<p>I want to go to NU for Medill but I wonder if I should even bother applying..... because of low scores. If I have a 3.91 GPA in IB classes and only say a 29 ACT are my chances basically none? I am a hispanic female by the way... if that counts for anything</p>
<p>Is your 3.91 GPA weighted?</p>
<p>Hispanic helps; female doesn’t.</p>
<p>Also, Medill doesn’t focus as much on the numbers as much as WCAS so if you have some solid journalism-related ECs to back up your application, it would help tremendously.</p>
<p>GPA is unweighted. no clue what my weighted GPA is because my school doesnt weight GPA. I got 4 Bs in my high school career the rest As. So is there hope?</p>
<p>You should definitely apply, if only for the reason that if you don’t you’ll never really know if you could’ve made it.</p>
<p>I felt like a long shot yet somehow i got accepted to Medill. Seriously, when I found out I was in shock for so long… Anyway, you’re interested in journalism so you must have some writing abilities. Make sure you knock your essays out of the park and get outstanding letters of recommendation. Also, you still have time to retake the ACT; go ahead and take it once more if you think you’ll improve your score.</p>
<p>Don’t let anyone else tell you you shouldn’t apply, seriously. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>You should retake the ACT if that’s your score. A lot of people who I know who get around the 28-29 range take it again and improve a lot. You should also take the SAT to see if you can do better on that than on the ACT.</p>
<p>Basically, with a 29, I’d say apply, but don’t get your hopes up. Scores still do matter for Medill. I had literally no journalism ECs when I applied, but I got in, so ECs must not be emphasized that heavily.</p>
<p>Also, do you know what your class rank is? That’s as important as GPA, it seems.</p>
<p>Class rank is top 3-4%. Taking into account that I’m ranked behind all of the kids who took easier classes. I’m also planning on applying ED if that changes anything</p>
<p>Like sainclaire said, ECs are important. I know a lot of people in Medill, and just about all of them were EICs of their high school publications…or at least somewhere high up on the food chain and super involved. What are your ECs like, specifically journalism-related?</p>
<p>ECs are very important, but they’re important to all Northwestern undergrad schools. This is Northwestern we’re talking about. But I can say that I was accepted to NU with only one year of school newspaper experience, during my freshman year, and I definitely wasn’t Editor-in-Chief. </p>
<p>Think about all the schools that don’t have enough funding to produce publications? Are students in those schools less worthy because of it? Not when they can write a story/essay like nobody’s business.</p>
<p>The people giving advice on College Confidential, myself included, are not a part of the admissions staff (correct me if I’m wrong…). Sure, we know what worked for us and for some friends, but who’s to say we set the standard? Who are we to tell you if you should even apply? Every application is different; every case is different. You aren’t just numbers and you aren’t just a list of extracurricular activities. Before I applied I read every shred of information I could to make sure I was in the best position possible to get accepted. But when it came down to it, I knew I was going to apply to Northwestern regardless. Your stats may not be the best, and they definitely aren’t the worst, but my advice to you, LilBabySeaOtter, is to have it in you to get it across to the people who will be reviewing your application that Medill is where you belong. Write that stellar essay. Get to know whoever you need to know that will write an amazing letter of recommendation. And the rest will take care of itself.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to knock you or anyone else that uses this site, I’m just trying to give the advice I wish someone else had given me this time last year. I know the college application process really is nerve-wracking, and I’m just trying to make it easier for you. Basically, if you feel you can do more, do more (ACT, ECs, etc). Do as much as you can until you have to apply. Pour over all the information, like I did, if you feel it’ll help. (:</p>
<p>Seriously though, good luck. Hope it all turns out alright for you. Sorryyy this was such a long post!</p>
<p>I hear what you’re saying chickchee…all I mean is that you have to show super initiative. The curriculum is rigorous in the full sense of the word, and they want to know you’ve got that drive to handle it. </p>
<p>I agree with chickchee that if you can sell yourself in other ways like essays, etc., you’re just fine. But they will want to see you have a reason to be interested in journalism. Medill isn’t really a school you go to if you just woke up one day and decided you maybe wanted to mark “journalism” on your application form. They like creatives, thinkers and doers. So while you don’t have to have been EIC of a publication to get in, you really have to make sure to market yourself as a fit to Medill, just like chickchee said. And that probably includes doing a good bit of research.</p>