***Official Northwestern University Class of 2019 RD Results Thread***

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
41

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted[/color][/size]**
Weinberg

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): Math: 800, CR: 800, Writing: 790
ACT (breakdown): Composite: 35, Best Section Scores: E:36, M:35, R:36, S:36, W:10
SAT II: Math 2: 790, Lit: 740, Chem: 630 (oops!)
Unweighted GPA: 3.94
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc BC (4 with a 5 AB subscore), Music Theory (4 non aural and aural), US History (5), US Gov and Politics (5), Chem (2… yeah, most colleges don’t know about that one))
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Stat, AP Lit, AP Micro/Macro Econ, AP Spanish, AP Environmental Science, Advanced Orchestra, Advanced Choir
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, AP Scholar with Honors?, Scholar-Athlete Award

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): 2 years Advanced school choir (Senior captain), choir at U of M and regional honors choir, 3 years of private voice lessons, 13 years of private piano lessons, 8 years violin in the school orchestra, advanced orchestra, 3 years varsity track + the current season (2013 4x800 regional champ and state qualifier), 4 years forensics team, 1 year varsity cross country and 1 year jv, 4 years varsity figure skating (Senior Captain), 2 years NHS (community service group leader), community and school theatre for the past 8 years (with 2 leads in school musicals and various others in community musicals)
Job/Work Experience: N/A
Volunteer/Community service: Weekly tutoring of middle school students, volunteering with Friendship Circle camps
Summer Activities:6 summers at Interlochen Arts Camp for classical voice and musical theatre, 6 summers Jewish sleep away camp
Essays: About my piano and how it’s been passed down through my family/ started my music addiction (common app), and about how i want to be better at writing (supplement)
Teacher Recommendation: Strong (I hope)
Counselor Rec: eh, probably decent
Additional Rec: from my voice teacher, strong
Commonapp Essay: Strong
NU Supplement Essay: pretty standard, meh
Interview: None

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: English w/ creative writing concentration
State (if domestic applicant): Michigan
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: >200,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nope

Reflection:

Strengths: test scores, extracurriculars, common app essay, which they mentioned in my acceptance letter
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: talked about my dedication and passion for music and writing
Weaknesses: my supplemental essays were all kinda rushed
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: i think my profile is relatively well balanced; i have test scores and grades to back them up, I’m in the arts and athletics, and I’m definitely a person who challenges herself
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted: U Rochester, Cleveland institute of music/case western joint program
deferred: Yale
waiting on Johns Hopkins, Yale, Harvard, Penn, Cornell, Tufts, U Wisconsin, Oberlin, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon
Notes: this is not my top choice, but only because i want to major in voice and i got rejected from the school of music but accepted to arts and sciences

42

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted[/color][/size]**

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2350 (750M)
ACT (breakdown): 35 (36R, 36E, 35M, 33S, 11E)
SAT II: 750 USH, 780 Chem, 800 M2
Unweighted GPA: 3.98
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 5/533
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chem (4), Physics (4) World History (4), Calc BC (5), USH (5), Lang (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): none
Senior Year Course Load: Georgia Tech Distance Calculus (Calc II, Calc III), AP Computer Science A, AP Biology, AP Lit/Comp, AP Macro/Microeconomics, Chamber Choir
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, Agnes Scott Book Award, UGA Certificate of Merit, High School STAR Student

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Chamber Choir (Co-Pres 12, VP 11), Mock Trial (Co-Pres 11-12, Lead Pros Attorney 11-12), Model UN (Treasurer 11, VP 12), NHS, Voice (10 years), Piano (14 years), This Song Is Your Song (Founder/Organizer - musical service project for nursing homes)
Job/Work Experience: Math Tutor at Mathnasium (May 2013-present)
Volunteer/Community service: “This Song Is Your Song” - organized 8 shows, NHS - tutoring minority elementary schoolers, Pennies for Patients, etc.
Summer Activities: Yale Young Global Scholars - Grand Strategy (Summer 2014), Auburn Summer Experience Digital Forensics (Summer 2013), This Song Is Your Song (Summer 2014), Mathnasium job (Summer 2013-14)
Essays: Common App was about the “ethnic struggle” (lol) but it was done in a very unique way. (9/10)
Teacher Recommendation: APUSH teacher - kinda short tbh she gave it to me recently for a scholarship submission. But she knows me really well (7/10). Lit teacher phenomenal - “best in career” recs (10/10)
Counselor Rec: probably a little generic, she knows me pretty well but we’re not SUPER close (8/10)
Additional Rec: Employer (8/10), really showed another side of me besides academics
Short Answer Questions: Why NU wasn’t as interestingly written but it showed that I had researched the crap out of the school - genuine interest (8/10). (This was the only short answer question right? I don’t seem to remember another one. Oh well)
Interview: Amazing. She was a lawyer, I want to be a lawyer, we clicked right off. Also, I was sick the day before the interview and really made the effort to come in, offering to have the interview past NU’s deadline just to get to interview with her and learn about NU and the law. She may have included that in my evaluation, but I have no way of knowing. (10/10)

