AJB1993

I think you have a decent shot at ED, but not really RD. The new administration is wanting to get more ED apps and acceptances, thus lowering RD too, so RD is very competitive now.

Your grades and test scores could be better, but you have good ECs. The key for you is to really show your interest. Remember specific things from the tour or information session or anything you saw on campus-- things that you can't find online, and use them in your essay too.

Ahp1994

So coming back to your core question, ED is your best shot and based on numbers alone your shot maybe below the average for ED applicants -- not impossible just below the average even in a holistic process. NJ is a competitive state for NU (particularly if you coming from a suburban public school) and your stadardized test score is on the low side if you are an unhooked applicant. Focus on getting your SAT (M and CR) or ACT closer to 1480/33 and really show demonstrated interest in the school when you write your essay. Also, try to keep track of how many kids are applying ED from your school and if any of them are hooked. If there are a couple of legacy kids with similar statistics or unhooked kids applying ED with substantially better statistics, consider that in your decison on whether to use your ED application for NU. While there is randomness in the "holistic" process, a fair amount of of this is driven by your numbers and precisely who you are competing against from your local community. Also, Naviance does allow you to separate the statistics for ED applicants. It is sometimes quite tellling, as you can see where the different lines are drawn for ED v RD. For example at Ds school kids with an ACT of 32 or 33 and good grades were regularly admitted ED at Duke but rejected 100% of the time RD. (Duke was particularly transparent). Good luck. Follow your heart but use your brain in this process. It's no different than anything else in life.

volleyball51

Thank you!
Update: scored 770 on US History SAT II. Got a 650 on another one but I'm thinking that's not good enough to use. I'll be taking college courses this summer at Cornell, so that should help.
hook ---> I wrote a kids book when I was younger? It's nothing special though.
This past weekend I visited Duke, which I thought was my other top school. It's nothing compared to NU and I'm thinking Northwestern ED all the way!

volleyball51

Also took the SATs again in June, I'm hoping that helps. I've been reelected to my youth group's board (continuing that leadership). As far as I know, two kids applied ED from my school to NU and they both got in.

wildcatalum

NU doesn't fall for hooks easily. Keep in mind that the way you express yourself in your app matters a great deal. NU doesn't want to admit people who think they're special snowflakes (quite frankly, I think it shows a great deal of immaturity). They care far more about your passion for an activity than the activity itself. Just because somebody rides the unicycle doesn't mean they will automatically enhance campus life. It's the passion, thoughtful self-reflection, and story that go into that activity that count far more.

wildcatalum

With your profile, I would go ED and hope for the best. The unfortunate reality is that a lot of the schools have become unpredictable in their admissions.