Well, because I already took the ACT 4 times taking it again will not help. And I need to take one maybe two more SAT IIs in September and maybe October depending on my scores. I am applying ED, so hopefully a great essay ( i am hoping it is a great essay) will outweigh the bad ACT.
I strongly suggest taking the Sat or act again. As an unhooked white female your odds are quite low and I might suggest using your ED card elsewhere if you have another contender with slightly easier admissions standards. The bottom quartile is principally comprised of athletes, Urms, and other special admits such as musicians. The sat 2s are given minimal consideration at NU for your intended majors. Private tutoring can really help on the standardized tests. Each point on the composite really makes a difference given an otherwise stellar record.
On the other hand, if you really do not have a second choice apply ED but be prepared to attend a flagship state university.
Probably a no, for reasons addressed (test scores) unless you can tell a very compelling story. ED makes it more likely but still likely no. I'm sorry to say, you seem like a good, hardworking girl.
The good news is law schools do not care at all where you go to UG. Get a 4.0 in college and kill the LSAT, if you want to go to law school. But don't go to law school.
I will not attend a flagship state university, and I realize my act is low, but even if I had a 36 act my chances would still be low for NU. So thanks for the response, but this is my dream school, and all I can do at this point is try to in them over with my essay. I knew from the beginning my chances were low, I was just hoping for some advice, other than bring up your test scores, about how I could make my application stand out. But if that's all I can do then I guess I have to wait and see.
I came from a very similar background. Small all-girl catholic school (my class was only 43, though), good GPA, volunteer hours, and an okay ACT.
Seriously, take the ACT again. I got in with a 31 ED, and my stats were very similar to yours. And studies show that if you take a test again, your score will go up by at least one point. And that one point makes a huge difference.
But, you don't have a hook. And in today's admissions climate, it seems that hooks can make or break a decision - especially ED.
So, I would suggest writing an essay that really reveals something about yourself that they can't find anywhere else on their application. Even within my tiny class, the people that basically elaborated on their own accomplishments didn't do as well as those that were creative and personal. And be personal with your "Why NU" essay. It seems like you know a lot about the school and really love it, make sure that comes across - but don't just rewrite the wikipedia page.
I feel like, as others have said, you're a really bright student with a great future ahead of you, but I don't think you're a surefire acceptee at this point. I wish you all the best, and if you're supposed to end up at NU, you will.
I am going to take the sat in september and see how that goes. I already improved on my act by seven points and I can tell i can't improve further. I am trying to present myself as being really dedicated to music. Kind of a musical future lawyer so they can understand my passions and get a description of me, if that makes since. I have been published as a writer so I hope that means I am a good writer enough to convey how much I want this. And thanks again.
Uhm please don't stress. As someone who only took 2 years of language and is currently in a summer program where MANY of the kids got below a 30 on their ACT, don't sweat what you can't change. Come off as you love the school and you'll be accepted.
If you are seriously thinking about a future tie to the arts by connecting it with law... then you probably should consider filling out the Arts Supplement. It is hard to tell from your ECS (2 choirs, 2- musicals, alto section leader, drama club) how much talent you have, but if you have really good video of you in your musicals and choir concerts, you can create a movie, upload it to Youtube and present it in the Common App under Arts Supplement. It will consist of an arts resume, an art teacher's recommendation and your private link to a youtube site (your ten minute or under movie of yourself showing off your talent).
The nice thing about the performing arts is that you can use stuff from pre-high school on your video and resume. So if you were in your church choir in middle school or went to a choir or musical theatre camp, took private voice lessons, etc, that can be used to enhance your resume, too.
This would tie into your main essay of a connection between your future dream job and the arts. IF this is truly a passion.
Get an honest opinion though of your performance on stage. If it is below average, you really do not want to present it. Show only what you do well. Otherwise it can hurt your chances.
I'm afraid they don't accept the Arts Supplement. But, if that's a big part of your life and a significant part of your talents, then you could emphasize it in the paragraph where you're allowed to expand upon a particular talent of yours. If it's been a significant part of your life, and you've really had some unique and awesome experiences there, then you could even write your common application essay about how singing has impacted your life.
Since NU really is your number one, there's no point in spouting discouraging comments--might as well offer up what advice we can!
Looking at your stats again, I feel like there's a lot in your extracurriculars that isn't showing through properly. If your school's as competitive as it sounds, there's probably someone in the guidance office that can really help you with your resumé, and to find ways to present yourself and your abilities properly. Presentation may not be everything, but that doesn't mean it isn't important.
Also, if you're close to an english teacher at school (or if your counselor is good with essays), definitely have them look over your common app writing. I remember printing mine out and going over it with the counselor. She made notes on the EC list, and all of the writing portions, making suggestions where I went off-topic a bit, where I could expand or emphasize, and what probably wouldn't be quite as important to an admissions office. She also talked me through a couple of revisions so that we were sure that my essay wouldn't come off the wrong way. I took most of the advice, ignored it where I thought it wouldn't fit with what I was going for, but it was still definitely helpful. You have plenty of time to get everything polished up, but it wouldn't hurt to find someone that can really help to make your essay look and sound exactly the way you want it to.
My English teacher, is the one who is helping me with my essays, and wrote my recommendation. I think I am going to talk about my cousin in my common app essay, because she is so important to my everyday life and has down syndrome, I put music as one of the ways I am going to participate outside of the classroom in my why northwestern essay. and emphasized that and mock trial team.
All right, that sounds good. Just make sure that your essay is still about you, and not just your cousin! It's to see another side of you, after all. I won't bother about the Why NU bit, I'm sure you already know exactly what draws you in. Just make sure that you give unique examples that made you interested. Anyone can look a school up on Wikipedia, after all. I'd still recommend doing the extracurricular resume with someone else--a lot goes into those sentence fragments that describe your 'position/achievements/awards' or whatever they're supposed to be. You don't need to use complete sentences there, in my opinion. Just write as concisely and effectively as possible. Go on an ego trip and talk up your achievements in the two lines that'll fit into that box!
Oh, and definitely review the pdf before sending it off. Things get cut off a lot, and they can line break in funny places.
I won't bother about the Why NU bit, I'm sure you already know exactly what draws you in. Just make sure that you give unique examples that made you interested. Anyone can look a school up on Wikipedia, after all. I'd still recommend doing the extracurricular resume with someone else--a lot goes into those sentence fragments that describe your 'position/achievements/awards' or whatever they're supposed to be. You don't need to use complete sentences there, in my opinion. Just write as concisely and effectively as possible. Go on an ego trip and talk up your achievements in the two lines that'll fit into that box!
