<p>Besides acting like a child, GrammerNazi must have overlooked the mature and reasonable response Ennuidom gave him.</p>
<p>It’s you that should “get off” of CC and reconsider your childish antics.</p>
<p>Grammarnazi you are in 10th grade. Instead of giving false information on this site, whether unintentional or intentional, why don’t you listen to the true and valuable advice we are giving so you know what to expect when you apply to colleges.</p>
<p>Thank you, cortana431 and CentralFC.</p>
<p>GrammerNazi, I suspect I am wasting both of our time with this response, but I feel compelled to make it anyway.</p>
<p>First of all, you cannot expect to end a debate by telling people that they are taking things “way too seriously” and telling them to leave if they’re going to “get butthurt” about things. That is just not how things work. Not in the adult world, anyway.</p>
<p>Second of all, the fact that you are “just” giving “harmless suggestions” is a problem. You see, I am not giving harmless suggestions. I am making my best effort to help pkmontag out, and some of the posts that you and others have made actually bother me since I don’t believe you are taking this seriously enough. </p>
<p>This is a topic I consider myself knowledgeable in. Not based only on “empirical evidence I’ve gathered from observing Northwestern admits”, but also on my own very relevant real life experience in the most recent college application season. Also, I try to always do my best in everything I do, so I don’t believe the fact that I am putting a lot of effort into this is something that should be looked down upon.</p>
<p>Third of all, you (and I do mean YOU specifically, as you should not presume to speak for anyone else in this thread) may not be “trying to demean NU” in any way, but the statements you and others have made have been doing just that. And that could easily work to pkmontag’s (and also your) detriment if these statements lead to a feeling of false confidence.</p>
<p>Fickle, I said I was doing well until junior year because I had two e-board posistions junior year. However, in senior year, I have none even though my classes are about 5- 10 times harder than my junior level classes. I’m planning on either majoring in Neuroscience or engineering since I’m really stuck between those. We’’, I’m shadowing a neurological over the summer so I should have decided then. I decided not to major in business because it is too risky for me =/ Whichever one I become, once I gain enough experience, I’ll start my own business or something since I have passion in all three. I don’t really have preference about location or school size… i think id prefer the school to be pretty big, atleast not really small since my high school is really big (4500 students) and it would feel really wierd. Do you have any other suggestions on any other institutions that would have good programs in both? Thats why I crossed out UChicago. Can you mention schools that I have a semi-good chance to get in to? Not stuff like Harvard. Sorry for the really long and badly worded message.</p>
<p>cortana: I don’t see what false information I’ve given OP. If you’re telling me that saying OP has a good chance and should open up their horizon, college-wise, then I frankly think you’re mistaken. But, hey, seems as if my opinion isn’t worth much around here.</p>
<p>Ennuidom: I respect the fact that you’re putting in the effort for OP. Posters that do that make CC a fantastic resource. I wasn’t looking down upon your efforts as a whole. That in itself deserves applause. My only gripe was your incessant defending of NU when it really doesn’t need to be defended. I think we can all agree that it’s a fantastic school and no one’s saying otherwise. OP might just want to consider other schools along with NU, that’s all. Also, I appreciate your advice on ending debates, but I’d like to say one thing in response to that: there’s no need to tell me how to “end a debate” if my intent was never to instigate one in the first place. Skills in ending a debate are as important as knowing when or when not to start one, but I appreciate the advice nonetheless.</p>
<p>OP, I think you have an excellent shot at Northwestern. Yes, I would call it a “high match.” Perhaps it is a matter of semantics, as previously suggested, but a high match =/= a match. Saying that a high match is “just a match with an added degree of difficulty” is, well, true. By that logic, a reach is just a high match with an added degree of difficulty. Of course each step up is a slight added degree of difficulty. </p>
<p>OP, if NU is your top choice, definitely apply ED. While I don’t have the exact figures on hand, the ED acceptance rate is considerably higher and NU takes a large portion of its class ED. </p>
<p>As far as the “insulting” suggestion to aim higher, no one denies that NU is an excellent school. However, I don’t think anyone claims that it is in the top 5 in the country. There are certainly a few universities above NU. Not “all the ivies,” because that is a silly grouping to go by anyway, but a few top schools. It was not meant to be offensive, I’m sure, and to take it as such is a little over the top.</p>