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Y
Intended Major: Economics (w/International Studies)
State (if domestic applicant): GA
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Large Public (average)
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian)
Gender: F
Income Bracket: <$100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none. Tbh the hooks were working against me - Asian female going into liberal arts?? lol.

Reflection:

Strengths:
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: uhmm… I didn’t try to “make” any hooks for myself. everything I did, I did because I loved. There was never an element of “This will look great on college apps”, (besides maybe my grades and my scores) and I think it really paid off. My teachers/employer also loved me and wrote great recs. Interview also couldn’t have hurt.
Weaknesses: lack of national/international awards, ECs could have been seen as slightly generic.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think that my application really showed the true me. I came across as someone who had a passion for everything she did and a passion for the school, and I guess they thought I would be a great fit for NU! I also worked pretty hard on the essay. Overall I think I packaged myself and my passions well, and they liked me because I was true to myself.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: Dartmouth (via likely), W&M (full ride finalist), Northwestern, Vanderbilt, GaTech, UGA. Waitlisted: WashU. Still waiting: Yale, Columbia, Hopkins, GWU, Fordham
Notes: Just be yourself and portray that in the best way possible on your application!! Don’t get sucked into doing things because they are impressive. I really learned a lot about myself during the college process - take the opportunity to do the same! It’s very very valuable and there are honestly very few places where you can get such an experience.

Congratulations to everyone who got in - see you all at Wildcat Days! To those WLed/rejected- you will end up in a place where you are meant to be! I really, truly believe that. There is a plan. You just have to let it fall into place!

43

**Decision: Waitlisted **

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2270 (670 CR, 800 M, 800 W)
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II: 800 Math II, 770 Chemistry, 790 Korean with Listening
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): 3 5’s on Calculus AB, BC, and Statistics
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Honors Lit, 3 Honors Science courses, AP Computer Science, Multivariable Calculus, and a semester of art.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): regional math, science, and MUN awards. National Merit Commended and AP Scholar but didn’t mention in the application.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Middle school mentor, MUN and IR-related activities, ambassador, math and science competitions, etc.
Job/Work Experience: Tutor
Volunteer/Community service: Hospital Volunteer
Summer Activities: Biochemistry-related research, surgical internship, MUNs, etc.
Essays: Average.
Teacher Recommendation: Good
Counselor Rec: Good
Additional Rec: No additional rec.
Short Answer Questions: Average?
Interview: It went pretty well.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: N/A
Intended Major: Biology
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: F
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A

Reflection: I think I didn’t demonstrate interest. Actually, I wasn’t planning to apply to NU but right before Nov. I changed my mind after talking with others. Oh well, I guess I still have little hope.

Strengths: GPA.
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: N/A
Weaknesses: SAT critical reading section and lack of interest.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I don’t know exactly.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted - Case Western Reserve, UC Berkeley (Regents’ and Chancellor’s scholar candidate), UC Irvine (Regents Scholar and CHP), UCSD (Regents Scholar), UC Davis (Regents Scholar and Honors Program), UCLA (Regents Scholar), Washington University in St. Louis
Notes: bit disappointed but at least I have other great options (and hopefully including colleges that haven’t released decisions yet) :smile: Big congrats to accepted students!!

44

Decision: ACCEPTED!!

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): n/a
ACT (breakdown): 32 (E 30, M 32, CR 34, S 33, W 9)
SAT II: n/a
Unweighted GPA: 3.78 - Weighted: 4.06
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Euro(3), AP Lang(4), APUSH(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, AP Gov/Honors Econ, AP Physics, AP Eng Lit
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholars Award

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Golf, NHS, Ambassadors, Theatre, Volunteer groups, Campus ministry, Girl Scouts, School Newspaper
Job/Work Experience: Summer golf programs, TV internship
Volunteer/Community service: everything under the sun (not even kidding)
Summer Activities: Sports, UCLA Summer writing courses, traveling
Essays: My common app essay I had reviewed by a UCLA professor and my AP teacher so I think it got some good critique.
Teacher Recommendation: AP Lit (known for 1 semester before apps due); AP Physics (known for 1 year before apps due)
Counselor Rec: no idea…
Additional Rec: Golf coach (known for 4 years plus she is Dean of Women)
Short Answer Questions: Very personal and specific about NU and what I want to study.
Interview: Awkward and short…but nothing compared to my nightmare Yale interview.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes but don’t qualify
Intended Major: Communications
State (if domestic applicant): California
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private Catholic
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: Way too much… ($500,000+)
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM?

