my NU chances! please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I know everyone makes these, but NU is really my top choice and I'm hoping I get in. I'm wondering what chance I stand.</p>

<p>Female
Central NJ
From competitive high school (we send about 10-15 kids to Ivys each year, 20+ to top schools)
1800 students</p>

<p>I'm on an Honors/AP Track, we also have required CP courses we must take to grade. My school is on a 4.5 WGPA system, but the highest you can obtain is a 4.4 because of the required courses</p>

<p>3.92 UW GPA
4.03 W GPA</p>

<p>SAT: 2070
Subjects: 660 US History 620 Math II</p>

<p>I'm applying to SESP as a Social Policy Major</p>

<p>The bulk of my AP and Honors courses have been language and history courses. I currently take two languages, one at an Honors level one at an AP. You also cannot really take AP's until your junior year.</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>Cross Country (Soph-Senior)
Varsity (Junior/Senior) Top Runner (Senior)</p>

<p>Spring Track (Soph-Senior)
Varisty (Junior)
1600m, 3200m</p>

<p>Model United Nations, Northeast Regional YMCA (conference of 1200)
Committee Chair (Junior/Senior Yr)
Deputy Secretary General (Senior)</p>

<p>Youth and Government (Soph-Senior)
Assemblywoman (Soph)
Office of the Treasury (Junior)
Lobbyist (Senior)</p>

<p>Tutoring Project (Soph-Senior)
Co-President (Senior)
We go to a neighboring low-income district and tutor/mentor the kids weekly, I talk a lot about this in my 150 word common app essay & why NU essay.</p>

<p>Transition Project (Junior/Senior)
Project Leader (Junior/Senior)
connects upperclassmen to freshman</p>

<p>Nothing but Nets (Junior/Senior)
Co-Founder/Co-President
We raise money and hold fundraisers to send money to Africa for malaria bed nets (a UN organization)</p>

<p>Student Council (senior)
Class Representative</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>National Honors Society (Junior/Senior)
French national Honors Society (soph-senior)
Outstanding Student Award (Cambridge Tradition, Politics in the Modern World)
-I did an intensive academic program at Cambridge University this summer, I sent in my report card from the summer where I recieved and A+ in politics and an A in creative writing
Varsity Letter Cross Country (Junior/Senior Yr)
Varsity Letter Spring Track (Junior)</p>

<p>Outside of School Activities:
Volunteering at Interfaith Homeless Shelter
Working with the Sisterhood at my Temple
Ran the NJ Half Marathon (2009)
Plan to run the NJ Marathon (2010)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Camp Counselor (2007)
Babysitter</p>

<p>Other:
Cambridge Tradition Summer Program</p>

<p>My college essay took an interesting approach, a very personal statement about a life-changing experience. I have visited Northwestern and wrote about that a lot in my essay using really specific things that only if you visited you would know about. It is my absolute top choice and I don't know what else there is I could do. I want to hand in my application later this week. PLEASE let me know what you think.</p>

<p>thank youu!!!</p>

2

<p>Your test scores might make NU become a low reach.</p>

<p>Otherwise, you’re a strong applicant.</p>

3

<p>It’s a reach, and you know that but just apply and see what happens. Strong recs, strong essays, genuine interest in NU, and a strong GPA (will depend on your rank but you say the school’s rigorous) just might overcome weaker test scores. I’m not familiar with SESP admissions though (I’m in WCAS).</p>

4

<p>My 3.92 is out of 4.0 </p>

<p>I’m currently enrolled in 7 academic classes (we have a nine period day)
4 are AP
AP US Government
AP Calc AB
AP French
AP Language
Spanish Honors
Physics Regular (I’m not particularly interested in the science field)
and a mandatory History class that is not weighted.</p>

<p>I’m usually an all A studnet, however, I think my mid-year will have 3 B+'s and the rest A’s. Do you think this would affect my application chances? I know I have a strong essay and strong recommendations both from my teachers and the Cambridge Program. (My Cambridge letter was written by someone who is a Cambridge and Oxford alum)</p>

<p>Also, my school does not rank at all, but I know I am in the top 5% in a class of 450</p>

5

<p>What is the breakdown on your SATs? Remember that the writing counts little, if at all, at most schools.</p>

6

<p>my writing is my strongest section unfortunately.</p>

<p>math 670
reading 660
writing 740</p>

7

<p>I have the same SAT score as you, but with a slightly stronger breakdown of 690 CR 680 M. I was told by most it was a low-reach. I feel like my essay is unique and I know my AP French teacher gave me a stellar rec (specifically focused on NU). I think that the essays/recs like most people mentioned could make the difference for you and me alike. Best of luck to you!</p>

8

<p>Your test scores make it a reach, but it’s not necessarily out of your reach because you look like an interesting applicant.
Good luck.</p>

9

<p>with a 1340 its very unlikely… :(</p>

10

<p>A reach sure, but very unlikely? I don’t think so. Especially if you make yourself stand out in other ways. 1340 corresponds to like a 30 or 31 ACT and there are plenty of people on this forum in the EA and other threads that got in with 30, 31, and 32. I mean I know 2 kids at my school alone who got in last year with a 31.</p>

11

<p>^^A 670 and 660 actually total 1330, not 1340. While different ACT/SAT “conversion” or “comparison” charts vary somewhat, a 1330 on the SAT corresponds to no higher than a 30 on the ACT (and on at least one such chart, it corresponds to a 29). A 30 on the ACT is on the low side for NU, as are the 660 and 620 Subject Test scores. I therefore have to agree with freightrain rather than KafkaDream - it’s unlikely.</p>

12

<p>SATii’s are in 63rd and 40th % (US and Math, respectively)… and yes a 1330 is a 29, sorry!</p>

<p>heres the link
<a href=“http://www.4089962002.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/subjtestpercentileranks.pdf[/url]”>http://www.4089962002.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/subjtestpercentileranks.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>You still have a chance. Your unweighted GPA is outstanding, but your weighted GPA seems like it should be higher because of all your advanced courses. You have very strong leadership and extracurriculars (way better than I, anyway); pick your strongest/favorite ones to write about or list–admissions officers don’t want to see too long of a list, because often times students list various meaningless activities. Your SAT is on the low end for NU, but people DO get in with those scores. Your subject test scores are low, but mine aren’t much better either =) Remember, NU superscores the SAT, so if you have taken the SAT more than once, you can use your highest subscores, so maybe your SAT is higher than you think. You sound like a hardworking person with some interesting activities, so you DO have a chance, if you can make yourself stand out.</p>

<p>At any rate, you have a better chance than I do. I don’t even know why I’m applying. Good luck! You have a shot, for sure.</p>

14

<p>thank youu!!!</p>

15

<p>Unfortunately those scores are low for the ever rising NU average SAT score. </p>

<p>You are applying to sesp which should help since very few people start out as sesp majors in the first place. You need to make a very convincing argument for why they should give you a shot and I think that’s the best you can do! Good luck it’s certainly been done before but definitely have a strong backup school in mind!</p>