Possibility of getting into Northwestern or Rice?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>It's going to be tough to get into these schools, what do you guys think?</p>

<p>I want to major in Civil Engineering</p>

<p>ACT: 33 Composite (including 36 in math, 35 in english)
GPA: 3.78 (weighted) this is the aspect that is haunting me. my GPA does not reflect me as a student. If you were to cross out my sophomore year, I would have a 4.0. Sophomore year was plagued with personal issues that made it extremely difficult to focus on school. I got a 3.5 and a 3.2, but then the next year I turned it around and got a 4.3 and 4.0.</p>

<p>Classes taken: Honors English I, Honors English II, Honors Geometry, Honors Alg2/Trig, Honors Pre-calc, AP Calc BC, Honors Physics, AP Physics, AP Human Geography, Spanish I-IV, Intro to Engineering I, Intro to Engineering II, Drafting & Design, PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Intro to Engineering Design, PLTW Civil Engineering & Architecture</p>

<p>I'm going to put somewhere in the application how I've known since 8th grade that civil engineering was going to be my college major and also, I've had interest in aspects of civil engineering as far back as I can remember (designing my own roller coasters, baseball stadiums). </p>

<p>Also (for Northwestern), my uncle worked as basically a Dean at Northwestern for over 20 years up until he passed away. I don't know if that would help at all, but it doesn't hurt to put it in the application.</p>

<p>My essay is awesome, it shows how much of a deep thinker I am and that I am more than just an average 17 year old high school kid.</p>

<p>Based on all this, do you think I have a reasonable shot at getting accepted?</p>

2

<p>I feel that you have a chance, but many othet kids may have the same, if not better stats than you, so make sure your essay truly reflects who you really are; that is the source that would make you shine from the thousands applying!</p>

3

<p>Yes, my essay reflects myself greatly. The prompt was to talk about a artistic piece (as in music, literature, movies, etc.) that has had an influence on you. I chose to write about how Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” has encouraged me to look deeper into musical meaning. I talk about how I analyzed that album and what I got out of it, as well as how it influenced me beyond only that piece of music. I think about music in a completely different way now, in a way that is more than just cool sounds and melodies. My goal was to show that I’m an analytical and deep thinker, which I believe I successfully proved.</p>

4

<p>My best advice to you is to apply early (decision or action… but preferably early decision). If there were personal issues surrounding your low GPA that year, address it in the additional info section. Your course load looks pretty rigorous and scores are good. Have you taken any SAT IIs?</p>

<p>What are your extracurriculars? If you post those I would probably chance a little more accurately. As of now, you have an average chance at both schools, so a bit of a reach. That could change depending on your ECs, and if you apply early.</p>

<p>Chance back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1393360-some-chances-please-i-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1393360-some-chances-please-i-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Financial aid is going to be a major part of the college admissions process for me. I’m going to need a lot of aid from wherever I go. So I’m hesitant to do Early Decision because if I get accepted and the aid package that they offer isn’t good enough, I’ll be stuck.</p>

<p>And as for ECs, most of the ECs that I’ve done are on my own. I have done smaller things based on specific areas that I have extreme interest in my entire life. For example, I’ve always been big on roller coaster design since I was a little kid. It’s been a passion I’ve always had. But through school, I’m part of a group called IDEA. It’s basically a group where we do different types of drafting and then in March we go to a competition at our local community college for a competition. If you do good enough there, you can go on to state competitions.</p>