<p>I am a junior in high school and I am looking to apply early at Northwestern </p>
<p>These are my qualifications
3.73(unweighted) 4.0(weighted)- but I did get a C in math first semester this year</p>
<p>My rank is 36 out of 500 at a competitive public high school </p>
<p>SAT 680 Math 690 Critical Reading 690 Writing
I have not yet taken the SAT II but NU says they are optional which I know means preferred. A question about the SAT IIs if you are supposed to take the SAT on the November date then when would I take the SAT IIs? I also want to take the ACT but I have no idea how I will do on that but probably in the 28-31 range. I was wondering if taking the ACT only was a better option since there is no equivalent to the SAT IIs on it and as you can see test scores are the weakest part of my application.</p>
<p>My extra curricular activities are outstanding and are the strongest point of my application, they will help me much more than hurt me. Listing them here would just be a bore. I have been in it all community service, sports, I have several awards and I have done internships.</p>
<p>My common app essay will be another strong point as I am a good writer and I will have a lot of people proofread it. The Why NU essay I guess will be good but isn’t everyone just going to write about the same things (Great school, cool campus). How can I make myself stand out on this essay?</p>
<p>I am also a diverse student having been born in another country and I am still a citizen of that country but I am a permanent resident of the US and have gone to US schools all my life. But I’m still white so I don’t know if they are going to care as much. </p>
<p>My classes are the absolute hardest taking all two AP’s this year (junior year) and all AP next year (I think thats six or seven). I am also an IB diploma candidate. </p>
<p>I will also apply early(which I know increases your chances) I will also do the interview.</p>
<p>I am looking to major in bio (pre-med) would this hurt my chances because of the increased level of competition?</p>
<p>Does anyone have any other tips for me on how to get in contact with the admissions office or about a visit. Or about anything I have not mentioned?</p>
<p>NU is by far my first choice and I am really enthusiastic about applying there so leave some honest responses please!</p>
<p>Retake the SAT and get above 700 on at least two of them and above 750 on one. Also the interview that you can do is strictly informational and doesn’t help your application chances. Try to visit the campus and maybe sit in on a class and sty overnight with a student, NU likes when you show interest and that helps you on your application. Right now it is kind of useless to “chance” you because you are only a junior and still are yet to take SAT II’s and retake the SAT I. Also list your scores on the AP tests next year when I’m sure you will post another chance thread.</p>
<p>I’m not an experienced chancer, but I do have a question…
How can you be a full IB diploma candidate if you’re taking all AP’s next year?
Is it just that it’s IB classes and you’ll take the AP tests?</p>
<p>So at the end of the year you have to take IB and AP tests? That stinks, because for starters, the curriculum is different, and then you have to prepare for tests that are styled very differently, and then you have tooo many tests to be taking at once, I would think.</p>
<p>definitely visit if you can and stay overnight (not only to show them interest, but that definitely finalized my decision), get on mailing lists- its online. Go to college fairs or any NU info session if they have them near where you live.</p>
<p>if you have specific questions you would like answered about particular departments etc, email the department. I was put in touch with an awesome alum from my major, and I sent her no less than 6 different emails full of questions and she was super helpful. And turned out to be a friend of one of my good friends- weird right? And from all of the research and help I received, my why NU statement was much stronger.</p>
<p>Thanks I do live within two hours of the campus so I can visit and stay overnight without any problems. So you are suggesting that I should do it now junior year and not wait until early next year? How could I get in touch with an alum? Is NU the type of school that puts heavy emphasis on how interested an applicant is?</p>
<p>NU does like to see interested applicants, and really i think your fine if you visit this year or early next. its still on record. </p>
<p>i emailed the department head for my major (performance studies), and he directed me to an alum. Don’t get in touch just to get in touch, but if you have genuine questions, ask ask ask! Haha I asked SO much stuff.</p>