Reflection: Not even sure how I got in… BUT I’M SO EXCITED!

Strengths: Not really anything compared to other applicants…
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: My passion for writing and my plans for the future.
Weaknesses: Almost EVERYTHING.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: URM?
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: UMD, Loyola Chicago, Alabama, Mizzou; Waitlisted: Vanderbilt; Rejected: Yale

45

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted[/color][/size]**

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2180 Superscore: 740 Math, 680 Reading, 760 Writing (2170 individual, 730 Math
ACT (breakdown): 34; 36 R, 35 M, 33 E, 32 S
SAT II: 750 World History, 800 Math II, 790 US History
Unweighted GPA: 3.96
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 6/1375
AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geography (5), World History (5), Chemistry (5), Physics B (5), English Language (5), US History (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Advanced Band, AP Calculus BC, AP Macroeconomics (1st Semester), AP Government (2nd Semester), AP English Literature, AP European History, AP Statistics, Jazz Band (2nd Semester)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
`11th Outstanding German III Pre-AP/IB Student
11th Texas State German Contest: 5th Place German III Reading Comprehension
11th Texas State German Contest: 2nd Place German III Spelling

11th Texas State German Contest: 6th Place German III Cultural Awareness
11th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 1st Place German III Spelling
11th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 1st Place German III Vocabulary
11th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 3rd Place German III Reading Comprehension
12th AP Scholar with Distinction
12th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 2nd Place German IV Cultural Awareness
12th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 3nd Place German IV Listening Comprehension
12th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 3nd Place German IV Reading Comprehension
12th Winterfest: Dallas Regional German Contest: 4th Place German IV Vocabulary

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
8th-10th, 12th North Texas Fencing Alliance
9th-12th Allen Eagle Escadrille (Band) (Quartermaster [10th], Trombone Section Leader [12th])
12th Jazz Band
9th, 11th-12th German Club (Vice President [11th], President [12th])
11th-12th Junior World Affairs Council (President [12th])
11th-12th Model United Nation (President [12th])
10th-12th National Honors Society
11th-12th Phoenix Council (Must be elected to be involved, [11th])

Job/Work Experience: N/A
Volunteer/Community service: A little less than 75 hours, minimal and not a crucial point of my application
Summer Activities: College Tours, UT Austin Honors Colloquium
Essays: Great; edited for about a month
Teacher Recommendation: Didn’t read. Teachers are strong writers so I assume they’re good.
Counselor Rec: No idea. I didn’t understand our school’s policy so probably pretty bad.
Additional Rec: Fencing coach. Likely full of grammatical errors as is everything he writes, but coming from a native Egyptian who sees me outside the school working with young kids it’d be pretty good.
Short Answer Questions: As good as essays
Interview: N/A

Other: Divorced parents?

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Mathematical Models in the Social Sciences
State (if domestic applicant): Texas
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White & Registered Native American (1/128, but still registers)
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: >250,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Registered Native American!

Reflection: I thought Northwestern would be a general toss up as to getting in or not. Very glad I did!

Strengths: SAT II, Biggest High School in state with high rank, Extracurriculars, AP Scores, Essays
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: Extracurriculars, Essays
Weaknesses: Community Service, Work, Counselor Rec, Interest in the school.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Native American pushed it over the edge. Also, worked hard on the application.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted UT Austin (Auto) & University of Washington, Waitlisted UT Austin Honors Program, Rejected Yale-NUS Singapore
Notes: This is my first acceptance from a private school. Very happy!

