@TXDad56 I applied for Economics. I am still undecided of my major, which sucks.
@TXDad56 I applied for Economics. I am still undecided of my major, which sucks. My main two interests were finance and engineering, and I was too unconfident of myself to apply to the business school at BC. Kinda regret it though. I didn’t think I was going to get into NU either.
My son attends NU and is a double major Civil Engineering and Economics. It takes a lot of planning ahead and he went in with a lot of AP credits but it can be done.
Decision: Accepted with a 100,000 dollar International Merit Scholarhsip.
Applied (ED,EA,RD): RD
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2170
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II: Math level 2-770, Chem- 780, Phy- 750
Toefl- 109
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 10 CGPA, 97% (Indian grades)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/528
AP (place score in parenthesis): Not Offered
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: CBSE Toughest course load available
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 100 percentiles in the country in 10th and 12th grades,
ISRO internship award, Ministry’s recognition- award of commendation for my LGBT work,
Represented my city at the national level in Badminton championships twice, First prizes in State and regional Olympiads, Plenty more major, national level awards for my LGBT work and academics.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Founded a highly influential LGBT charity that went on to change the lives of thousands ( I don’t want to brag, just merely stating what my charity has done) in rural India. I’ve represented the LGBT community in the 3 state legislative assemblies, awarded scholarships to many ostracised LGBT children, constructed 2 shelters that house 150 homeless LGBT individuals, rehabilitated many transgender rape victims and imparted vocational training, helmed the LGBT micro finance committee in the cooperative banks of 14 districts in 2 states to facilitate financial Inclusion for transgender individuals (this helped thousands), taught 1400 transgender women at different places- still do through a robust volunteer network and helmed awareness drives in 70 rural areas.
Shuttle badminton team ( But I don’t do it anymore)- Won a couple of district and state awards and represented the city in the Nationals,
President of the Gay Straight alliance, Head boy of the school, President of the STEM club, some more I can’t remember ( it was 1.5 years ago)
Research work- I found an interesting way to generate a low cost silica adsorbent from beach sand and I’ve applied for a A Patent. I was also offered an internship at a major pharmaceutical company where I worked assiduously to find a potential cure for Cheonic Myeloid Leukemia. And we did 
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: ^see above
Summer Activities: A potpourri of everything- research internships, LGBT awareness drives, working at a travel agency and supermarket cuz I was bored as crap at home, took care of my bedridden grandmother and playing badminton tournaments.
Essays (rating 1-10, details): No idea. It is subjective and I didn’t let anyone read it because it was the Most heartfelt essay I’ve ever written ( about my LGBT work) and my college counsellor completely raped and corrupted it by editing. I re edited the edited version because I didn’t want it to lose the essence of what I wanted to convey.
Extra essay was of how my my neighbor’s daughter’s chronic asthma motivated me to try and design a carbon scrubber with the help of a professor at the local university using nothing but a few 8th grade chemistry equations. ( I’m yet to bring this to fruition)
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 9ish?9th,10th grade teacher so it was ages ago. I only wanted him to write me one cuz I wanted the adcoms to have an insight into how I overcame obstacles and accomplished everything I did despite inhabiting such a rural area.
Teacher Rec #2: 9.5 ish? This guy taught me such a long time ago so he didn’t know much about my LGBT work or my recent research endeavours. But it was laden with superlatives like best student in my 25 years career, as such.
Counselor Rec: 9 he’s a cool guy although I rebelled against his policies pretty much all the time. He said I expanded his perceptions so it’s good.
Additional Rec: 10 It was from a doctor who worked for my NGO and I’m pretty sure this helped me a lot.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yeah but they didn’t reach in time
Intended Major: Engineering undecided or I think I put civil or something
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): India
School Type: Public
Ethnicity:
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Very low ( <20,000 $ My family business is in purgatory and I Have to take massive loans and pay them for the rest of my life to afford college. I’m beginning to regret my decision to study in the U.S. because I ignored plenty of offers from amazing Indian colleges like Bits Pilani which would’ve costed me less than 8000 dollars per year but who knows? Perhaps it’ll be worth it)
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None, LGBT maybe? But they’re like an Over Represented Minority in these colleges so I guess none.
Reflection
Strengths: LGBT work, Research, Recommations, grades, I dunno lol
Weaknesses: SAT scores
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think I might be considered a strong applicant overall, despite a weak SAT score.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Tulane (100,000 merit scholarship,hoping for 30k more), waitlisted (Uchicago)- I seriously don’t know what more Uchicago wants from me. Was it the SAT scores? Waiting for The Ivies, NYU, UMich and Purdue.
