<p>Not only are you incredibly arrogant, but your writing lacks, and that in and of itself is a crucial component to one’s application at a school similar to Northwestern.</p>
<p>My writing is less than forgivable here. I am actually not arrogant. I apologize for any confusions. It is my first time on College Confidential which is not a justification. I was just trying to be straight forward without giving a lot of person information.</p>
<p>Your username is GreatStudent and you said you’re more successful than people twice your age. Whether you intended it to be or not, that sounds arrogant.</p>
<p>I could see why one would think that. I am not looking forward to argue. That was not what I was trying to say, but English is not my first language and that was not the point I was trying to express. Now that I read this over I realized how some of my points could seem unethical…</p>
<p>Most people of CC are not going to chance you if you don’t provide your GPA or scores. I have to say I am a little puzzled by your profile but maybe we don’t have all the relevant information that you will provide to NC. You are hispanic and are planning to check the box and implied you have suffered some sort of hardship. You also say you will not be needing any financial aid. At the risk of sounding like I am stereotyping, the pieces don’t all add up to me so I think you should work on making the profile/picture of you consistent.</p>
<p>my stats to be specific are I have a 4.3 GPA - which i think is good specially because I am in the top 10% of my graduating class. I have a 29 composite ACT score which is really low for northwestern. I had a bad time because I suffered from an OCD from a traumatizing life-changing experience I do not want to get into. However, I have grown stronger and have started my own business and have had a lot of accomplishments. I am considering applying without financial aid because it will increase my chances of getting accepted.</p>
<p>I actually have an interview with an admission officer at Northwestern. I know my writing does me no justice, but my speech skills are better. Would there be any recommendation one should tell the admissions officer at an interview?</p>
<p>Northwestern’s admissions are need-blind. they don’t pay attention to your income bracket until you have been accepted and require a financial aid package. so do you actually require financial aid? It would make no sense to say that you don’t, only to be accepted and then not be able to attend because of money. I recommend you collaborate with your guidance counselor on your application because I don’t think you are approaching it in an effective way. good luck to you!</p>
<p>So your grades are 4.3 (I’ll assume that’s weighted, since you said you’re in the top 10% of your class, not the top 2%). For the sake of argument, let’s say they’re average amongst NU applicants.</p>
<p>Your ACT is below average, perhaps significantly so, but not fatally so.</p>
<p>What you need to do is make it clear to the Interviewer why you’re special. Look at it this way, assume they have 5 other applicants with your basic numbers and they’re going to accept one of you. Why should you be the one?</p>
<p>From what you’ve written, you think your business is what makes you special. To the extent you have the opportunity, talk about that. What it is, and why it excites you. Ask questions about NU or explain why NU will help you accomplish your goals. (By the way, I’d probably say this about any school).</p>
<p>Overall, NU looks like a reach, though not impossible.</p>
<p>it is a reach school for me. I would like to ask if it would be appropriate to mention I suffered from an OCD to the admissions officers? I was in the top 5% before, but I lived a traumatizing phase… That is the same reason my ACT is low. I had to potential to score 31+, but I had to walk of the testing room on two occasions because the OCD was taking over my life. Nonetheless, I overcame it and have come-out stronger.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I am not approaching this right. I am the first gen of my family who is going to a university in America. And I have talked to my councilor, but she sways me from applying there because she says you need a 31+ or it’d be a waste of time…
Thanks for the collaboration.</p>
<p>I think you’re probably asking a Guidance Counselor Question.</p>
<p>Having OCD mentioned may be a good idea, but it has to be coupled with the conclusion that it’s either under control, or that it won’t be a continuing impact on your academic performance (i.e., that you can do the work even with this).</p>
<p>My thought on an issue like this is that it’s best handled by having the GC write a letter mentioning that you have this, but have worked hard and had tremendous academic success nonetheless. Alternately, maybe having an MD (or a school psychologist if you have used one) sending in a statement – again emphasizing that you can do the work academically.</p>
<p>Other than that, it’s a very hard question. Congratulations on what you have accomplished despite this.</p>
<p>In addition it can be quite frustrating, devoting your life since eighth grade to having the credentials to attend a university similar to Northwestern, then my junior year a criminal takes everything from me along with my hope - which is what I have long been pushing for. I did not bother taking any SAT II subjects test because with an OCD a test is the least of your concerns in comparison to the mental obliteration. I had the potential to get 700+. But I have pushed forth and grown a lot since, suffering.</p>
<p>Thanks for everything. I have a lot of reason on why I specifically want to attend northwestern, but I shall not waste anymore of your time.</p>
<p>another piece of advice: using your OCD as an excuse for average scores and grades is not whats going to get you in to Northwestern. You have mentioned that you’ve worked through t and come out stronger - Expand on this. show how you have grown and become a better and stronger student through examples. being the devils advocate, if your OCD inhibited you from getting a higher act score, is it going to inhibit you as a student of northwestern? you need to show them that you can handle their school even with OCD, don’t focus so much on how it limited you</p>
<p>Thank you so much. I would have honestly have just used my OCD as a justification for my scores, but I have a lot of specific evidence of how I have achieved accomplishments with it and surpassed on resposonsibilites above my qualification. I thinking tying that together will help me so much. and also why I want to go to Northwestern</p>