46

Accepted! Check my previous post for stats

47

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Rejected[/color][/size]**

Objective:
(British school applicant)
SAT I (breakdown): 2090: 740 Math 710 Reading 640 Writing (Only take)
ACT (breakdown): 34; 34 R, 33 M, 33 E, 36 S 10 essay (1st take)
SAT II: 780 Maths II, 700 chem
Unweighted GPA N/A
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):N/A
GCSES: 8A’s and 2A’s (A’s were in english lang and french)
Senior Year Course Load: 4 A2’s
Maths: A (Predicted)
Physics A* (Predicted)
Chem A (Predicted)
History A (Predicted)
(AS Grades were 4A’s)
Major Awards :
UKMT Maths challenge (Gold 3 year straight)
Won an award for my research paper at Georgetown on the ‘Dutch Disease’ and other negative impacts of natural resources

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
MUN club (YR8-13, delegate + Head Chair)
Engineering and Technology Club (Founder 2 yrs)
Cricket + Squash school team (3 yrs)
House captain + Prefect
Information Committee (Co-leader, 2 yrs)
Maths tutor (3 yrs)
Texas A&M in Qatar Inter-school Conference liaison officer (1 yr)

Job/Work Experience: Interned at the biggest telecom company in Paksitan
Volunteer/Community service: Volunteered at Reach Out To Asia and helped to rebuild a Bangladeshi school (80 hrs), volunteered at a drug rehab center in Pakistan that specialized with kids (40 hrs)
Summer Activities: Georgetown SFSQ program, Carnegie Mellon Ibtikar competition
Essays: Common app essay was good, but the supplemental essay was weak (had like 3 typos)
Teacher Recommendation:Probably pretty good
Counselor Rec: Alright I’m guessing
Short Answer Questions: 7/10
Interview: N/A

Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: Chemical Engineering
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Australia
School Type: Asian (Pakistani/Afghan)
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 200k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nada

Reflection: Tough school to get into and as an international for engineering I always knew I had a very small chance.

Strengths: Grades? Act?
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself:
Weaknesses: Subject tests, supplemental essay, EC’s
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Very typical applicant for engineering + I had a weak chemistry subject test and my supplemental essay could definitely have been better. Oh and my SAT score was pretty bad.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: UCSD, UCLA, UMass Amherst (12k scholarship + Honors college) Waiting: UCB, CMU, UMich, Cornell, UPenn (lol)
Notes: First rejection but I’m ok with it - I’m still buzzing about UCLA :smiley:

48

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

ACT (breakdown): 32C, 31E, 32M, 33R, 30S, and 8 Essay
SAT II: Really, really bad. Spanish: 680, Chemistry 620, and Math I 620.
Unweighted GPA: 3.94
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 40/298
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH: 3, AP Lang: 3, AP Chem: 3, AP World: 5
IB (place score in parenthesis): None
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, AP Gov, AP Physics 1, AP Spanish, AP Lit, and Video Productions
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar w/ Honors. Questbridge Finalist, Washington Aerospace Scholar, Ventures Scholar.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Honors Society member and skiing
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: 150 hours at the local YMCA. 200 hours at a local non-profit.
Summer Activities: Skiing
Essays: Common App essay was pretty good in my books. Maybe 8/10? My Northwestern essay was pretty bad… I wish I could have redone it.
Teacher Recommendation: One from my Pre-Calc teacher and one from my AP Lang teacher. Both were probably pretty average, so maybe 6/10 or 7/10? No clue.
Counselor Rec: 8/10
Additional Rec: None
Interview: Didn’t have one

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yea
Intended Major: Business/Economics
State (if domestic applicant): WA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 60k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection:

Strengths: Common App essay, ACT score maybe?
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: My thoughts when my mom had cancer.
Weaknesses: The Northwestern essay… Subject tests… AP scores… the list goes on.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: No clue honestly. I was really surprised when I saw the acceptance page.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Notre Dame (Likely), University of Washington, Whitman College. Waitlisted at Pomona (Only sent in my Questbridge application rather than the Pomona app)
Notes:Congrats to everyone else that got accepted!

49

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#FF0000]Decision: Rejected[/color][/size]**
0/5 so far in the decision process…
Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2310 Single Sitting (690CR/800Math/800WR)
ACT (breakdown):33 (32/36/32/31)
SAT II: Math II: 800, Chem: 770, Chinese: 790, Phys: 720
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): N/A, estimate around 3.85
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 20/624 (Dropped because of advanced classes not counting as AP)
AP (place score in parenthesis): 8 different AP tests, including 6 5s.
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Calc 3 (Finished, Grade: 98), OChem, AP English, AP Economics, AP Physics, AP Bio,
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): RCM Level 9 Practical, National Merit Semifinalist, Destination Imagination 2nd Place, Regional, Sci Tech 3rd Place Regional Life Sciences

