not being qualified for national merit.</p>