<p>As far as the little squabble that just occurred–everyone calm down. No one insulted NU and a tenth grader can be just as knowledgeable about admissions as anyone. This is a CHANCE thread. People will give what they believe is the OP’s chance–no one thinks of it as an exact science. It is fine to disagree, but there is no need to attack the logic of another poster</p>
<p>In short, OP, I think good, but not certain chances, even better if you apply ED but be sure that NU is your absolute first choice before doing so.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, you said
Which isn’t true. OP, in the top 5%, good enough ACT score and has about above average EC’s but nothing outstanding. That sort of applicant doesn’t have an ‘extremely high’ chance at a school like Northwestern.</p>
<p>pkmontag, I will respond to your added information very soon. If anyone else has any suggestions, I (and I imagine pkmontag too) would really appreciate it.</p>
<p>GrammerNazi & alwaysleah, </p>
<p>I am perfectly willing to concede that things have become unnecessarily heated. For that I will apologize. But to me, this argument is not about Northwestern. Despite appearances, I’m not here to make myself feel good.</p>
<p>To me, there is a very prevalent (and in my opinion, problematic) sense of elitism toward all schools outside of the top 5/10/whatever that seems to crop up in discussions about them on this site. Not just Northwestern. In addition, there is an extreme reverence toward those schools that are in the top 5. And what I was trying to say is that I think that’s actually dangerous. </p>
<p>The reason I think the suggestion to aim higher is “insulting” (and that might not be precisely the correct word) is because: </p>
<p>1, none of us knew what pkmontag was looking to do/major in from his first post. It’s actually possible that Northwestern had a better/more expansive program in that field than the schools being suggested that are ranked higher on a general basis. Or perhaps pkmontag was drawn to NU’s extensive choice of special programs and/or certificates, like MMSS or the Kellogg Certificate, which are unique to NU. Who knows? (We do now, but I think that question should have been asked first.)</p>
<p>2, I feel that the difficulty of getting into NU is being downplayed. phuriku actually said, “As long as you show interest in them in your application, you’re in.” I think that is what set me off more than anything else in this thread.</p>
<p>This is where I think that being a senior rather than a sophomore comes into play. I had plenty of secondhand knowledge when I was a sophomore; that’s when I joined this site. But now that I’ve gone through it all, at a time when many colleges have had their most competitive admissions season ever, I can say that I feel much more knowledgeable.</p>
<p>Because it’s jarring when you see people that have been in accelerated classes since 3rd grade, who have always been high-achieving and recognized for it, not get into the schools everyone expects them too. You should have heard some of the shocked whispers. Perhaps I’m making college admissions seem like more of a horror story than I need to, but I think it’s best to err on the side of caution.</p>
<p>Let’s please just end this on a respectful note, and get back to helping pkmontag out. That’s what this whole thread is supposed to be about.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think that Grammernazi meant to insult NU. I agree that the top 5 schools aren’t “all that” and that NU is one of the absolute best. It is possible that NU is THE absolute best for the OP. If it is, fine. DEFINITELY apply ED if the financial situation is looking okay. That said, for most fields, NU is outpaced by a few schools. Nothing wrong with that, and there certainly isn’t a need to be at THE best school in the field. I took the suggestion as simply “Hey, consider XXX because you might have a chance. They’re reaches for everyone, sure, but it wouldn’t be ludicrous to give it a shot.”</p>
<p>As far as optimism/pessimism, I have been through this process both with siblings and with close friends. I am completely aware that there is a certain amount of luck involved in admissions to top schools and that no one can count on anything. To me, “high match” means that a person is certainly as qualified as admits, but any school with admissions as selective as NU certainly can’t be a match. Hence, “high match.” I certainly do not agree that simply showing interest will lead to an acceptance. </p>
<p>Of course you have to err on the side of caution–the OP should have safety schools. I completely agree. That said, I DO think that NU is attainable. Not certain, attainable. </p>
<p>That’s it.</p>
<p>Well, this is just mainly an update. Second semester junior grades are in for me.
