Chances at NU? Considering ED..

Colleges & Universities Northwestern University
1

<p>I visited NU this past spring and fell in love. I’m considering apply Early Decision, but my parents are warning against agreeing to a binding contract. I would apply Early Decision only if It would dramatically increase my chance at getting in. If I have a decent chance as RD, I would wait until January to apply. Northwestern is definitely one of my top choices. If you would look over my stats and give any advice or input on the situation, I would really appreciate it!!</p>

<p>Senior
Rank: 10/434 (top 2%)
SAT: 2120 (CR-720 M-650 W-750)
GPA: 3.9 UW, 4.1 W
Courses:
Freshman year–CP English 1, CP Physical Science, CP Geometry, CP World History, Health, PE, Intro to Art Sophomore Year–CP English 2, CP Biology, CP Algebra 2, AP US History (4 on exam), French 1, Psychology, Film and Literature
Junior Year-- Honors English 3, Physiology, Chemistry, AP Statistics, Precalculus, Philosophy (College class), French 2
Senior year–AP English literature, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP US Government, AP Psychology, French 3</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>-Founder and President of high school’s UNICEF Club–TONS of work put into this
-Ambassador for local underprivileged children’s organization–huge commitment, very committed–became close to the founder, she’s sending an additional letter of reccomendation
-Volunteer swim coach to mentally disabled elementary students
-NHS–tons of hours involved in this, on several committees
-PKOM (mentor to incoming freshmen)
-High School Student Commitee (works with school board members and superintendent to discuss student issues)
-founder of tutoring program for school district
-volunteer at local library
-Club Med
-SADD–several committees
-Long-time tutor</p>

<p>Awards:
-Academic Letter
-Dean’s List (every year)</p>

<p>Letters of Reccomendation:
-Sophomore english teacher, who not only knows me as a very motivated student, but also from an extracurricular standpoint. She is my mentor for a program in which I am heavily involved.
-Anatomy and Physiology/ AP Bio teacher–both are advanced classes so he knows I’m a driven student. Also involved in Club Med, which he runs.
-Founder of children’s organization–knows me very well. Did several fundraisers and programs for her organization for my community. Should be a phenomenal recc.</p>

<p>Notes: -APs are primarily for seniors at my school, so my schedule is very competetive for my school
-plan on taking Subject tests–expect to get scores in mid 700s
-Ohio Resident
-Although my ECs may look ordinary, they are very important to me. They are all focused around bettering the community, which I am very passionate about. I hope this shows through in my application essays.</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>Looking at our school’s Naviance, the admissions rate is much higher for ED than for RD. I think that you have a competitive application, but are much more likely to get in ED than RD. </p>

<p>Can you handle rejection though, because as far as I know, Northwestern doesn’t defer. </p>

<p>I think it’s worth making another trip and doing a sleepover and attending classes to make sure it’s definitely your first choice. I would do this with your top two choices. </p>

<p>My own D was in a similar situation and we made an extra “due diligence” visit to her top two choices early in her senior year to make sure that she was sure in her decision. She’s a rising sophomore at her ED school and loves it. Our Naviance suggests that she would have had a much more difficult time in the RD round, so there are no regrets here. The trick is to make sure that you are sure. </p>

3

<p>The reason to apply RD and not ED is two parts. The first is making sure it is really your first choice, which I won’t comment on. The second is making sure you can afford to go if you get in, which you really need to discuss with your parents. Their financial aid, if you need it, will include $6500 loans and $2500 work study per year according to their net price calculator. If you don’t there may be other cheaper options your parents may want you to consider than paying full pay to NU. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>NU does defer - ED round.</p>

5

<p>Whoops, my information is dated
<a href=“http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/story/northwestern-admissions-alters-early-decision-poli/”>http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/story/northwestern-admissions-alters-early-decision-poli/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Ok, Northwestern now does defer. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Except that you are more likely to be accepted ED. You don’t have to withdraw your other applications until you get your FinAid package and find it acceptable. If you apply RD, you are less likely to be accepted, and probably more likely than not to be rejected. </p>

<p>If you get rejected, there is no FinAid package to compare. </p>

<p>It would really be unfortunate, though you would never know it, to concluded that NU is your first choice, but apply RD anyway only to be rejected. You’ll always wonder if you could have gotten in ED. If I had to guess, I’d say your chances of admission are 40% for ED and 20% for RD. </p>

<p>That’s the gotcha. </p>

6

<p>Maybe this is true, but I did not know it: “You don’t have to withdraw your other applications until you get your FinAid package and find it acceptable.” In any case, how would you know you would not get a better combination of school and financial aid from another school. I guess that goes back to making sure it is the school you really want to attend. I just think that loan and work study combination is higher than some other high-end schools, which makes the ED choice tougher.</p>

7

<p>You are highly qualified and have stats that look like most NU students. My daughter had similar stats and was accepted ED. Many of her friends with similar stats applied Regular Decision. 2 of 10 got in. It’s just a numbers game. NU takes a much higher percentage of ED students (about 30%) than RD (about 10%). So going early does improve your odds, I think, greatly.</p>