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Special Life Student Club (VP), Interact (Director of Tutoring, Webmaster), Piano (11 years) Saxophone (6 years), Church Sunday School Intern
Job/Work Experience:
UserFriendly Media Intern
BridgeWise Financial Services
True Companion Animal Hospital
Volunteer/Community service: 700-800 Hours, Raised $3000 for special needs awareness.
Summer Activities:
Essays: Chiago: heard it was very unique and interesting 9/100, CApp: 9.5/10
Teacher Recommendation: unsure, but I think they were pretty solid.
Counselor Rec: unsure
Additional Rec: unsure
Interview: 8/10
Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Finance
State (if domestic applicant): TX
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Magnet
Ethnicity: Chinese
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~200k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Wealthy Chinese Male. Best Hook Ever

Reflection

Strengths:
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: Business Ideas, Work Experience, Research (Two research projects), including one which was based off the Fama French 5 Factor Model
Weaknesses: English
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/deferred/rejected: Not really sure, but I think it might have been because of my English scores.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/deferred/rejected: nowhere yet, applying to a few more Ivies + Stanford
The most unique thing in your application: Research, entrepreneurial ideas

50

Decision: Rejected

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 650 (M), 680 (CR), 700 (W)
ACT (breakdown): 32 (forgot breakdown)
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA: 3.85
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 39/415
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP US (4), AP English (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP English, AP Stats, AP Psych, Spainish honors, community college sociology course
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): NHS, Spanish club, Class secretary
Job/Work Experience: 20+ hours/week
Volunteer/Community service: over 200 hours
Summer Activities: Work, volunteering at YMCA
Essays: Good feedback from those who proofread
Teacher Recommendation: Strong
Counselor Rec: N/A
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: None

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: Undecided
State (if domestic applicant): NC
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: F
Income Bracket: >$200K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Both parents are alumni (Feinberg)

Reflection:

Strengths: Location, alumni parents
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself:
Weaknesses: Nothing remarkable in my application
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Highly competetive applicant pool
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgia, Ohio State (scholars program), Tennessee
Notes: Bummed about not getting in but very excited about going to UNC-CH and saving $35,000 year for grad school

51

Decision: Rejected

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT (breakdown): 32 (35 E, 35 R, 28 S, 29 M)
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA: 3.24
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: My school’s version of APUSH (we’re weird), Sculpture, French 6, my school’s version of AP Bio, English 3/4, Pre-Calculus [All Honors]
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): 4 years on my school newspaper (Reporter, editor, managing editor), three years on Diversity Club (Secretary, VP), one year of Prom Committee, four years of Black Students’ Association
Job/Work Experience: Intern at the Chicago Teachers’ Union and WVON Radio Station
Volunteer/Community service: ~50 hours from my sophomore year but I don’t think I mentioned them
Summer Activities: University of Illinois AdCamp, Summer @ Brown Leadership Program, National High School Institute at Northwestern University for Film/Video
Essays: Good?
Teacher Recommendation: I didn’t read them but I imagine they were decent/okay. Probably nothing stellar.
Counselor Rec: I loved it, very complimentary and sweet.
Additional Rec: All of my recs were from teachers, so same thing as mentioned above.
Short Answer Questions: Good? Decent? I spent a lot of time on them and did several revisions.
Interview: Didn’t go very well… it was short and my interviewer wasn’t very responsive. It was my only awkward/bad interview experience.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: RTF within the School of Communication
State (if domestic applicant): IL
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private, nationally-ranked
Ethnicity: African-American
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $150-200k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, Legacy

Reflection:

Strengths:
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: I tried to focus on my involvement within my school/the work I’ve done to improve the situation for minority students. I also stressed my work within the field of Communications.
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: My GPA isn’t high enough, even though I explained my difficulties throughout high school. Nor are my scores or ECs anything exceptional within their applicant pool. I’m not surprised at all.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted= Fordham (Lincoln Center), UIUC, UT Austin (RTF/Moody). Deferred= University of Michigan. Rejected= UCLA
Notes:

52

Decision: Accepted!!! Weinberg Arts and Sciences

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t Submit
ACT (breakdown): 27
SAT II: Didn’t take
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.90
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4/501
AP (place score in parenthesis): 3 APUSH, 3 AP Language Comp, 3 AP English Lit, 4 AP US Government
IB (place score in parenthesis): 6 IB Business and Management SL (Junior Year)
Senior Year Course Load: IB Diploma - IB Math Studies, IB English, IB French AB Initio, IB Biology, IB History of Americas, IB Theory of Knowledge (first semester), 2 Free period second semester.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): IB Biology Award of Excellence, Science National Honor Award, French National Honor Award, Presidential Superlative Award, AP Scholar Award, English National Honor Award