Drivers Ed A+
APUSH A
Chinese 2x A
AP Computer Science A-
Precalc HN A
AP Physics B A (=D still suprised at this )
Junior English Accel A- </p>
<p>so I got worse in english and comp sci but better in physics and math so i guess fair trade</p>
<p>alwaysleah, </p>
<p>I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. From the start I stated, “I’m not saying you won’t get in, I’m trying to point out that 85/100 people who apply are denied. However, 15/100 do get in. You could definitely be one of them, but please don’t count on it as a sure thing (for your own peace of mind).”</p>
<p>I also won’t argue that NU isn’t outpaced by a few schools in most fields. That’s true. I wasn’t implying that it is the top everywhere, just that it has its strengths and that the OP might have been going for one of them specifically.</p>
<p>And if that is how you define “high match”, then I agree with your assessment for the OP. The way the other posters I came into conflict with seemed to define it is what I had a problem with. I appreciate your mediating.</p>
<p>Hey pkmontag,</p>
<p>What type of engineering are you looking into, if you know? Different schools have different strengths. </p>
<p>Coincidentally, neuroscience is what I wanted to major in a year ago. I eventually switched over to cognitive science, which is a very interdisciplinary field that neuroscience is a component of, but there is still some overlap. I can give you the list I compiled minus the liberal arts colleges (they’re probably too small for you with <2000 students).</p>
<p>But just for clarification, what exactly do you hope to major in at NU? As far as I know, NU does not have any major titled Neuroscience at the undergraduate level, just one called Biological Sciences with a concentration in neurobiology, and of course Cognitive Science with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience. If you want either of those, great, but if not NU might not be the right choice for you after all. That’s fine, as I’m sure I and others in this thread can suggest other places for you.</p>
<p>So, my list (with safeties and reaches and matches combined, in ABC order and minus liberal arts colleges):</p>
<p>Brown University
Case Western Reserve University
Johns Hopkins University
Lehigh University
Northwestern University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester</p>
<p>There are others that should be recommended, I’m looking around for you now. Though I might be taking a break for dinner.</p>
<p>Hey, your grades are great! Good job.</p>
<p>As a person who got into Northwestern RD this year (decided to not attend though), I’d say you have a great chance (again high match to low reach). In terms of numbers, you were much better than what I had in every aspect. And your ECs are solid but not outstanding. Its great that you have many FBLA awards, but they will be a bit less important/helpful if you’re appkying for neuroscience or engineering. Not saying they wont matter, they matter quite a bit actually since you have so many, but Im advising you to focus on your science or math ECs like your shadowing this summer. Also, one of the northwestern supplemental essay questions was on research or independent study (it was optional, but definitely impressive if you can add aomething there, especially if you want to major in something science-y). You might wantto incorporate your shadowing or something else as your “independent study” to boost your application. Also, if NU Iis your absolute #1 choice, definitely apply ED as its acceptance rate is around 40% while RD this year was 13 or 14%. Last thing, if you want to major in neuroscience or engineering, why did you specifically want NU? What other schools are you thinking of applying? Not saying NU is bad in engineering, they’re quite well known actually, but they arent particularly known for their strength in the sciences/math majors.</p>
<p>Thanks.
In terms of engineering, im not 100% sure. If I choose to do engineering, it will probably be either biomedical or computer. If I decide to do neurology, i assume neurobiology would be better. I guess im pretty undecided now since I don’t know how those careers actually are. My dad who is a computer engineer said it is better to go into wall street or become a neurologist since it is more stable of a job once u get there and computer engineering isn’t growing as much as it was. He said I would have to switch around a lot. I’m shadowing a neuroligist starting next week so I guess I’ll know how that will be tomorrow next week. I heard that Northwestern is good at both engineering and neurology so I figured Id go in and take a little bit of both. Even If i go in as engineering, the first year is just general engineering courses ( I think) so Ill have more hands on expierence to choose. To be honest, I’m not sure how people can choose their majors without actually being in the field 
but thats just me.</p>
<p>So I am sort of on a break for dinner right now, but it just occurred to me that now that you have an idea of your chances (solid, but not definite–you’re definitely at the highest level, so these are basically the best chances you can have), you might consider relocating to the College Search and Selection section. </p>
<p>If you copy over your stats (maybe just your GPA, rank, and ECs, even) and add what you told me about majors and your plans/hopes you’ll probably get even more suggestions.</p>
<p>For biomedical engineering, you should consider having Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, and University of Pittsburgh on your list. For computer engineering, I’d look into Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>And I also would not cross off NU for either. I think you have a good attitude toward this. I definitely am not sure about my major yet either. That’s exactly why I moved to cognitive science, because I wanted to be able to focus on artificial intelligence/computer science as well as linguistics and neuroscience.</p>
<p>Also, thank you so much for your responses and your effort to help me.</p>
<p>No problem. I officially have no classes or homework anymore, and truth be told I enjoyed this part of the application process. At least I’m having fun and helping someone out instead of just lazing around.</p>
<p>Lol thanks 1 more year for me =) ok ill move this stuff</p>