<p>What one needs to remember is that at the pace NU is increasing it’s admission standards (SAT scores average is up to 1442 from 1428 for class of 2012, 91% are now in 10% of their class, up from 83%) that they are really starting to make a push towards having a very strong, and very competitive student body.</p>
<p>From a current student’s perspective (and mind you I’ve never really considered true what I’m about to say) Northwestern is no longer an Ivy “backup”. I think that title, if it should even exist, is moving along to school like WashU and company. In years past, yes, you probably would have proven to have been an above average competitive candidate for admission. Now, however, I do not believe that is the case any longer. It is hard to say definitively if a student with a 1400 on the SAT (which is awesome, believe me) will get into Northwestern. Because now, that score is below average. </p>
<p>Northwestern has around 25000 applicants per year, and I think that they are just now beginning to accept the very best.</p>