What is most important for Northwestern? - GPA? Essay? Extracurriculars?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

I want to know to see if I have a chance or not

2

GPA is the most important factor for nearly all schools. According to Northwestern’s CDS, they rank as “very important” GPA, course rigor, class rank and standardized test scores. Essay and ECs are ranked as “important.” Suffice it to say, most schools will prioritize academics with the rest at the margins.

3

Applying binding ED (early decision) may be among the most important factors considered by admissions at Northwestern University.

Qualifying stats are also most important.

Essay probably rises to most important (in RD round) for those with qualifying stats who did not apply ED.

FWIW Even though Northwestern University only awards $2,000 for National Merit Finalists (NMF), it enrolled the fourth most NMF s in the class entering in 2019:

  1. Florida–enrolled 270 NMFs in 2019
  2. USC–265
  3. Alabama–258
  4. Northwestern University–244
  5. Chicago–233
  6. Vanderbilt–222
  7. Harvard–207
  8. Texas at Dallas–200
  9. Texas A&M–188
  10. Northeastern–155
  11. ASU–136
  12. MIT–134
  13. UCal-Berkeley–132
  14. UPenn–126
  15. Stanford–124
  16. Duke–119
  17. Purdue–116
  18. Princeton–114
  19. Minnesota–107