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Key Club (Vice President - 2 Years), French National Honors Society (Projects Committee Head), IB Student Union (Historian), Seventh-Day Adventist Youth Society (Director & President - 6 Years), Seacrest Seventh-Day Adventist Choir (Secretary & Event Coordinator), C12A Distributions LLC. local start up company (Vice President),
Job/Work Experience:
Babysitter (2011 June, July, August)
Volunteer/Community service:
Patrick Murphy Campaign (Non-Paid Intern), Seacrest Seventh-Day Adventist Church (Assistant Treasurer), Habitat For Humanity (Volunteer)
Summer Activities:
Internship at Patrick Murphy (June, July, August, September, November)
Essays: 10/10 - Wrote a seven stanza autobiographical poem about my perfect place, then did a literary analysis on it. I thought it was good, but my English teacher raved about it.
Teacher Recommendation: 10/10 - My dual enrollment Statistics professor and my IB History teacher, and my IB French teacher. It really looked good that I had a college professor write about me.
Counselor Rec: 10/10 - She loves me and I knew she’d write an amazing letter of rec.
Additional Rec: 10/10 - IB Business & Management Teacher and my Key Club Advisor

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Business Administration (Entrepreneurship)
State (if domestic applicant): Florida
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <25,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, First Generation American

Reflection
I honestly don’t know how I got in. I applied out of the heck of it, without even thinking that I had a chance. I actually applied to many with just a hope. Everyone said “Oh you’ll get in anywhere!” and I thought “righttt” lol. I’m so grateful to have gotten in! OMG. How. I see the individuals who have been accepted and I think “wow, I didn’t have those scores” but there’s something I did that got me in, so yes! Happy dance. I’m very proud and excited… I just can’t believe my luck with these schools thus far. Now I’m caught between this school and Cornell (Ahh!) and I just feel so silly for applying to so many in the long run - if only I knew I’d get into some of the best :slight_smile: Congratz to everyone who got accepted! Good luck to those who are waiting <3

Strengths: Essays, Extracurriculars (but not amazing!), GPA, hooks.
Weaknesses: ACT scores, didn’t take or submit any SATs or SAT II.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted just by the grace of God, haha. That’s all I can think of really, I’m thankful though! Just don’t give up! I can honestly say that even if you have low scores, you can get in!
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted: University of Florida, University of California- San Diego, Emory University, Cornell University and this!!
Waiting on Acceptance notification: University of California - Berkeley, Stanford, UNC, Notre Dame, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, Rice University, USC.
Rejected: University of Texas - Austin, UCLA
Your “Big Red” factor - the most unique thing in your application: Not really sure. Maybe the essay (It had to have been!)

53

@Calicash Preach! Haha. Congratulations as well!

54

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#FFA500]Decision: Waitlisted[/color][/size]**

Objective: McCormick - MechE

SAT I (breakdown): None
ACT (breakdown): 33C 34M 34E 33R 32S
SAT II: None, after looking at the material I thought they would only hurt me.
Unweighted GPA: 3.98/4.0 ~ 4.65/4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/500
AP (place score in parenthesis): Max my school offers, which is 7 and 2 before senior year.
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Max school offers.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Worked on multiple research projects at Argonne National Laboratory

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Swim Team Captain, STEM Club Secretary, Research at the ANL utilizing their APS Synchrotron, Jazz Band Trombone Player - Band went to state, NHS, Marching Band.
Job/Work Experience: Summer Camp Counselor for two years
Volunteer/Community service: Math and Physics tutor
Summer Activities: Refer to Work Experience
Essays: Common App - (8/10) wrote about growing up as a First Generation American, Why NU - (9/10) wrote about research opportunities and holistic NU curriculum, along with the career opportunities NU provides.
Teacher Recommendation: Didn’t read, One from STEM Club Sponsor, and one from Swim Coach.
Counselor Rec: Good, he likes me.
Additional Rec: None
Short Answer Questions: None
Interview: Thought it went great! We talked about my career plans and my life in general. Not really doing it justice.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: MechE
State (if domestic applicant): IL, Chicago Suburbs
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Slightly below average public - 20 miles from NU
Ethnicity: White, but first generation Irish-American.
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~50K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Local, First Generation American although my mother is a School Teacher, Had a twin brother apply for the same major with very similar stats.

Reflection: I thought that I would have a decent chance overall; my father is a professional musician and I have a pretty interesting story. I felt my EC’s were good and balanced, and that I packaged myself in a favorable way. I demonstrated a lot of interest, as I visited once and interviewed at NU.

