<p>What about if your test scores are OK but your grades aren’t? I’m fine with my ECs, I have a 2340 on my SATs, but I received nothing but an equal amount of B+s and A-s my junior year. They were AP classes, but even when I took honors classes my freshman/sophomore year, I got quite a few B+s and a B. With my current GPA, I’m probably just under top 10%, plus I’m also Asian, so that’s clearly gonna hurt. Oh well. Anyway, good luck guys!</p>
<p>Actually, essays are an important part of the admissions process, especially if you have an interesting story and take a creative approach. It can definitely make or break you. That isn’t to say scores are not important (scores are the basis of admissions), BUT high scores and good grades alone will not get you into top schools if your essays are average. Also, teacher recommendations, if specific to the student, can be extremely telling of the student’s overall persona (hardworking, passionate, eager) and can make a difference, especially if the student is very close with that teacher.</p>
<p>I’ve heard many times that they essentially break up the application pool into people with similar stats and then they go to your other things like essays, recs, and anything else.</p>
<p>@siphwe really? Do you think that they at least consider the essays or read them?</p>
<p>@siphwe </p>
<p>That comment is ridiculous. Of course they consider essays. Some essays can even make your entire app stand out.</p>
<p>Come on guys, of course they read the essays and of course they play a significant role in the application process.</p>
<p>@gkfc13 I never said anything about parchment. Just wanted to know someone’s honest opinion about my chances of getting in.</p>
<p>It’s definitely not only a numbers game. Essays matter, but it’s only a component of the bigger picture. Recommendation letters, essays, GPA, test scores, EC’s, etc. are puzzle pieces of a picture. So, don’t worry, but don’t think that essays can get you in on its own. </p>
<p>Just try to be as different as possible. Anyone can make a 2300 SAT and have a 3.9 GPA. Try to make the admissions office want you as a way to make NW look amazing.</p>
<p>Okay good…cause I always thought that essays were an important part of your application </p>
<p>Hopefully we’ll all be getting our acceptance letter in 2-4 days…</p>
<p>My cousin (adcom for Emory) told me how he reviews apps:</p>
<ol>
<li>Filter out auto admits (donors, cure to cancer people)</li>
<li>Filter out by academics. Those with very unqualified stats have their apps thrown away without reading it at all.</li>
<li>He then spends around 5-10 minutes on the remaining apps with emphasis on honors and ec correlation. Essays are a miss or hit. His partner reader does the same thing.</li>
</ol>
<p>2 yes: acceptance
2 no: rejection
Tie: bring to a 1 min committee decision. (Most of the time, it’s a yes here)
Tie at committee: waitlist</p>
<p>Yes I agree with @queserrva. It makes sense and the movie “Admission” made it out to be like. :)</p>
<p>@alafae Communications! Theatre major. </p>
<p>Have you guys gotten in to any other schools?</p>
<p>Decisions for most schools come out this Thursday/Friday</p>
<p>How much does legacy help for ED WCAS?</p>
<p>Legacy can take you over the line for ED, assuming you meet all the requirements.</p>
<p>Does it put you at a disadvantage if you aren’t a legacy? @northwesterndad</p>
<p>What do you mean by take you over the line hahaha @northwesterndad </p>