(yet another) Chance Thread

Colleges & Universities Northwestern University
1

<p>Persian male (which the common app. has no classification for…Caucasian it is I guess), middle class</p>

<p>GPA: 3.94
Rank: Top 10% (might be higher, that’s all they tell us though)
Not sure what it would be weighted, our school doesn’t do that but:</p>

<p>9th grade: honors math (junior high…not much selection)
10th grade: full pre-IB (I moved schools after the year)
11th grade: AP US, AP Physics, Honors Pre-Calc, Honors French 300 (U of Washington in High School course)
12th grade: AP Gov Pol, AP French 400, AP Calc AB, College Prep English, Business Law, Biology (at local community college).</p>

<p>So it should be pretty high ranked, right?</p>

<p>SATs:
800-math
630-writing
600-reading
Not too good outside of math.</p>

<p>AP Tests- US (4), Physics (3). Again, not too impressive.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Soccer (11th JV, 12th Varsity), captain of club team for 12 years
20-25 hrs/week job throughout the summer and this year
FBLA/MUN member
Link Crew
Honor Society Member (3 years, no biggie–I know)
School yearbook–chief editor 9th grade
Private tutor (9th, 11th, 12th grade…2-3 hrs/week)
Teach Children’s class (11th, 12th grade…7 hrs/week). It’s actually two different classes, one for Sunday school and another Thursday afternoons.
Cabin Counselor for youth retreats (last few memorial day weekends)
Helped coordinate a Labor Day Arts and Crafts festival that brought in around 500 people this past year.
Tutor of a study circle (3 hours/week)</p>

<p>Honors:
Not much, but…
Certificate of completion of core-curriculum training (what I use to teach)
MUN outstanding delegate
Certificate of Academic excellence
President’s Volunteer Service Award (gold)</p>

<p>Am planning on attaching a separate essay/research paper I wrote about human rights violations in Iran (is there a reasonable limit? This is 20 pages double spaced…should I shorten it?).
Two teacher recommendations, one from a math teacher that clearly saw my abilities in the subject, and also from my AP French teacher who attended NU.</p>

<p>Would have loved to do early decision, but the financial commitment in case of low financial aid steered me away. Family couldn’t commit to that, so regular admission it is. </p>

<p>Go ahead and be honest. I would love to attend, but aren’t holding my breath.<br>
I’m applying here, to the University of Washington (can live at home), and to some back-up school in state. </p>

<p>Oh yeah, thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Couldn’t find an edit button, sorry, but what SAT II’s would you recommend? I’m taking them (first time…I know) in December.
Math II for sure.
I’m in AP French now so maybe French, and then a science?</p>

3

<p>i’d apply but your chances are not that high since your verbal is about 90-100 points below their average! But you never know, some admissions officer might want to accept you nonetheless</p>

4

<p>A lot of people forget that you can take Math I, Math II, and another subject (in your case, french). Be advised, the Math I curve is ridiculously rough. I got one wrong and got a 750. Regardless, it is a viable option for those who are strong at math and lack a third subject.</p>

5

<p>What’s the difference between the two maths? I mean, wouldn’t schools want to see how I do on 3 different subjects, not 2?</p>

6

<p>It might look better to take only Math IIC plus some other subject, but if you can get an 800 on Math IC, I guess it’s okay.</p>

7

<p>As you noted, your CR score on the SAT is poor for NU, and your AP scores thus far will not impress either.
Your transcript and ECs are fine, but I don’t know whether that will be enough to overcome the CR SAT in a competitive applicant pool.
I also question the wisdom of submitting a 20 page research paper. There is no way that they will read it - they just don’t have the time - and I think it looks somewhat desperate and unrealistic. I personally would not do it. Just one man’s opinion.</p>

8

<p>ap scores are optionally reported and are not going to keep out out of northwestern university.</p>

9

<p>Turn in your abstract, not the entire paper. I turned in 2 of my abstracts and that was all.</p>