Although i am not used to cold weather, I kind of want to be in a place with cold weather, having grown up in 40 degrees Celsius. The reasons I like Rice:
What would you say are the differences between both? I was interested in University of Chicago, but it feels way out of reach for me. I know my chances at Northwestern are slim, but better than UChicago?
Okay so I have thought about it and I have decided to Ed to Northwestern. It seems interdisciplinary, offers ISP, allows double majors easily and is not a big party school. Here is my final list. Can you guys say if this is alright:
Early action:
Case western reserve
Northwestern (ED)
UChicago (EA)
University of Miami - looking for merit
St Olaf
Northeastern
Troy university - Looking for merit aid
University of Alabama - merit
Virginia university
These are the schools I am applying early for. Are these reasonable. Do I have a good chance of merit aid?
Should I add more schools for Early? especially safety.
If youâre fine with Troy and Alabama youâre okay.
You could add Truman State in Missouri and University Minnesota-Morris - both are strong academically and lower cost. Applying early would make them safeties.
Thanks. Do you think I stand much of a chance in Northwestern? my ECs are mid
Your rank in your high school is going to be more important than your GPA. University admissions do appear to be able to evaluate grades in the context of the school that you are attending (this has helped me twice, for example). Your rank is likely to help you. Your SAT is superb. I personally think that your ECs are very good. You do not need a long list of ECs. A few ECs that you do very well, and that help other people, and that are right for you, is what you want and what you have.
However, Northwestern is a reach for pretty much anyone (other than students for whom it is out of reach).
I am not a big fan of ED. I would only ED anywhere if both of the following are true: (1) you have run the NPC and the results are affordable; (2) it is clearly your first choice.
If Northwestern is your first choice, and if the NPC shows it as likely to be affordable, then I think that it is a very good choice for ED.
Northwestern does have very real winters (and I am saying this as someone who is originally from Montreal). However, I have met a few people who came from warm climates to cold universities (such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and McGill) and they have all been able to handle it. The needed warm clothing will of course be available for purchase locally. Arriving in September you will have plenty of time to ask people what you need and then to find it (September will be mild in nearly all of the US).
Thanks. Northwestern is my top choice, offers pretty much everything I want, and the NPC is affordable. I am a bit torn between that and UChicago. I know there is a difference in the culture, but both are academic, offer good aid for me and have the quarters system. They also have good programs for my current future career plan.
One thing bothering me is that my high school class is like the smallest in the world. Literally 20 students. I am the class topper in IGCSE and AS level. I have good relationships with my teachers and counselor (exams officer for us actually). I have taken the most opportunities offered by my school which has sent less than 25 students to US for undergrad. Will that be taken into consideration?
Very good universities, including the very top ranked ones, accept students from a huge range of backgrounds and from a huge range of high schools. They do this intentionally. They want a range of students.
Many years ago I was an international students at highly ranked universities in the US (one for bachelorâs, a different one for a masterâs). I got to attend the opening receptions for international students. I got to meet a huge range of people from all over the world. This was a great experience and something that I still highly value (although I have also been fortunate to get to work with people from all over the world in my career). Bringing in students from a wide range of backgrounds is part of making this experience possible and I think that it benefits all of the students at highly ranked universities such as Northwestern.
Having come from a small high school, your teachers and counselor will have gotten to know you very well. This should help when they are writing your letters of reference.
You are close. One daughter was top in her high school class of I think 18 students (or was it 14?), but her high school does not exist anymore so maybe you are âsmallestâ. She was 5 for 5 in university admissions, but did not apply to any school quite as selective as Northwestern. I am pretty sure that having teachers who knew her very well did help her applications.
I think that all that we can say is that you are competitive for Northwestern. If there were any way to verify this then I would predict that they will be looking very closely at your application and will consider you to be a very strong applicant. It is however very difficult to predict admissions to the top schools in the US.
I think that you just need to be patient, and wait and see what happens.
And I do wish you the best, and expect you to do very well wherever you end up.
Thank you so much. It means a lot for someone who is pretty stressed out about the whole process.
As good as possible. 
itâs still low but worth trying for in your case.
DO apply EA to several schools so that you have their admissions in your back pocket when/if the blow comes that you werenât admitted.
During the Nov-Dec period, take a few days, relax⊠and then start working on supplements for RD colleges. Itâs very very difficult to get motivated when youâve been turned down by your favorite college so if you have things done and you get in, no harm no foul. . and if you donât, you can take a few days to lick your wounds and bounce back wit no harm done to your RD prospects.
In November you can also see if thereâs an affordable college youâd want for ED2.
Thanks. I am planning to apply ED 2 to Grinnell. The school really appeals to me for some reason and is quite affordable. I am even thinking of applying ED 1 to Grinnell right now. Maybe this is just my paranoia, but I keep thinking what would happen if I missed out on both Northwestern and Grinnell.
I am happy going to my safeties as well. Just have a feeling applying ED to Grinnell is more safe.
I think ED1 northwestern ED2 Grinnell is a good plan. 
Grinnell wouldnât have filled all itâs ED spots in ED1 otherwise they wouldnât have ED2. What matters is the ED commitment.
With respect to your greater list and your interest in computer science, you may benefit from considering that Hamilton will be constructing a computer science center with âbest-in-class technologies and resourcesâ:
This facility will add to Hamiltonâs current science lab facilities, which are already highly regarded:
Thanks
Hamilton is on my RD list! I liked everything I read about the school, especially their speaking center and emphasis on public speaking. I would have ED2 to them but they use loans to meet aid while Grinnell doesnât.
Iâm sorry if it seems that Iâd ignored this question. I began to feel that any answer I might give to the first part would lack sufficient foundation, and therefore might be counterproductive for you. In any case, I would note that your own affinity for Northwestern seems well established at this point, irrespective of your thoughts on UChicago. Iâve no reason to doubt your insight.
Regarding the second part of your question, the most recent WalletHub analysis ranked UChicago as the 4th most selective school in the country, which is kind of stunning, really:
Also, I heard UChicago is now need aware. That kind of deters me from ED