Northwestern and University of Chicago

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I know a lot of you live to evaluate, so please analyze my stats, and I'll be very thankful if not relieved or disappointed...</p>

<p>o I'm a rising white male senior at a public high school in southeastern Pennsylvania
o Unweighted GPA out of 4.0 is 3.95
o Class rank is 6 out of 453
o SAT: 1470 = 760 math and 710 verbal (I have to take the new SAT in October for UChicago, but Northwestern allows composite scores from the old test)
o SAT II: 800 biology-m, 790 writing, 780 math IIC
o AP scores: 5 biology, 5 statistics, 5 European history
o My courses, I would surmise, are considered the most challenging my school offers. This year I'm taking AP Calculus BC, AP German, and AP Chemistry
o I have all the necessary essays written, and so far I've gotten great reviews from my guidance counselor.
o Three recommendations are on the way from my piano teacher, AP Bio teacher, and AP Euro teacher. They all promised me that they'll be fantastic letters. My counselor is also a very good writer.
o Only awards I have gotten are Distinguished Honor Rolls for every semester, Highest Honors (highest grade) Awards for an assortment of classes including AP Bio, Tennis letters, and a stupid little thing my teacher made: "Most Proficient Student of Classical Music"
o Extracurricular Stuff:
o Science club, I started it in ninth grade, and now there are about a dozen members. We do a lot of discussions and labs centered around topics that are not normally part of the honors curriculum. For example, this year we covered concepts such as chemiluminescence, esters, liquid chromatography, and oscillations.
o JV tennis team 9, 10, 11, 12
o Only high school tutor at elementary summer school 9, 10
o Hospital (ER, Day Surgery, TCU) volunteer 10, 11, 12
o Internship in cancer research at the end of this summer
o Piano for 11 years
o Violin 7 year
o German club 9 (then it ceased to exist)
o Math club and competitions but with no distinctions 11, 12
o La Salle University summer CSI Chemistry workshop 12
o Rohm & Haas Career Awareness Workshops 11
o Photographer's assistant this summer</p>

<p>As you can see, my extracurricular activites aren't too impressive, but there's nothing I can do about that at this point. I'm applying to both of these schools early. I flew to Chicago in June to visit both campuses. I toured Northwestern and was interviewed at Chicago, which I think went pretty well.</p>

<p>I'm also wondering if anybody thinks that being a high school student volunteer in the ER has any weight in my application, because I really don't like doing it. It's very boring, actually. Is it worth mentioning too the German club and Rohm & Haas thing since they aren't that paramount?</p>

<p>So, under ED and EA plans, and now knowing my stats and having prior knowledge of NW's and UC's admissions factors, kindly predict how I'll fare. Thanks to everyone who read this and will consider giving feedback!</p>

2

<p>Some questions:</p>

<p>What do you plan on studying? </p>

<p>Why are you spending your time in an ER if you don't like it and presumably aren't going premed?</p>

<p>Curious to why you like both Northwestern and Chicago. They appear to be very different schools that usually appeal to different types of people.</p>

3

<p>Indeed, Northwestern and University of Chicago very different from each other, but you've probably done enough research to conclude that you like them both (that's certainly possible). I won't make the process harder than it already is. So to comment on your chances, and do take my opinion with a grain of salt:</p>

<p>I think you're highly competitive for both schools. Just make sure to write an original essay for Chicago.</p>

4

<p>I very much intend to be pre-med, though I want to major in foreign language (German or Romantic Languages and Literatures, or whatever form there of the school offers). I thought volunteering in the ER would be fun, but it turns out there isn't much to do unless you're certified. I only keep doing it because I think it will give me an edge to other hospital volunteer applicants. I'd gladly stop if knowledgable people can tell me it won't do anything for my admissions chances.</p>

<p>I liked Northwestern a lot more than UChicago, but most of all, I liked the city of Chicago the most. From either school, the city is very accessible, so that appeals to me greatly. UChicago is an accredited school; it's EA; it's in Chicago; the campus is nice. Although the people seemed a little looney, and their policies on various academic issues are kind of weird, I would definitely go there. Since it's EA, I really have nothing to loose, and supposing I'm accepted here and not at Northwestern, I'll send out a few more applications for regular decision and see what happens. If nothing does, then UChicago would be fine.</p>

<p>Northwestern was awesome in my eyes. I choose this as my ED because if I'm accepted here, I would feel no regrets about missing out on UChicago or other universities.</p>

5

<p>Does anybody have any more opinions? Thanks</p>

6

<p>You have a great shot. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>I wholly agree with you. I have a question though. How was the interview like? I'm travelling up there in late September to interview at Chicago. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Last year I applied to Chicago as a Junior in addition to a number of other schools. I was accepted to Penn and Caltech but not Chicago. I had a 1600 and 800x5 and what were considered nice ECs. They want to see extreme passion and dedication to learning in every sense though. GPA and SATs and Numbers are just guideline figures for them. They want to see your energy and spirit. I am very, very interested in music and the performing arts, and like you, also love the city of Chicago, so I am making a much more concerted effort to include those aspects of..me!</p>

<p>Hope that helps. And any comments you have on the interview I would greatly appreciate. I'm not scared(I'm really looking forward to it), I'm just wondering how the experience was.</p>

8

<p>I was hoping to get this one guy to interview me, the guy who conducted the post-tour information session, but I instead was interviewed by a student counselor or whatever he was. He was nice and generally asked questions based on whatever I was talking about. I knew that I shouldn't have allowed any moments of silence, so I kept talking from the beginning. We discussed the impact the Bush administration is having on the environment and the pros and cons of hybrid vehicles. The topic was brought up when he asked me if I had read any good books lately, and I said Robert F. Kennedy's "Crimes Against Nature."</p>

<p>The one thing that bugged me, though, is that he kept asking the same question by rewording it. He wasn't really satisfied with my answer, so I kept trying to say things that would just leave a positive impact. He asked something like why I precisely want to go to the school, and I gave so many reasons, but he just kept asking. It was weird, so if that does happen, just ask him to clarify or for an exmple answer. That's what I should have done.</p>

9

<p>AND please somebody answer in their opinion!! Does volunteering in an emergency room hold any weight in applications? If they see "ER" and not just "hospital," do you think that would show me as a leader or give me any qualities that may set me apart from the normal hospital volunteer?</p>

10

<p>Is my question cursed? Nobody has thought to acknowledge it. It may not seem that important, but I'd really like to know if I can stop volunteering there since it won't be that important in applications. I just some opinions on how important ER volunteering is!</p>

11

<p>For me personally (ie in my situation) it would not matter: the only requirement for volunteering at the ER at the hospital I volunteer at is that the person must be 18 (plus he/she must interview, but all volunteers have to interview so it's not anything special).</p>

<p>What is it about ER volunteering at the hospital you volunteer at that makes it so different from volunteering in any other department? Does it require any special skills, personality traits, etc.? Because then it might be noteworthy.</p>

12

<p>at the hospital I volunteer at they don't do anything special... just help people fill out forms and file work and stuff...</p>

13

<p>There was nothing in the "job description" about what an ER volunteer needs to have. I only requested to be put there, but now I've found that there isn't much to do since it's an important place where profressionals dominate. I probably wouldn't include anything about what it takes to volunteer in there becauses admissions may think I'm being a little conceited if I say that the person has to be alert, mature, responsible, reliable, fast-thinking, etc.</p>