Northwestern Class of 2022 RD Results

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
21

Accepted to Schools of Communication and Engineering!!

Objective

SAT I (Comp, Essay, CR, M, CW): 1560 overall (single take), 6/6/6 essay, CRW 780, M 780
ACT (Comp, Essay, Eng, Math, Read, Sci): n/a
SAT II (Type, Score): U.S. History, 800; Math II, 740
Weighted GPA (out of 100): 102.17
Unweighted GPA (out of 100): 97.8 (sorry my school doesn’t calculate on the 4.0 scale for whatever reason and I’m too lazy to go through my transcript)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/110
AP (place score in parenthesis): European History (4), U.S. History (4), U.S. Gov. and Pol. and Calc AB (this year); the two history courses are 2/3 AP classes available at my school, with the other being Studio Art. The two I’m taking this year are online and are almost never taken by students at my school.
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: English 101/102 (CE), Physics 104/105 (CE), AP Gov, AP Calc AB, Econ, Band, Choir, Drama (helped convince guidance counselors to run this course this year), Video Production (CE)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none

Subjective

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): School musicals (9-12); Local theater (11-12); Student-produced plays (11-12, co-founder, co-director); so many different choirs and a capella groups; Student newspaper (12, founder, editor-in-chief); NHS (11/12, chair of tutoring); Serteen (9-12, Vice Prez 11 and Secretary 12); three varsity sports
Job/Work Experience: n/a
Volunteer/Community service: lots of work at my church and through NHS/Serteen
Summer Activities: lots of baseball and theater
Essays: 9/10. Might be a bit generous, but I have nothing to compare them to. I felt like they both got my personality across very well, and in my opinion, my Why NU statement was the best supp I wrote (out of 10 schools)
Teacher Recommendations: 7/10 and 9/10. The 9/10 I read and felt really good about. The 7/10 could have been anything really, but he gave me an award for excellence in his class (APUSH) last year so I’m hoping he had some good things to say.
Counselor Rec: 9/10. Again, I didn’t see this one but we’ve become really close over the past two years and she seems, in my mother’s words, “more interested in your success than [my parents are]”

Other

State (if domestic applicant): NY
School Type: Public, rural
Ethnicity: European white
Gender: male
Income Bracket: ~130k
Extenuating Circumstances: none
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): absolutely none (was expecting rejection/waitlist because of this)

Why you think you were accepted/not accepted and general comments

I think I had a really strong Why NU supp and I also showed a lot of commitment to my extracurriculars. I also seem to fit really well with the school’s focus on “and” (AND is in our DNA and whatnot). Also, I think if they actually look at the school I came from, that probably helped, as many of my peers are remarkably unmotivated (sorry :/)

Other decisions

Accepted: Binghamton (IS), Geneseo (IS), Kenyon (25k merit), Oberlin (29k merit)
Waitlisted: Williams
Rejected: none (yet… we’ll wait for ivy day)
Still waiting: Vassar, Princeton (deferred EA), Brown, Harvard

22

This has been stressing me for days now, so maybe I can get some input from this thread.

Decision: Accepted

Objective: Mechanical Engineering

SAT I (Comp, Essay, CR, M, CW): N/A
ACT (Comp, Essay, Eng, Math, Read, Sci):32 (Essay10, 35, 28, 34, 32)
SAT II (Type, Score): N/A
Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.08
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):3.79
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): Bio, AP Euro, APUSH, Calc AB, Lit and Comp, Comp Sci
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Gov/AP Econ, Spanish IV, AP Chem, Newspaper, Comp Sci principles, Physics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

  • Co-editor-in-chief of school newspaper (12th)
  • Newspaper staff member (11th)
  • Iowa Girls Code member (11th)
  • Piano (10 years, placed in several statewide competitions)
  • World Cultures Club (11th, 12th)
  • Mission Compassion (club to raise money for kids who need school supplies, 11th)
    Job/Work Experience:
  • Team member at Dairy Queen (most of 12th)
    Volunteer/Community service:
  • Volunteered at multiple food shelters this year
  • Junior Counselor at 2 different camps during the summer (2-4 weeks per summer)
  • Made blankets for kids who have cancer going to camp
  • general district activities, i.e elementary school fun nights.
    -Summer Activities:
  • Volunteered at summer camps
    Essays: Common App (9/10): I wrote about what it’s like being the only black girl in a nearly all-white neighborhood/discovering self-acceptance.
    Why Northwestern (6/10): Pretty generic, wrote a lot about my visit there last summer and how I fell in love with the campus. Also wrote about my love for music and engineering, and how I liked that NW allowed me to explore both my passions.
    Teacher Recommendations:
    Advanced Comp./Newspaper teacher (8/10): I’ve had her since freshmen year, from advanced comp and newspaper. We’re pretty close and I think she knows a lot about me.
    Programming teacher (10/10): I’ve had him since sophomore year, probably one of the few teachers I can say really made an impact on my learning as a student. Knows me well and pushes me to do better. We’re pretty close (as far as teacher-student relationships)
    Counselor Rec (6/10): She doesn’t know me all that well, but she loved my sister when she was in HS so that might’ve helped (joke)

