Trying to Choose a College

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Alrighty, here's my dilemma. I'm applying to NU ED, and I'm trying to determine if I should apply to McCormick or Medill. I realize those are two completely different colleges, so some might say that I should decide whether I'm more interested in engineering or journalism, but my current interest is high enough in both of them to where that wouldn't be a factor. </p>

<p>My main question is which school I'm more likely to be accepted to, and how difficult it is to transfer into each. I've heard it's quite difficult to transfer into Medill, but I'm not sure about McCormick. I would assume it's tough, considering it isn't easy to transfer into the school of engineering anywhere. </p>

<p>Some background info to help determine which school I have a better shot with:</p>

<p>32 on both my ACTs. However, I have 35 and 34 on my English tests and 33s on both my reading sections. Meanwhile I have 31s on my math portion and 30s on my science. </p>

<p>The main blemish I have in regard to the ACT an 8 on my writing section. Not that it's a horrible score, but I don't think it accurately represents my writing skills. I should be able to make up for that in the essays though. </p>

<p>As far as individual class grades go, I've only had one B in my English career. And that was first semester of freshman year. I've also done extremely well in all of my history courses (including an A+ in APUSH, and a 5 on the test), if that factors into the equation at all. On the other hand, I've only done marginally well in math courses, including 2-3 B's over the years. </p>

<p>Lastly, I have no journalism experience whatsoever. I don't know if this would count against me though, because my school doesn't have a newspaper nor does it offer any journalism courses. Yearbook would have been my only opportunity, but I never took it because it's poorly run and the teacher doesn't even show up half the time. I've heard nothing but bad things from those who have taken it in the past. </p>

<p>Sorry I wrote so much, I wasn't planning on making it this long.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a tough road to admissions in either school. Perhaps apply to WCAS? There are a couple computer science majors in both McCormick and WCAS. Your chances are probably better to WCAS.</p>

3

<p>Alright, first of all, both schools might not necessarily “hard” to transfer into, but they’re going to be hard to assimilate into. Both start off right away (Engineers taking engineering classes and a design class, and Journalism starting those classes right away also) so you’d be behind transferring into either. That being said, I’m sure people have done it, and, in fact, I met a sophomore or junior who’s been in I believe 4 of the 6 schools and isn’t going to graduate late.</p>

<p>Second, the schools don’t have separate admissions, except for Bienen and some special programs, as far as I know. If they do, the acceptance rate isn’t significantly different. Apply to whichever one you’re leaning towards, or have any tiny inclination towards. Your grades in specific classes won’t be different by school, they care about how well you did overall, not just in one subject.</p>

<p>The ACT isn’t really considered an accurate reflection of anyone’s writing, anyway.</p>

<p>As for AnonMom13, the chances don’t change much, if at all, like I said. Also, he didn’t mention computer science, so I’m not sure why that applies.</p>

4

<p>While the admissions are to the university and not the school, the expectations are different for an engineering major than say a theatre major. In Medill, they will be looking for evidence of writing skills or interest in journalism. 30/31 on Math and Science does not make a strong engineering application. Might not be as much of an issue for, say, a theatre major. I don’t think this is as true for WCAS in general but it might be a tad easier to get into WCAS with these test scores than engineering. I mentioned Computer Science only because it is a major I know (there may be another) that is identical in WCAS and McCormick. If he started in WCAS in a CS major, he could potentially move to McCormick with all the right classes.</p>

5

<p>With Math at 31, it would be hard to be admitted at McCormick. But I am not saying it would be easier for you to get into Medill either.</p>

6

<p>Ah, I see where you were going now. Despite the similar majors, in McCormick even Computer Science, Material Science, and Applied Math kids have design classes and gen engineering stuff (I believe) so you still get a little behind, but it’s not too tough to catch up. Plenty of people do. If you could manage another test (either SAT or ACT) that could be beneficial, but I don’t think that what school you apply to will change your decision. It’s unlikely that they’d be so swayed one way or another by certain subjects that they’d accept you in one and not the other.</p>