General Comments : Northeastern is a safety for me and my Top choice college just waitlisted me so I’m kind of wallowing in my mediocrity at this point. I don’t know if I can get into a better college but I sincerely hope that I do. Definitely not going to Northeastern cuz Tulane is better fit for me ( in safeties at least ) but it’s nice to have an acceptance. But still, for those of you who have been accepted, congrats! And the rejected/ waitlisted candidates, there’s probably something better in store for you so don’t lose hope 
We can never predict college admissions cuz luck has such a huge bearing on them.
And I didn’t do all of those things on my resume at once though. Those initiatives were accommodated in different time frames in a way that made sure I wasn’t burdened. I also took a gap year to purse those interests and my advice for potential college freshmen is to definitely contemplate taking a gap year because I’ve discovered that it can be very intellectually stimulating in various ways.
All the best everyone!
Accepted & Scholars Program
Applied (ED,EA,RD): EA
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):
ACT (breakdown): 33 - (34, superscored) Eng31 Math35 Reading32 Science 36
SAT II: Math2C 800, Chinese 780
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chinese Language & Culture (5), Music Theory (5), World History (4), Comparative Politics (4), Calculus BC (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Ethics and Thoughts, Korean History, Linear Algebra(Honors), Organic Chemistry(Honors), Honors Seminar(Honors), Advanced Literary Criticism(Honors)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Grand Prize and second place in international essay competitions
third places in oxford debate challenge and national medical debate competition
mayor recognition
national announcer competition finalist
third place in national chinese speech competition
taekwondo black belt level 3
model student award
1st place in mock trial
Etc.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): I have insanely many ECs… had to submit a separate resume because of this!
Student Government - department of student communications (leader)
Dorm representative (leader)
school newspaper club (leader)
history journal club (leader)
debate club (leader)
orchestra (leader, conductor)
education volunteer club (leader)
music honor society (leader)
rock band (leader)
environment newspaper (editor-in-chief)
MUN (chair)
mock trial club
medical volunteer club
rowing (cox)
Etc.
Job/Work Experience: 2 week internship at CBS as a reporter/columnist (published an article with my name)
Volunteer/Community service: 7 years of volunteer work at municipal library giving free English lessons, medical volunteering at immigrant hospital, Khan translator
Summer Activities: summer med camp at Dartmouth
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Honestly speaking my essays weren’t that good. Because neu was my safety school I didn’t put my best effort to be frank. I’d say 7/10. I was so shocked when I got an email telling me that I was chosen as a Scholar.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): Recs were killers. Period.
Teacher Rec #1: English teacher who is super close with me. I’m sure his was a killer
Teacher Rec #2: Social science teacher who has taught me for 3 full years. He knows me better than any teachers in our school.
Counselor Rec: Another killer.
Additional Rec: Didn’t submit any additional recs
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Journalism
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): South Korea
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
Reflection
Strengths: RECs and possibly ESSAYS & ECs
Weaknesses: Scores
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: It’s a mystery seriously How was I selected as a Scholar
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
General Comments : If NU wasn’t binding, I would probably had to go through a serious dilemma between NU and NEU. Giving up Scholars Program is such a shame 
[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted [/color][/size]**
Applied (ED,EA,RD): EA
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2210 (750 CR, 710 M, 750 W)
ACT (breakdown): 33 (31 E, 32 M, 33 R, 34 S)
SAT II: 710 Math II, 640 US History, 630 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7ish, 4.5 weighted
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc AB (5), Lang (4), US History (3), Physics 1 (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Chemistry, AP Stats, AP Music Theory, Honors English IV, Independent Study (piano), Film Study, Creative Writing, Select Chorus
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Commended Student, Rensselaer Medal
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): National Honors Society (11-12, vice president 12), Tutoring elementary school students (11-12), classical piano training (past 10 years), local musical performances (9-12), participation in theater/stage productions (9-12)
Job/Work Experience: Tutor for NHS, scooping ice cream at local shop
Volunteer/Community service: tutoring for NHS (20 hours a year), tutoring elementary school students (40 hours a year), performing/participating in local fundraisers/charities (~25 hours a year)
Summer Activities: Camps, CTY pre-calculus (11), CTY Calculus C (12)
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 9, wrote about being a girl involved in science, I thought it represented me well
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 7-8, came from my AP Calc teacher whose class I did well in
Teacher Rec #2: 9, came from my APUSH teacher who I’ve had for 3 years
Counselor Rec: didn’t get to read, probably 7-8
Additional Rec: Didn’t get to read but probably a 10, came from my piano teacher who I’ve known since I was seven
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Bioengineering
State (if domestic applicant): Massachusetts
Country (if international applicant): n/a
School Type: Small (~500 students) public school
Ethnicity: white (European)
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: ~100K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nothing really
Reflection
Strengths: GPA, rigor of schedule, my essay, additional rec
Weaknesses: SAT II scores,
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Demonstrated interest, strengths listed above
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted (RPI, WPI, Georgia Tech), Rejected (Northwestern, MIT), still waiting on Stanford (tonight!) and Brown
**Decision: Waitlisted **
Applied (ED,EA,RD): RD
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2080 (CR: 580 M: 700, W: 800)
ACT (breakdown): 31C (36E, 33M, 28R, 27S, 35W)
SAT II: Math I: 630, Biology M: 680
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.776; W: 4.012
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%; 3/65
AP (place score in parenthesis): English Language (5), Biology (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load:
-AP Chemistry
-AP Calculus AB
-AP Spanish Language
-AP Psychology
-AP English Lit
-Ancient History
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-Hymns lead teacher
-Main facilitator of NHS tutoring at school
-Hospital volunteer, nurse assistant
-Member of GreenSchools society; local cleanups, raising environmental awareness through speeches, and other things
Job/Work Experience: Own my own online store on eBay, with excellent customer satisfaction.
