Please don't yell at me for asking with such low stats, but CHANCES?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I know, I know, the GPA and rank suck. Everything else seems to be okay though, so I was just wondering if there's any hope...</p>

<p>(CURRENT JUNIOR, all accurate estimations)
White Male from Minnesota
Decent Public school near St. Paul
Upper-Middle Class Income.
UW GPA 3.12 (This can be explained. I learned some valuable life lessons.)
W GPA: 3.19
ACT: 29 (trying to improve to 30-32 or higher)
PSAT: 157 (not taking the SAT)
Class Rank: Top 38% (9th grade & beginning of 11th were bad... some 'bad' grades in some classes that I should not have taken. Depression.)
I'm quite a writer, since I do it all the time, so I think my essays will be TOP OF THE LINE.</p>

<p>Good Recs. GREAT.</p>

<p>Honors Courses: (If it was offered, I took it. Hardest possible.)
- HONORS US History
- HONORS 10th Grade English
- HONORS Advanced Algebra
- AP English Lit.
- HONORS Chemistry (I'm taking the AP Test)
- College Level Anatomy
- AP English Comp.
- AP Psychology
- HONORS Calculus
- AP Spanish Language
- HONORS Economics (maybe micro/macro AP Test)
- HONORS Physics (AP Test)
- AP Statistics
- APUSH</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:</p>

<p>Varsity Cross Country (6 years)
- Captain
- Hosted several team events</p>

<p>Varsity Track ( 4 years)
- Captain 2 years</p>

<p>-PT Job at Department Store since June '08</p>

<p>Intro. Med. Residential Program @ U-Wisconsin this summer... in August.
- This was competetive to get into.</p>

<p>Environmental Club (2 years so far)
- minor volunteering
- possible president next year?</p>

<p>School Band (5 years)
- Pep Band
- Section leader
- Orchestra Ensemble
- Jazz Ensemble- 2 years</p>

<p>Piano (13 years)
-Participated in various recitals/ competitions.. no awards.</p>

<p>Guitar ( 3 years)
- Been teaching myself</p>

<p>MSWE Leadership Team (Model Students With Enthuisiasm)
-Red Ribbon Week President (Organized an anti-drug and alcohol themed week of activities for the school.)
- Active in community volunteering through this program.
- Elected on to the Executive Board</p>

<p>WEB (Where Everybody Belongs)
- Group Leader.. volunteered to assist underclassmen with adapting to a new school
- Did twice as much volunteering than anyone else</p>

<p>Junior Class Comittee (probably senior too)</p>

<p>Peer Tutors (Roughly 3-4 hours weekly)</p>

<p>Student Senate (Elected for Junior Year)
- Hoping to work up to President or Vice by senior Year</p>

<p>Fall Musical (will be 3 years)
- Medium sized roles, likely a lead role junior or senior year</p>

<p>Winter One-Act Play Competition (2 years)
- Small roles. This just gives me something to do in the winter.</p>

<p>Student Ambassadors (Freshman Year)</p>

<p>I write novels in my spare time. My longest was 210 pages. I want to get something published soon.</p>

<p>I am a dedicated rower.. I row 4-6 times a week in the summer, and 3-4 times in the school year.</p>

<p>Chances/Advice?</p>

2

<p>I don't think you should doubt yourself, I mean Northwestern is a very good school but it is selective acceptance doesn't always mean that you have to be a super A person or get a perfect on the ACT to get in. Showing your personality and overall effectiveness in the classroom and outside the classroom is better than being a bump on a log with all A's. Most importantly you need to believe in yourself. As a applicant for NU, I sometimes feel the same way. I dont have the best act score, so i rely on my gpa and my ec's. One thing I suggest, that i was told by a current NU student is that you should demonstrate your eagerness to attend NU. Go for a interview, do a overnight visit, go for a information session. Make sure you record this on the application!!</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK to the both of us!</p>

3

<p>Hey WishWash, I'll hand it to you. You don't have stats but you dream big.</p>

4

<p>Difficult.</p>

5

<p>I highly recommend you take the SAT.</p>

6

<p>I think as much as quantitative numbers seem to be the thing colleges look for, the intangibles such as essays and the way you present your ec's almost matter more. So i think you have a chance. The most important thing is that you can convince the adcom that you learned something from your grades</p>

7

<p>Very big reach, but nothing is impossible.</p>