Yes, another one - my chances? (Maybe ED)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I've been buried in stress about this whole process lately (gah, who hasn't?) so I thought I'd jump on the "what are my chances" train and see how I add up. I'm considering going ED, because NU is definitely my #1 choice all around.</p>

<p>Gender: Female
Location: Columbia, Missouri
College Class Year: 2014
High School: Independent/Private College Prep
Major(s): Film/TV/Radio, English
Financial Aid: Yes</p>

<p>GPA: 3.95 (unweighted)
School does not calculate class rank
All non-AP classes are considered honors level</p>

<p>AP Classes:
European History, Sophomore - 4
(English) Language & Comp, Junior - 5
Psychology, Junior - 5
Biology, Senior - ?
U.S. History, Senior - ?
(English) Literature & Comp, Senior - ?
Latin: Vergil, Senior - ?</p>

<p>4 years of English
3 years of Math (considered 4 credits, if that counts), ended at "Pre-Calculus"
4 years of Social Studies (World History, Euro History, Psychology/Global Issues, U.S. History/Global Studies)
4 years of Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, AP Biology)</p>

<p>Scores:
SAT: 2080 (610 Math, 730 Reading, 740 Writing, 12 Essay)
ACT: 32 (34 Writing, 36 Reading, 31 Math, 27 Science)
Subject Tests: Will take English Lit, Math I, maybe Biology E or World History</p>

<p>Extra Curricular: Jazz Band (Flute), Equestrian (x9, did some circuit showing), National Honor Society, Model United Nations (x2 years, did a conference at Northwestern that really drove me to want to go there), Student Council, Academic Bowl, Outdoors Club, Journalism Club, Various Drama Productions</p>

<p>Leadership Positions: Student Ambassador for school (x3 years), Student Council Rep (Junior), Student Council Secretary (Senior), Academic Bowl Co-Captain. Outside of school I'm a senior moderator on Wajas.com, a website with 150,000+ user accounts, probably equals 20 hours of work a week.</p>

<p>Volunteer Work: "Chili for Change" Accomodation Co-Director (raised money for local service program), Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center Volunteer, plenty of volunteer hours with NHS & Student Council, kiva.org participant</p>

<p>Honors & Awards: National Latin Exam (Can't remember the exact ones, but have received two awards), National Spanish Exam (again can't remember off the top of my head, 1 award), Founder's Scholarship (school scholarship), 1st Place Delegation (Southeast Missouri State Model UN, 1st Committee), Missouri Scholar's Academy (2008)</p>

<p>I can get some really great recommendation letters.</p>

<p>I guess I'm just sort of looking at what sort of chances I have, and some random questions. Should I retake SAT and/or ACT? Do they take ACT at same level as SAT, because I think I've got a better grasp of that test? How important are the subject tests?</p>

<p>Thanks for any help ya'll can offer!</p>

2

<p>Your GPA is obviously fine, although the absence of calc and physics in your curriculum is noticeable and would count against you at many schools (I have no “inside” info on NU specifically on this, however). Your SATs are not strong by NU standards, while your ACT puts you right in the thick of the competition, so I would recommend using the ACT and forgetting about the SAT (in which your math score is deadly). Your ECs are adequate for NU.
If it’s really your first choice, I would definitely apply ED. If you get in, you’re done; and if you don’t, they usually don’t defer, so you’ll be able to go right to Plan B.
Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I actually am taking Physics this year, but I couldn’t find a way to edit it in after the fact when I realized that omission. Whoops!</p>

<p>My counselor and I talked it over today and we agreed the ACT would be the best bet. We’ve poked around some but are still trying to figure out the importance of the SAT subject tests. It’s a worrying point, but I would imagine that since my math score would be in the 600’s (I’d guess) and my English scores are quite adequate in the ACT, and I’d be risking it with any of the third choices…I might be better off gunning with the tests I have and going forward with some really strong essays.</p>

<p>Thanks for the look over! ED is looking better and better as things progress.</p>

4

<p>I really, really apologize if ‘bumps’ are frowned upon (can’t find explicit rules on it), but I’d just love another opinion or two. =) Just this one nudge to the top, I promise.</p>