<p>I am a recent Northwestern graduate. I can answer any questions about admissions, student life, Chicago, etc. at the university.</p>
<p>Its one of my top schools, can you tell me if I have any chance?</p>
<p>Frosh/Sopho GPA: 3.88
Junior GPA : 4.26(so far)
Projected at end of year: 4.00 W
Not sure about weighted, I'm guessing around 3.7ish</p>
<p>Courses: Almost all honors/APs
2 APs Junior Year
Signed up for 5 next year</p>
<p>ACTs: taken twice so far, going to take again
C: 31 E: 33 R: 33 M: 30 S: 29 Essay: 10
C:31 E: 31 R: 27 M: 33 S: 34 Essay: 10</p>
<p>ECs:
Investment Club
Chairman Haven from Hunger
Bestbuddies
Danvers to Duran Overnight Poverty Walk- Co-Chairman (Its a walk we started to raise money for Hansen's disease in Ecuador. We raised over $40,000 for a hospital last year(the first year) and are hoping for much more this year)
Varsity Rugby
New England Rugby
Tried out for U-17 National Team
Outward Bound Alum
School Retreat Leader
Underclassmen mentor
Some other ones that aren't as significant too</p>
<p>What do you think my chances are like? I'd be applying to the Arts and Sciences School, and then, if accepted, hopefully to MMSS.</p>
<p>@ trnr06</p>
<p>I usually don't answer "what are my chances?" questions because there is no strict quantitative formula to determine admission at top-tier schools such as Northwestern. I will tell you NU looks for well-developed, diverse students who possess strong academic, innovative and leadership abilities. Continue to do well in school, improve your writing skills, and be active in clubs/teams you truly enjoy.</p>
<p>My daughter just started thinking about journalism or communications as her college major, so we thought about Northwestern. She'd want to know about the residences, social life, what kinds of students does NW attract, are there concert venues nearby, and how intense is the school (grade grubbing, studying till three am, laid back?). Also, she loves rain and snow, just how inclement is the weather there? Thanks!</p>
<p>@ BurnThis</p>
<p>Northwestern has one of the top undergraduate journalism programs in the nation. The communications department (a separate school) is also another excellent and popular area. Whatever she decides, it is easy to transfer between the schools. The school operates on a quarter system so we have 3 exams periods per year (fall, winter, spring). The average class load is 3-4 classes per quarter. Some brave students take 5 classes (an overload). The workload can be difficult but easily doable as long as you don't fall behind in homework. The social life is good with many clubs and events. Campus events, even student-sponsored, are very common. She can also explore the city of Chicago. It is only a train ride away. </p>
<p>Programs</a> of Study, School of Communication, Northwestern University</p>
<p>Medill</a> - Undergraduate Journalism</p>
<p>The weather varies a lot in the Midwest. It is a typical four-season region. The weather becomes chilly by late October. The winters are icy and cold because of the lake effect weather (the school is located directly on Lake Michigan). Weather after April can become warm and humid. Spring quarter does not end until mid-June.</p>
<p>I found this picture on Northwestern's website. Bring heavy coats, scarfs, gloves and snow shoes. This is a typical winter: <a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/images2/leftnav/winter/evanston_winter03.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.northwestern.edu/images2/leftnav/winter/evanston_winter03.jpg</a></p>
<p>Tenisghs,
Thanks for the quick and helpful response. When I went to college, we had the quarter system and I remember it being too much, too fast. But then, maybe I was just slow!</p>
<p>BurnThis:</p>
<p>One suggestion in follow-up to Tenisghs: Medill is very popular and has a very, very high retention rate (near 99%). Because of this (and several required classes limiting enrollment to 12-20 students) the school will generally accept only a few transfers yearly. These generally come from other NU colleges. The other side of this: the Communications School, like Arts and Sciences and Education, allows for pretty easy intra-university transferring. If your daughter thinks journalism is what she wants to do, she should probably apply to Medill up front. </p>
<p>Both are fantastic undergrad programs, by the way.</p>
<p>not trying to hijack your thread, but thought i'd help answer this one</p>
<p>
[quote]
She'd want to know about the residences
[/quote]
</p>
<p>the dorms are pretty nice (better than state school dorms), but some are certainly better than others. the more social dorms are on north campus, while the quieter dorms are south - as a general rule. the food is better and there is more of it down south, while up north there are only a few dining options. (the benefit of being north is there is a convenience store located on-campus that is open until 2am and has tables/lounge areas available for studying)</p>
<p>the south dorms are closer to most classes (unless you are an engineer/SESP student). a few of the dorms have lake views.</p>
<p>
[quote]
social life
[/quote]
</p>
<p>the greek scene is big but not as elitist as you will find at many schools. fraternities host many on and off-campus events - especially in the fall, and the bar scene is big (both in evanston and chicago). if this isn't her thing, there is a large contingent of students who do not engage in these types of activities, and is split pretty much into two groups: those who don't really go out, and those who go out but aren't as much into the greek/bar scene.</p>
<p>
[quote]
what kinds of students does NW attract
[/quote]
the student body at northwestern is mostly comprised of unpretentious, smart, ambitious-types who don't normally dress up for class (it's rare to see high heels, etc. on sheridan road) and like to converse about things other than academics (ie it isn't a heavy 'thirst-for-knowledge' school like uchicago or swarthmore)</p>
<p>
[quote]
are there concert venues nearby
[/quote]
tons, in addition to the concerts northwestern hosts (girl talk just played in the student center last week and lupe fiasco, cake, and others played here last spring) chicago is a city pretty much every touring band passes through, and venues include:</p>
<p>house of blues
the metro
congress theatre
aragon ballroom
allstate arena (located in rosemont... by o'hare airport)
and many, many more</p>
<p>
[quote]
and how intense is the school (grade grubbing, studying till three am, laid back?)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>definitely not grade-grubbing, but a fair amount of effort has to be put in due to the quarter system and the strength of the students.</p>
<p>@ BurnThis</p>
<p>I will say one of the best pros about the quarter system is that it is easier for undergraduates to pursue a double major/minor(s). I was a double major. Students can take extra courses and electives. I certainly found this one of the reasons why I chose to matriculate to Northwestern. Nonetheless, it is a fast paced system, and I wouldn't recommend it for graduate studies (given the heavier workloads).</p>
<p><strong>bumping this for more attention</strong></p>