<p>so i just wrote mine, and i think it's pretty good. i pretty much just wrote about my visit to northwestern a couple summers ago and how i basically fell in love with the school. if anybody that has gotten in has any advice about what kinda stuff they wrote about that they thinked worked, that would be much appreciated. or if you wanna read mine through, i'd be happy to PM it to you.</p>
<p>Hm, I'm trying to remember what I wrote for that essay . . . I think it really helps if you write about something unique; customize it so that it's relevant to what you want to pursue at NU. If you want to be an art history major, rave about the department and the study abroad opportunities, etc. Or if you want to be in a band in addition to your classes, talk about how fantastic you think the music department is.</p>
<p>That's what I did. :D</p>
<p>i kept mine very simple: academics, location, and social life</p>
<p>i ended up sounding very all-american, i wrote how the academics are amazing, the student body is even better, and that once you're with a bunch of cool people you need something to do, hence the location.</p>
<p>obviously take any input i give you with a grain of salt because i'm neither a college counselor nor an admissions officer, but if you want me to read your essay and probably boost your confidence by telling you "looks great" i'd be happy to.</p>
<p>if you want i can try and dig up mine also and send it to you in a PM, just so you have an idea of an essay that worked. although i might have lost it.</p>
<p>My son wants to write his using something clever about the fact that both of his parents went there, fell in love, our names are on the Rock underneath oodles of paint, etc., etc. Is that too corny? Is that too "playing his hand" that he's a double legacy? Thanks.</p>
<p>i hope you're not asking me. i have no idea. one of many things i can't give good advice about is college admission essays.</p>
<p>NU admissions officers know that this school has great academics, a motivated student body, and is near a fantastic city. You can mention all that, but you need to take it beyond, since that applies to many schools. Get specific. What stuck out to you on the tour, if you visited? Any professors or programs you're particularly interested in? Any specific aspects of campus? Etc. Get creative.</p>
<p>This piece of advice is something they actually tell you in the information session.</p>
<p>
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Is that too corny? Is that too "playing his hand" that he's a double legacy? Thanks.
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</p>
<p>i had double legacy too. i didn't write about it in my essay but i definitely made sure to mention it in "additional info" section and in the family relations section. i don't see it being "too corny" or hurting him if he writes it well, the thing about your names on the rock underneath all the paint sounds like a great, artistic detail, but, you know, your guess is as good as mine, you got in too ;)</p>
<p>I honestly didn't put much heavy thought into packaging my NU essays (a fact which I credit with my admission). I think doing so really let me think about why I was applying (because I had almost no idea at the time, my mom made me), and let my personality shine through. I ended up talking about how my mom is from Chicago, I have huge family ties in the area (inlcuding the town of Evanston itself), and about the deep improv culture at Northwestern and in Chicago. That, combined with my main essay being about improv, seemed to be pretty effect.</p>
<p>In short, don't worry too much about it, be honest, don't write ******** you think they want to hear.</p>
<p>I tried to write something that wasn't just telling them what they already knew about their school.</p>
<p>I really made my "Why NU" about how I would fit in at NU and how NU would fit in with what I had in mind for college. I can try and find it if anyone wants to read it.</p>
<p>and I like the rock paint idea.</p>
<p>rock paint is kinda cheesy, but use it. It will separate your sons application from the typical fit essay</p>
<p>i started my NU supplement on Jan.1. the app was due Jan.2. i never believed in wasting months on admissions essays. i never could write well knowing that I still had x months till it was due. idk, thats just me. honestly on jan 1, i went through the viewbook a bunch of times just to remind myself how great the place is and what NU meant to me as a whole and in specific. be true to yourself and your essay will show the added unique touch.</p>
<p>and now you're going there.</p>
<p>dude, i just read some of past threads and saw your stats. honestly, you are a match at any school in the country. holy ****! impressive stuff man. i dont think you need to be worrying about essays too much. wow, you make me feel sort of inadequate. thats why i dont go on the what are my chances forum anymore.</p>
<p>I took my "Why XXX" from a different college application and tweaked it so that it worked for NU. I got in. And after being here for a year, I probably love NU more than anyone I know (which means a lot because everyone I know really likes it here)</p>
<p>Around how many words are the Personal Essay and Why NU Essay supposed to be?</p>
<p>minimum: 250 i would think. mine's 588.</p>
<p>The last two words in mine were "Go Cats" :rolleyes:</p>
<p>did you get in?
i just printed the supplement. there is NO way i'm gonna be able to fit my essay in that little space. what should i do?</p>
<p>after listing the reasons i wanted to go to NU, i ended by saying that i liked purple.</p>
<p>corny, yes, but i got in...</p>
<p>also another question: is there any difference in fully applying by September 15 or November 1st ? is there priority for early applicants in ED period?</p>