<p>I did some research of the university and the university scholars program in Northeastern really caught my attention. I just want a third person's point of view on whether I have any chances for this program.
The program invites students who show a large degree of leadership in their communities, along with equal amounts of community service. Also, they are the top 1-3% of the applicant pool. </p>
<p>So here are my stats: </p>
<p>I do not need to submit my SATs as I am an international student. </p>
<p>My IB grades: 43/45 (English HL - 7, Bio HL - 7, Chem HL - 7, Math SL - 7, Japanese - 7 , Economics - 7, and an additional 2/3 points for TOK and Extended Essay)</p>
<p>My ECAs include:
- Starting a fund-raising T-Shirt Business at School
- Starting a Cricket Club at school
- School representative for a volunteer organization called 'Hands on Tokyo'
- Swimming Champ in several swimming competitions held a swimming club I attend in Tokyo - 3+ gold medals
- Cross-Country School Rep - silver medalist for two years.
- India Representative and Speaker in Japan - Cultural Exchange organization in Japan
- Piano Soloist
- School Representative for MUN events
- Volunteer at a poor feeding events - we cook, pack and distribute food to the homeless all over Tokyo. Over 200 Hours in three years
- Playing basket-ball with challenged children, Painting elders' homes, Volunteer tutor at school - Other community and Service. +100 hours for each </p>
<p>The limit is 10 activities on Common App so that is all I could add.</p>
<p>My essay is apparently amazing - Heard from two of my english teachers, a college guidance counselor, and other individuals from school.</p>
<p>My recommendations are amazing too - The teachers have great impressions of me. </p>
<p>Could you chance me for the scholars program. I feel like I lack AP and other extensive and challenging courses like most other people do but my school doesnt offer anything like that.</p>
<p>IB is challenging. And the university recognizes that. The student I hosted last year for the Scholars weekend was also an IB student. Are those all predicted IB grades, or have you taken some of them already? And the numbers you give add up to 44, not 43?</p>
<p>They are predicted grades. I cannot take any of tests yet so all I have are predicted grades. I made a mistake- (Sorry). I got a 6 for Economics. So it is 43. </p>
<p>May I ask you what you do exactly because you sound very reliable. </p>
<p>I am currently a junior at Northeastern (4th year out of 5). The Scholars program didn’t exist until the year after I started, but I have seen some of what goes on with it. I know a couple of the University Scholars, I have hosted students for the USP visit weekend for the past two years, and I know the director of the program fairly well.</p>
<p>oh okay. That’s great. It’s a pleasure to have come across someone like you studying at northeastern.</p>
<p>Are the students extremely outstanding in everything they do? Do u have an idea of what sort of students they are academically, mentally, physically? ( haha)</p>
<p>They are all very smart, with top notch grades and test scores. Often, having the “hook” (starting a business, charity, exciting research in high school) is helpful, but none of the students I have hosted had this sort of hook. It’s really hard to say what will make you stand out and be the student they select for this type of thing. I think part of what they are looking for is evidence of potential to really stand out and take initiative.</p>
<p>I would say you have a good chance based on the scholars I know, but it’s hard to predict even for people I have met. Kind of like with ivy admissions, it is not something you can count on even with great qualifications.</p>
<p>Hey everyone I’m a current scholar so if you have any questions shoot them my way or pm them to me. There’s also another thread where i answered some questions about the program</p>
<p>You definitely have a fair shot, but with these kinds of things you never know. It’s almost like a lottery these days with admissions so trying to say one way or the other is a big gamble. Best of luck to you</p>
<p>@AlexKav Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! Right now I only have a couple:</p>
<p>Do you find it difficult to fit the 100 hours of community service into your schedule?</p>
<p>This isn’t specifically a question for a Scholar, but do you know anything about the foreign language departments? I’m planning on majoring in International Affairs and I’d love to continue my Spanish studies, but I also want to try a more difficult language like Arabic or Russian. First of all, is studying two feasible? And second, I’m leaning toward studying the Russian language, but looking at the few courses offered on Russia itself I’m worried that the language classes won’t be great. This contrasts with Arabic which seems to be a much more developed department. </p>
<p>The 100 hour community service requirement isn’t hard at all. For first years it’s really structured and they help pair you up with a local community organization of your choice. Going there about 2-3 hours per week and doing a few one time events in between will get you the 100 hours easily over the course of the year.</p>
<p>The community service aspect is really structured. There are two or three staff members devoted to partnering you up with an organization and seeing to it that you have plenty of other opportunities to volunteer at events all over the place. We get emails like twice a week with offers to volunteer for hours (Example being Halloween event for kids at the Pru).</p>
<p>So nope not too difficult to get your 100 hours in. First semester it takes a while to get going with the project so most people end up doing most of it second semester, but there are so many random events that they let you count for hours that it won’t even matter. Also alternative spring break counts for something like 40 hours of it if you decide to go on one of the trips.</p>
<p>I’m not entirely sure about studying two languages simultaneously, but one of my buddies who’s also a scholar is an IA major and also studies arabic. It’s definitely a challenge for him but it’s doable. In terms of studying two languages or the strength of the russian language department, I have no idea i’m a comp sci major haha. This is all hearsay but definitely find a faculty member in the respective departments and send them emails they love when scholars reach out and talk to them.</p>
<p>Hey everyone I’m a current freshman scholar as well(Hey Alex! haha) I’m willing to help out with any questions you all might have. Don’t stress about getting in- no one really knows what the scholars admissions committee is looking for(other than potential, like nano said.) </p>
<p>I know people who study two languages, but it’s tedious. The people I know who do that double major(let’s say a Spanish and Russian double major) so they get acclimated to taking both types of classes simultaneously. I’m currently taking a Spanish course and as far as I know, the Spanish department is decent but I’m not sure of the strength of the Russian department.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how important being in the scholars program is in terms of your decision to coming to Northeastern, but whether you get in or not I would highly recommend NU- it was not my top choice but now that I’m here, I absolutely love it and I can’t believe that I ever considered going anywhere else.</p>
<p>Is it still possible to be considered for University Scholars program in the RD round after getting accepted early + Honors & Dean’s? With mid-year reports and some more things I’ve done with my ECs, I’m hoping to be able to make it if it is possible at all.</p>
<p>I think you only get the one chance at the time of acceptance - don’t think they relook at EA once the RD pool is being reviewed for this program.</p>
<p>That’s what I thought but given that the program is made up of the top 1~2% of the student body, what if they find more qualified people in the early pool? </p>
<p>Anyways I did send them an email so hoping for a reply soon.</p>