Other
State (if domestic applicant): IA
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: >=$150K
Assets: N/A
Property: N/A
Extenuating Circumstances: N/A
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Don’t know if this counts, but I’m a first-generation American. My parents immigrated from Kenya, but both went to graduate school in the states. And, yeah, I’m a black female.

Why you think you were accepted/not accepted and general comments: I honestly have no idea how I was accepted. My test scores are average for Northwestern, especially for the engineering program. Though I am an editor-in-chief, I really don’t see what else stands out. I was talking with some classmates and some had ACTs 3 or even 4 points above mine, and they didn’t get in. Really made me feel bad, like I shouldn’t have gotten in. NW is my dream school and I’m beyond thankful, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve received something I don’t deserve and I’m worried others may think the same…

Accepted to: Case Western Reserve, St Louis University, Bradley University
Waitlisted: None
Rejected: None
Still waiting on: USC, Cornell University (the longshot ivy I know I won’t get into lol)

23

@kriscental You deserve this, don’t doubt it. They picked you because they have faith that you will succeed at their school. Finally, they picked you because for whatever combination of reasons (stats, ecs, essay, recommendations, etc.), they liked you. Be happy!

24

Decision: Accepted for Dual Degree in theatre and mechEng

Objective:

SAT I (Comp, Essay, CR, M, CW): 1530, 17 essay, 740 reading/writing, 790 math
ACT (Comp, Essay, Eng, Math, Read, Sci): n/a
SAT II (Type, Score): Physics 730, Math II 770
Weighted GPA (out of ??): n/a
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): my school doesn’t do out of 4.0, so 94.98/100
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calculus AB/BC (5), will take Physics C mechanics and E/M and Statistics in May
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: English 4, French 5, AP Statistics, AP Physics C, Multivariable Calculus, Financial Literacy, Engineering Design/Development
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist, National French Exam Bronze Medalist, MAMTG 1st Place Musical Theater Standards

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Performing Arts Club 9-12 (assistant director, then director), Community Theater Group 9-12, Piano/voice lessons 9-12
Job/Work Experience: Intern at theater arts camp, intern at Camp Invention, internship at aerospace company first semester of senior year
Volunteer/Community service: Girl Scouts grades 1-12, National Honor Society
Summer Activities: counselor at previously mentioned summer camps, Carnegie Mellon Precollege for Musical Theater before junior year
Essays: Common app about self identity, Why NU very specific towards dual degree program
Teacher Recommendations: did not read them but both teachers liked me a lot and knew about my interests and activities/worked very well in their class
Counselor Rec: I’m pretty sure she liked me because I was unique compared to classmates

Other
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
School Type: pre-engineering vocational
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Income Bracket: >150k
Extenuating Circumstances: n/a
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): female in engineering

Why you think you were accepted/not accepted and general comments: Applied for very specific dual degree that essays and ECs fit, applied ED (deferred but wrote update letter on some more leadership and expressing continued interest)

Other Schools Accepted: Rutgers Honors College, Northeastern, Lehigh IDEAS
Waiting on: Princeton, Cornell, UPenn, Carnegie Mellon

25

DECISION: Accepted

APPLIED TO : Northwestern School of Communication (Theatre)
(Regular Decision)

Objective:

  • SAT I (Comp, Essay, CR, M, CW): 1st Try: 1270, Essay: 7 6 7, Math: 590, Reading: 680 2nd Try: 1310, Essay: 6 6 7, Math: 630, Reading: 680
  • ACT (Comp, Essay, Eng, Math, Read, Sci): N/A
  • SAT II (Type, Score): N/A -WEIGHTED GPA (out of 5.0): 4.22 -UNWEIGHTED GPA (out of 4.0): 3.99 (Got a B+ in flippin' Driver's ED) -RANK (percentile if rank is unavailable):1/66 -AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (3) (There is a total of 5 AP courses in my entire high school) -IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A -SENIOR YEAR COURSE LOAD: AP Calc, AP Lit & Comp, AP Stats, AP 2D Studio Art, Intro to Business, Fundamentals of Art and Design, Digital Design, Recent US History -MAJOR AWARDS (USAMO, Intel etc.): BPA Regional Competition Graphic Design Finalist, Illinois State Scholar, WYSE first place sectional winner in Math and English (Did not put that on CommonApp)