Strengths: GPA, Class Rank, Local, EC’s. ACT probably didn’t help or hurt me.
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: Tried to show that NU was my first choice, and that I was generally well-rounded, dedicated, and would make a good Wildcat.
Weaknesses: Lack of SAT II’s!!! I thought that I would be disqualified easily with them. Also school type.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Just tough competition.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: UIUC Engineering (Accepted and Attending baring a miracle), RHIT (Accepted), IIT (Accepted - Full Merit), UMN (Accepted).
Notes:
I know that I was not qualified to make it purely off of stats and story; I was just hoping that NU would want to maintain the relationship of taking the best students from my school. Aside from my twin brother and I who were waitlisted, they rejected every last student from my school including the Valedictorian. This is probably around 20 total applicants of every possible background, ethnicity, story, and career plan you could imagine. NU even comes to our school’s college fair. However, I should add that none would probably make it on stats alone. After talking to our school’s counseling office, it seems that this is the first year that absolutely no one has made it from a large pool. I suppose with the increased competition and the fact that hardly anyone from my school could financially afford to apply ED, it makes sense that Northwestern would have to start cutting into their traditional ties. I’m going to have to take on a good deal of debt to attend UIUC, but I am happy to know that I will be getting an similar engineering education, even if it’s not at Northwestern. Cheers all! If it wasn’t meant to be it wasn’t meant to be.

55

Decision: Accepted (McCormick)

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2030 (760 CR, 660 Math, 610 Writing)
ACT (breakdown):Didn’t take.
SAT II: didn’t submit
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (4) US Government and Politics(4) Biology (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, AP Language and Composition, Intro to Engineering Design, Advanced Math
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar, Ventures Scholars, few local awards

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):Debate Club (captain), Model United Nations, Peer Leadership (We’re all leaders), School Christian Fellowship, Comp Sci Club (Co-Founder), Student-founded non-profit
Job/Work Experience:Tutor (Paid and unpaid)
Volunteer/Community service:Led a summer program for underprivileged, tutor kids at school, other hours from NHS and Peer Leadership
Summer Activities:Summer research at Rutgers
Essay (rating 1-10, details): 7/10
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: AP US History teacher 9/10
Teacher Rec #2: AP Biology teacher 7/10
Counselor Rec:We have a pretty close relationship and I’m in two of her clubs. 9/10
Additional Rec:None
Interview:Did not receive one

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?:Yes
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering
State (if domestic applicant):NJ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type:Public
Ethnicity: African American
Gender:Male
Income Bracket: > 50,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):URM

Reflection

Strengths: URM
Weaknesses: Essay (seemed cliche to me)
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: God. No one else but God.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: NJIT, Rutgers, Northeastern. Rejected: Yale (EA)

General Comments:
I am really surprised that I got in. This is one of favorite schools. I feel like I’m about to get a letter detailing that some acceptances were sent out by mistake.

56

@fifa190, UIUC Engineering is great, but I would strongly suggest avoiding a ton of debt and taking the IIT full-ride.

57

WAITLISTED

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t Submit (was a 2110 composite)
ACT (breakdown): 33 composite
SAT II: Didn’t submit/takew
Unweighted GPA: 4.0 (4.591 weighted)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4/550+
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc AB (5), APUSH (5), AP English Language (5), AP German (4), AP Human Geography (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Calc BC, AP Euro, AP Biology with a weighted lab block, AP Comparative Government, AP Macroeconomics, AP Literature
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended Scholar, National Council on Youth Leadership Nominee, International Student Leadership Institute participant,

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Model UN (Executive committee, Deputy USG of Personnel and Administration, Crisis committee director/staff, committee chair), Gay-Straight Alliance (Vice-President), Academic team (Co-Captain), Varsity Swim (Captain), Varsity Track, Student Council (Senior class rep, german club rep), German club (SCA rep), German Honors Society, National Honors Society
Job/Work Experience: Summer Lifeguard
Volunteer/Community service: Post office volunteer
Summer Activities: American Legion Girls State, Governors Residential Language Academy
Essays: My English teacher said that he loved my common app essay . . . was about how I ate lunch in the bathroom as a new student my junior year and how that made me more self award. It was based on an essay that I wrote for his class. I thought that my Why Northwestern essay was pretty great actually . . . focused on the quarter system and teh flexibility of curriculum and how that would allow me to explore my own goals.
Teacher Recommendation: Came from my APHUG/academic coach and my AP English lang teacher, both of whom really like me. Don’t have a really storied relationship with them since I was new to the school as a junior and only had them for one year.
Counselor Rec: I think she likes me, but its a big school and again, she didn’t know me for very long.
Additional Rec: N/A
Short Answer Questions: I don’t remember.
Interview: Was not contacted about one.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Undecided
State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <$100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Military child

Reflection: I felt really good about my application and Northwestern was one of my top choices, so I was kind of disappointed but crossing my fingers for a waitlist spot! Good luck to everyone else, and I hope this will help some successful, stressed junior.