Volunteer/Community service: Avid volunteer at my local hospital, wrote my main commonapp essay on an experience that touched me, as well as an earlier medical experience.
Summer Activities: Hardcore SAT prep + volunteering. Not to mention AP summer work! (fun…)
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 9/10, thought it was really well-written and from the heart.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 9/10, teacher I had for 3 years straight, knows my work ethic really well. Didn’t see the letter though.
Teacher Rec #2: 8/10, AP Lang teacher knows I am a hard-worker, as I got a 5 on the exam.
Counselor Rec: 10/10, We’re like best friends. Since I go to a really small school, the counselor knows everyone personally, so a recommendation from her was bound to be great.
Additional Rec:
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Oh yeah
Intended Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Pre-Med
State (if domestic applicant): MA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Charter
Ethnicity: White, Middle Eastern (Egyptian)
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: <$60,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Nope
Reflection
Strengths: Definitely my essays, GPA, and recommendations
Weaknesses: Standardized test scores… 
Tried a lot to study for them, would have liked higher scores, but oh well.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: My SAT might have been a little too low for them, but I had my 31 ACT to back it up. Maybe not enough ECs? Besides that, I honestly don’t know why, considering I got into other schools with similar acceptance rates.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted to Boston College, BU, Holy Cross
Rejected: Amherst College
Waitlisted: NEU
Waiting on Tufts and the Ivies!
General Comments: Didn’t care much for Northeastern, but am still wondering what landed me on the waitlist. Regardless, I will not be accepting a place as I was accepted to many other schools. Northeastern doesn’t have any supplements, which is absolutely absurd, seeing as how there’s 50,000 applicants. How are you supposed to differentiate who wants to go to NEU vs. who doesn’t. But, I still thank God for the acceptances and great aid I got from other schools. Congrats to all of you!
@mg29409 Did you visit the school or meet with their admissions reps at your school or a college fair? That may have been it. Also, NEU is very stats focused, that’s how they weed through 50k apps. You should not have sent your SAT (just ACT would have been better)… As a prospective science major, your math and science scores are good but not great. Did you send your SAT to all the schools you applied to?
@suzyQ7 Figures–I knew that had to be stat focused since there’s not much criteria to base decisions on for NEU, at least.
Yes, I did visit the school. However, I didn’t really communicate with admissions all that much besides 1 or 2 emails, so you’re right, that may have done it. The CDS does say that interest is considered, so I should’ve taken more of an effort to communicate with them. Like I said, it wasn’t too high on my list, but it was more of a “apply just to apply” school, lol.
And yeah, I probably should’ve just sent my ACTs, but it was from February. I had to submit the SAT with my initial app. Plus, I had a perfect score in writing, so I thought it would be worthwhile to send it in, and in the meantime, hope they would overlook the low CR… I sent both my ACT and SAT to all my schools.
@mg29409 It could have been that they had a lot of bio majors, and the scores put you just under. BU or HC may have had a few less, and focused more on ECs and essays. Its a crap shoot, but sounds like you have great options. Did you get the aid you needed add the other schools? Ia heard BC and HC were a little stingy with aid.
@suzyQ7 It’s going to be a tough decision, but thank God I have options. It truly is a crapshoot, haha. And yes, I got very generous aid from the other schools, almost $50k! They can be stingy with aid for some, but since I’m low income, they were lax with me. So they are all affordable.
@suzyQ7 Do I stand a chance at Brown? That’s truly where I am aiming for and want to go.
I doubt it. Your test scores are too low and your ECs are good, but everyone’s are good at Ivys. Who knows? Expect the worst and hope for the best. Good luck