ACT: 35 (35E 36M 35R 34S)
GPA: 3.79 UW/4.71 W
Rather competitive public school (500 in my grade) in MA (I’m in top 11%)
Race: Asian
Income: 200k
Prospective major: economics so Weinberg
3 APS (APUSH, Chem, Lang all 5s and literally the MAXIMUM I could have taken)
Taking 6 APs next year (insane amount at my school)
Extracurriculars:
Going to be broad on purpose
- Science team (very good placings in very competetive invitationals) + small leadership
- Co-founded company through a program (very successful financially but no major awards)
- Wrote an economics paper (not published but private project)
- badminton (leadership + good state placing)
- tennis (d1 but JV + small leadership)
- Math tutor volunteer for underprivileged
- editor for an international literary magazine
- IT intern at language school
- Teacher volunteer at language school
- Personal Latin poetry blog
Everything on the list was 2-4 years commitment (sorry for the brief details!)
Recs: 8/10 Latin, 6/10 history (just average), 4/10 counselor (basically don’t know him)
Essay: I believe I can write a very unique essay that really describes who I am (I know that everyone says this but I truly do believe this)
I am worried about a lot of things and I really really just want to get in ED. I’m scared that my race, rather low GPA (despite my rather competitive school and rigorous load for my school at least), and teacher recs will hurt my chances.
Thoughts? I would appreciate honesty especially!
you definitely have a shot! It depends on Northwestern’s ED admission rate. Your EC’s are kinda all over the place, and you seem more well-rounded than “pointy,” which might make it harder to stand out. I would really emphasize the company you started. Your ACT is great, but your GPA is pretty low for these kinds of schools… do you have an upward trend or is it just a couple B’s here and there? I wouldn’t include the economics paper unless it took a lot of commitment, nor would I include being on JV tennis.
Also what litmag are you an editor for? That’s v cool! You def have a shot, but I would put a ton of time into those essays to sell yourself and stand out…they are arguably the most important part of an app to these elite schools.
The thing is, I only have 2 B+ and 4 A- but my GPA seems lower than it should be (but it doesn’t count freshman year where I got straight As). My grades have a linear trend (1 B+ and 2 A- in 10th and 11th grade). I had the economics paper thing because I really want to prove my enthusiasm for my prospective major. Also, although I was on JV tennis, my team is very very competitive (several nationally ranked players), I was the co-captain, and I have done it for 3 years in a row. However, you do have a point as I’m not sure if I’ll be able to convey the idea of how committed and how hard my tennis team really is. Also, the litmag is polyphony lit! I know that my lack of a spike is hurtful and I’m just so worried that I won’t get into NU ED. I really just want to get into my dream school and be done.
Strong candidate for admission, in my opinion.
Why ? Applying ED, well rounded academically, athletically & with other ECs such as editor, great ACT score. Teacher & tutors are communicators which is a very valued asset often missing in the applications of some over represented groups.
Be sure to include one essay detailing your specific interest in Northwestern.
oh that’s cool about polyphony. I submitted some stuff to it (none got in I assume tho lmao). …I feel the same as you. I want to go to WashU (im applying ED) and I’m worried I won’t get in either. You are definitely a good applicant and, in the end, it’ll all work out. You will end up somewhere great … and hopefully that place is Northwestern. feel free to stay in contact!