Notre Dame is my first choice college but I am also considering Northwestern as a backup (if I don’t get in to Notre Dame). Should I even bother applying to Northwestern? Is there any chance of me being accepted by Northwestern and denied by Notre Dame? Has anyone heard of this scenario playing out?
-Iowa
-Catholic school
-32 ACT composite
-4.34 weighted GPA (mostly As and A+s)
-above average ECs, leadership positions
-double legacy at Notre Dame
They are peers but if you go by pure statistics, Northwestern is slightly more competitive. Northwestern would simply be another reach school if ND is one already.
Of course it’s possible you could be accepted by NU and denied by ND. It’s also possible you could be accepted by ND and denied by NU. Or accepted at both, or denied at both. I’m sure all of the above has happened to some kid, somewhere.
Though if you are a double legacy at ND - I’d take that and run with it. ND loves their legacies.
I personally am completely opposite of you. I applied to Northwestern University early decision and Notre Dame is my second choice (simple because its so close to home even though NU is only 30 minutes farther). I think you should apply to Northwestern as well because to be honest, its only one essay compared to NDs 3 and they have almost the same question. It couldn’t hurt is all I’m saying! Then you can decide on which one you want to go to once you get in!
Here’s what I know: Northwestern takes half of its frosh class ED, and Notre Dame only takes the cream of the crop in the Early round (can’t remember if they are ED or EA) so most apply in the RD pool. AND you cannot assume your legacy means much to ND. I know of families where a parent and multiple siblings attended ND and a stellar student from a Catholic feeder school was still denied. Assuming both schools are a good fit for you, because that’s the most important factor, why not go ED for NU and RD for ND? Just my 2 cents
^^because ND is his first choice, and if he got into NU ED, he would be bound to attend