Should I still try for Northwestern?

spacenerd2432
Mon, 02 Oct 2017 23:48:53 +0000

Severe financial and domestic hardship have kept me from showing my full potential in school. I have a 3.7W and about a 3.5UW GPA. I got a 20 on the ACT (I plan to take the SAT) I was a Girl’s State representative, I was selected for numerous Summer programs like Harvard Congress of future physicians and doctors, Brandies Summer Program, USNA Summer Stem, John Hopkins Leadership program. However, due to having no money, I was only able to attend USNA and Girls State because all the expenses were covered for me. I am in numerous other clubs like NHS, BETA, MU Alpha Theta, SGA, President of Political Club, Environmental club, Student Ambassador, and many more.

I have taken some honors but only one AP class because my schedule could not fit many rigorous courses and due to my extraordinary responsibilities at home.

I am the primary caretaker of my grandmother, she is sick and down. I am also the one that cooks and does all the work at home. My parents divorced when I was six months old, so I grew without parents, and at the age of five I was severely abused and mistreated by my stepmother, which greatly affected me. But I was able to overcome that pain and void.

I was raised in the slums of Nigeria where education was poor (imagine about 80 kids stuffed in one room in an uncompleted building)

So coming to America was a great transition. Due to the difference in curriculum, I was pushed back two classes, and I had to learn and relearn everything I needed to know in the American curriculum, in order to become a successful student.

Now, my grandmother cannot afford college for me, and so when I learned of Questbridge, I found out about Northwestern University. I took thier virtual reality tour and did research on them, and found that it is definitely a school that I want to go to. Thier community, atmosphere, school spirit and rigor is exactly what I need. And on top of that, they have a “No Loan Policy”.

And although I have worked really hard in highschool, I am still way below the statistics of the average freshman at Northwestern. I have never been a good test taker due to my Anxiety.

So I will like someone to tell me my chances of acceptance, if possible, and an u advice on what to do, because I am not even sure if I can go to college as of now. My mother’s income is zero.