<p>If you don't feel like reading my block of text, I added a tl;dr at the end.</p>
<p>I'm not really looking for chances, more or less just wondering if it's really possible for non-4.0 or close to it students to get into Northwestern, seeing as that they have been getting more and more applications each year. Obviously it's possible, but is it reasonable or just a joke to think that it's possible to get in compared to the really stellar applicants.</p>
<p>I'm a junior, with a 3.62W GPA (upward trend though). On the lower end, I know, I know. But that said, I'm taking a rigorous course load with plenty of APs and my GPA is on an upward trend. I'm also in the top 25% of my class (out of 560) and am anticipating at least a fairly high SAT and ACT score. By the time I graduate I'll have worked on my school's newspaper for three years, and I can pretty much guarantee I'll be editor next year. My school's newspaper has also won awards on both the state and national level. So in case you couldn't have guessed it, I'm aiming my sights for Medill. </p>
<p>No hooks at all. The only other thing that I've got going for me is that my mom went there, and her mom (my grandmother) went there for two years before transferring (doubt that'd really count for anything though). </p>
<p>Tl;dr With the cut-throat competition to get into colleges today, is it silly to think non-stellar applicants have a chance assuming they have no hooks?</p>
<p>Sure, it’s possible. Lots of top tier colleges look for diverse students to put together into a well-rounded class–you might just possess something that makes them think you’ll be a good fit that year. Of course, the higher the scores, the better the chance, but that doesn’t mean someone with okay scores doesn’t have a chance.</p>
<p>Apply ED to use the legacy angle (it counts for nothing in RD) and you have a decent chance. You’re a junior so you could easily up your GPA, and your SAT/ACT is very important too. Keep taking a lot of APs, do really well on the SAT/ACT (with a lower GPA, it’d be a good idea to get a really high SAT), make sure you keep getting As.</p>
<p>Editor of an award winning newspaper will be a big boost. I was on my school newspaper as the Opinions Editor, and we were number one in the state this year so I’m sure that helped.</p>
<p>How much does legacy help at NU for ED? I know it varies per college, but in general it doesn’t help too much (but of course, every bit counts!).</p>
<p>Also, off topic sorta, but how come it can help for ED but not at all for RD?</p>
<p>I have heard that legacy status works equally well for both ED and RD only at Brown, but nowhere else. I have no means of verifying this, though!</p>
<p>Anecdata only, but as an alum and a parent (my S applied ED and was accepted) and from seeing my fellow alums’ kids’ statuses, I would ABSOLUTELY play the legacy card ED. Frankly, I personally feel - If you’re a legacy at NU, play the legacy card ED or don’t bother.</p>