Subjective:

-EXTRACURRICULARS (place leadership in parenthesis): Student Council (President), Student Class Officer, NHS,
Freshmen Mentoring, BPA (President 2 years), Fine Arts Club, Volleyball (2 years), Basketball (2 years), School
play (Lead in 2 plays), Yearbook (Head of Marketing), Spanish Club, Performer in Fine Arts Festival, Voice
Lessons, Volunteer Church Choir (I am about 4 decades younger than everyone in the choir)
-JOB/WORK EXPERIENCE: Summer Corn Detasseler (2 years)
-VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE: 6th & 7th grade math tutor, Feed my starving children, Opera house usher,
FFA Fair petting zoo helper, (I basically have done a lot of small volunteer jobs here and there)
-SUMMER ACTIVITIES: 1 NIU Summer Theatre camp and Detasseling
-ESSAYS:
NU Essay: Talked about how acting is the hardest profession because it is so unpredictable, talked about my love
for theatre, focused on some of the NU student organizations, talked about the laid back atmosphere, I tried to
throw a lot of big words in there, didn’t get into enough detail about the theatre program (7.3/10)
CommonApp Essay: Prompt = a time I experienced failure, wrote about how I failed my driver’s test twice, very
comedic, made it super self-deprecating and entertaining, probably the funniest essay I have ever written, lots
of imagery and like no big words, biggest word = “ineptitude” (9/10)
-RECOMMENDATIONS: I have been pretty close with all of the teachers, faculty, and even the principal and
superintendent in my school since I am pretty outgoing and my school is so small, plus I am the only black person in
my grade so it’s kind of hard not to stand out; I got recommendations from my English teacher, art teacher, and
school counselor, and I am pretty sure they are all (10/10)

Other:

-STATE (if domestic applicant): Illinois
-TOWN: Very small town, predominantly white, more corn fields than people, more pick-up trucks than corn fields,
more American flags than pick-up trucks, tourist attraction is a Dollar General, half-hour away from the nearest
grocery store
-SCHOOL TYPE: Public, small: about 250 students total, has an annual bring-your-tractor-to-school day
-ETHNICITY: Black
-GENDER: Female
-INCOME BRACKET: ~150k
-ASSETS: N/A
-PROPERTY: N/A
-EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES: None
-HOOKS (URM, first generation college, etc.): Minority

Why you think you were accepted/not accepted and general comments:
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO FLIPPIN’ CLUE HOW I GOT IN. I know that I am a black girl from a small white town, but my stats are not really good…like not…at…all. I mean I guess I did a lot of EC’s, but considering that I have a class of about 66 students, it doesn’t seem that impressive to me. I think they may have let my low stats kind of slide because I was applying to the theatre program. My recommendations were really good, but my essay about my failed driver’s tests was probably the best thing about application. I’m sure it was the thing that made me stand out from the rest. Northwestern probably got a good laugh out of my pain. I am a really sucky driver.

ADVICE TO FUTURE APPLICANTS: Don’t be afraid to be comedic in your CommonApp essay. If comedy is one of your strengths, go for it. I was really hesitant about doing a comedic essay at first because when I read other examples of essays responding to the same prompt they were all very serious and somewhat sad. I considered writing about some things in my life that were more “difficult” seeming, like being the only black girl in my school or having divorced parents, but I thought that would be taking the easy way out. My life has always been really cushy, and I did not want to pretend that it hasn’t been. So, I just took a very minor incident in my life and wrote about that, making fun of how absurdly serious I believed it to be, yet I also found a way to tie it into a heartfelt lesson about failure itself. I showed a lot more personality writing about that than anything else I could have written about. I hope this helps anyone out there who’s not sure what to write about for their CommonApp essay.

OTHER SCHOOLS I APPLIED TO:
Accepted: University of Illinois-Urbana, North Central College, Loyola Marymount University, UC Davis, Bradley
University, Northern Illinois University
Waitlisted: None
Rejected: UCLA