Strengths: GPA, Extracurriculars
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: I talked a lot about my experiences as a military child/new kid/third culture kid.

Weaknesses: Test Scores? And maybe my essays, but who knows! Also, didn’t get an interview. Lack of volunteer hours as well.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: At this level, it’s so close and arbitrary that I really don’t know. All you an do is your best and hope that it works out okay!
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: Penn State, Virginia Tech, St. Olaf, Carleton, likely letter from WM, Waitlisted: Wash U at St. Louis, Northwestern. Waiting on Duke and official notification from WM.
Notes: Good luck to everyone who commits themselves to go through this stressful process. You deserve the best!

58

@PurpleTitan it is a full tuition scholarship sorry, I should have mentioned that. The overall the difference in price is around 10k, but either option would result in debt.

59

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2080 (800 CR 630 M 650 W)
ACT (breakdown): Nope
SAT II: 780 US History, 680 Literature
Unweighted GPA: Don’t have it. I only got my weighted and I’m too lazy to calculate it unweighted. 3.9
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 14/125
AP (place score in parenthesis): Nope
IB (place score in parenthesis): Nope
Senior Year Course Load: Calculus Honors, Economics Honors, Geology EA, Religion IV, British Literature Honors, Physics Honors, Marketing Honors
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Hispanic Scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Student Council President, Quiz Bowl Team Founder and Team captain, and several more.
Volunteer/Community service: Some, not super exciting.
Summer Activities: Nope.
Essays: I liked’em. Guess they didn’t.
Teacher Recommendation: Really good.
Counselor Rec: Good.
Additional Rec: Nope.
Short Answer Questions: Again I liked’em.
Interview: Didn’t get one.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: nope
Intended Major: Political Science
State (if domestic applicant): TX
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Parochial
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: >100K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection:

Strengths: I really enjoyed my essays, and I believe it showed. I tried to paint myself as who I am. No bullshit.
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: Nothing really, just that I’m academically oriented and that what I enjoy to learn shows.
Weaknesses:
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I’m not the strongest applicant. Grades, rank, scores could all be better.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted at Fordham, UT Austin, SMU, Texas Tech, Marquette, Brandeis, Boston College, Franklin & Marshall, and Wash U. Rejected by Notre Dame, U Penn, Boston University, and now Northwestern.
Notes: I’m happy. I wasn’t counting on Northwestern. At least their rejection letter was nice, tried to soften the blow. s

60

Decision: Accepted School of Communication Theater Major
Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t Submit
ACT (breakdown): 31C (31E, 33M, 30S, 29R, 10W)
SAT II: Didn’t Submit
Unweighted GPA: 3.9 Weighted is 4.26
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/119
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): Not Offered
Senior Year Course Load: Physics Honors, Government, AP Spanish IV, English Honors 12 DE, Theology, AP Biology, Current American History Honors
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):None

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Show Choir (Dance Captain), Mayor’s Youth Commission(Secretary) , Miracle Makers, Teen Court (Juror), Mission Club (Treasurer), Rotary Interact (Treasurer), Knights of the Altar, Club Red, Liturgical Choir, Chorale, All State, Drama etc.
Job/Work Experience: Chick-Fil-A (Team Captain), Fine Dining Restaurant worker
Volunteer/Community service: Named Above also Silver Cord
Summer Activities: Camp Invention, Work, Tisch Summer High School
Essays: Overall pretty decent, very personal
Teacher Recommendation: I picked teachers that I knew challenged me, and saw my potential
Counselor Rec: Not sure considering he only works part time
Additional Rec: Employer, and Voice Coach
Short Answer Questions: Don’t remember them
Interview: Didn’t Have One

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Theater
State (if domestic applicant): Iowa
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Parochial
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: < 60,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, first generation, single mom

Reflection:

Strengths: Class Rank and GPA, essays, experience
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: I tried to focus on what Northwestern had to offer me as a person and how I would grow. Also, my staple essay was the story of my life, and the struggle of having a teen mom.
Weaknesses: Test Scores, incomplete application. Originally, I applied to the Music Conservatory, but I failed to send in the required documents.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: My dedication to being the best that I can using others as an inspiration to grow
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted: Creighton, Marquette, Luther, Wartburg Waitlisted: UChicago Rejected: no where yet
Notes: I still can’t believe I was accepted, I am so excited that I might be a part of this wonderful community of excellent people.