Northwestern advice?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

Hey guys,

First of all: GOOD LUCK TO THOSE APPLYING AND CONGRATS TO THE ED ACCEPTED APPLICANTS

Ok, so I’m currently a sophomore in high school and I’m very interested in NU. I’m legacy and the college has just always been a big aspect of my life. I’m interested in political science (so WCAS) and I’ll be applying ED for the class of 2023.

My freshmen year grades were absolutely awful (UW: 3.6ish, W: 4.0ish), but I’m working on it. I’ve done the math and best case scenario, I end up with an UW: 3.8ish and a W:4.2ish

Also I just began studying for the ACT. I took a diagnostic a couple weeks ago and I’m waiting for my scores.

By the end of high school I will have completed 11 AP’s (AP World, APUSH, AP Lang, AP Human Geo, AP Econ, AP Comp Gov, AP Lit, AP Psych, AP Euro, APES, and AP Stat)

My EC’s are decent, but I’m not sure if they’re NU worthy:
Section Editor of award-winning school newsmagazine (on track to by Editor-in-Chief as a senior)
JV Debater (on track to be varsity next year)
Feminist Club (President)
Young Democrats (member, but applying for leadership next year)
Working on starting two clubs: one focused on humanitarianism and one focused on political activism amongst teens
NEHS member next year
Piano
Photography

I think I can write solid essays and I have a couple teachers in mind who could write good recs.

Over the summer I will be taking college credit courses at NU (focused on polisci) and maybe taking an institute at Georgetown, and definitely volunteering at a children’s law center. And my junior-senior summer I will intern either with my congressman or with a government agency of some sort, volunteer, and maybe do a humanitarian trip.

Do you have advice for me? Should I join MUN and cross country? Any good safety schools that come to mind? Thanks so much and good luck on your apps!

2

I am father of 2 NU alums, and my advice to you is the same as I gave my kids:

  1. ONLY do the ECs you want to do. Your ECs are NU worthy, and if they’re not, then NU loses out.
  2. Enjoy your time in HS - Have some fun!
  3. If you do get into NU - Great, BUT your life will not be ruined if you do NOT get into NU, so look for other schools that have the classes that interest you.

BTW - your grades are not “awful”, but yes they could have been better, so concentrate on getting them up. Good Luck, you’ll do fine! :slight_smile:

3

Thanks so much for your response!

4

This is a super late response, but you’re a sophomore so I answer anyway. My favorite safety was Rochester… I also liked Wellesley until I realized that the political climate was not for me, but that shouldn’t be a problem with your ECs.

5

^ Definitely apply ED! Otherwise you will lose the legacy advantage.