Is an ED wasted at Northwestern with this profile?

[Anonymous]

The “program” is just clever marketing for taking a lot of classes in Econ and math with some sociological theory thrown in. Add in statistics and as much programming you can handle. You can get the exact same classes at Wisconsin and Michigan and any other school with strong Econ, math, statistics, public policy, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A NYC private school parent is on a DC-based website asking about college admissions, won’t identify the school the kid attends, and even if she did the overwhelming majority of readers won’t know much if anything about it - and still expects to get useful advice? Really?

Stop being so bitter. Don't comment if it so tiresome for you. We are all parents trying to navigate a difficult admissions landscape. I am not the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYC private school ds with a UW 3.9 GPA, all top rigor classes, two varsity sports and a bunch of solid ECs (nothing hook worthy), part-time job during the year and full time counselor in summer loves a program at Northwestern. His SATs don't look like they will crack 1480 since he doesn't do well on timed tests. Taking them the last time in June. He would be happy at Michigan or Wisco (his school sends a bunch there every year) but wants Northwestern. Is this a waste of an ED? his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough. Would you try and go test optional? or submit those? Or be realistic with him and say if he really wants to ED a school he should look elsewhere?

An important factor regarding your son's chances for admission to Northwestern University is that he "loves a program at Northwestern". Your son needs to let Northwestern admissions know this and explain why.

High school counselors priority is to get all students accepted to a college or university; typically, they are not concerned about fighting for one's top choice school. Lots of turnover among high school college counselors.

If you want to share the particular program, I will try to suggest alternatives. It would also be helpful to know the schools suggested by his college counselor.

Regarding your son's academic requirements, he has what appears to be a high GPA in the most rigorous classes. Without an actual standardized test score (ACT or SAT), it is difficult to comment on test optional versus submission of test scores.

op: Thank you. He is very interested in a program called MMSS. It is a degree program that uses a mathmatical approach to social science. His coursework and ECs support a lot of the directions it goes. He also wants a school with a golf course and sports/school spirit feel and not too small. He does not want to go far south. College counselor thinks UMich, Vandy, Maryland/GW(he likes politics and DC)/Wisco as safer choices. Tufts is on the list for other reasons.

Apply to NU, it's an amazing school. However know that MMSS is highly competitive, beyond just getting into NU. Avg SAT is well over 1520 and ACT 35. So not sure if applying TO to a program like that will work, then again you definately do not want to submit his scores when it is so far below for the program. I'd try to find out if kids get accepted into this program going TO (I don't care or have time to dig deeper than a google search).

This. I would think they expect kids applying to that program to have an 800 on math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op: Thank you. He is very interested in a program called MMSS. It is a degree program that uses a mathmatical approach to social science. His coursework and ECs support a lot of the directions it goes. He also wants a school with a golf course and sports/school spirit feel and not too small. He does not want to go far south. College counselor thinks UMich, Vandy, Maryland/GW(he likes politics and DC)/Wisco as safer choices. Tufts is on the list for other reasons.

Maybe he could see if he could go to another school in Chicago but take some MMSS classes at Northwestern.

Also, given how much the social sciences get trashed, maybe a guy who’s sincerely interested in the social sciences has an edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough

This is what you're paying for, OP. Why are you asking a bunch of randos on an anonymous message board? You already have your answer. Take their advice and apply elsewhere.

op: I think like many private schools, ours tries to push the kids toward the "easiest" path for everyone. They prefer for non-legacy/recruited athletes to go ED to somewhere that is a high target. We saw it happen a lot this year so are trying to see how much weight we should give their advice.

They are not pushing an "easy" path, they are being realistic, which is what you are paying for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC private school ds with a UW 3.9 GPA, all top rigor classes, two varsity sports and a bunch of solid ECs (nothing hook worthy), part-time job during the year and full time counselor in summer loves a program at Northwestern. His SATs don't look like they will crack 1480 since he doesn't do well on timed tests. Taking them the last time in June. He would be happy at Michigan or Wisco (his school sends a bunch there every year) but wants Northwestern. Is this a waste of an ED? his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough. Would you try and go test optional? or submit those? Or be realistic with him and say if he really wants to ED a school he should look elsewhere?

No. He is good provided the application is backed up with strong essays, reco and ECs. You are supposed to take chances on ED because the odds are higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYC private school ds with a UW 3.9 GPA, all top rigor classes, two varsity sports and a bunch of solid ECs (nothing hook worthy), part-time job during the year and full time counselor in summer loves a program at Northwestern. His SATs don't look like they will crack 1480 since he doesn't do well on timed tests. Taking them the last time in June. He would be happy at Michigan or Wisco (his school sends a bunch there every year) but wants Northwestern. Is this a waste of an ED? his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough. Would you try and go test optional? or submit those? Or be realistic with him and say if he really wants to ED a school he should look elsewhere?

No. He is good provided the application is backed up with strong essays, reco and ECs. You are supposed to take chances on ED because the odds are higher.

You are supposed to take a realistic chance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough

This is what you're paying for, OP. Why are you asking a bunch of randos on an anonymous message board? You already have your answer. Take their advice and apply elsewhere.

op: I think like many private schools, ours tries to push the kids toward the "easiest" path for everyone. They prefer for non-legacy/recruited athletes to go ED to somewhere that is a high target. We saw it happen a lot this year so are trying to see how much weight we should give their advice.

They are not pushing an "easy" path, they are being realistic, which is what you are paying for.

OP: I don't mean an easy path for him. I mean an easy path for everyone. It's easier for the school, the counselors, etc. if more kids are in somewhere the ED round.

[Anonymous]

You need to know how many kids from your child’s school applied to Northwestern and how many got in. What were the stats of the ones that hit in? Did they apply ED1, ED2 or Regular ? Your counselor should have that info and be willing to share it with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to know how many kids from your child’s school applied to Northwestern and how many got in. What were the stats of the ones that hit in? Did they apply ED1, ED2 or Regular ? Your counselor should have that info and be willing to share it with you.

+1

[Anonymous]

Varsity sports don't matter for Div I, unless he is a recruited athlete. What race you are, matters a lot with that score. If you are white, just forget it. Top schools are openly hostile to unhooked white kids from private school.
I would target WashU, Vandy, Tulane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC private school ds with a UW 3.9 GPA, all top rigor classes, two varsity sports and a bunch of solid ECs (nothing hook worthy), part-time job during the year and full time counselor in summer loves a program at Northwestern. His SATs don't look like they will crack 1480 since he doesn't do well on timed tests. Taking them the last time in June. He would be happy at Michigan or Wisco (his school sends a bunch there every year) but wants Northwestern. Is this a waste of an ED? his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough. Would you try and go test optional? or submit those? Or be realistic with him and say if he really wants to ED a school he should look elsewhere?

Unless he has a hook,I agree with the counsellor - scores are low.

You say he'd 'be happy at Michigan' - i'd be very careful making assumptions there...please do 'expectation management' on that one. It's foolish to regard Michigan as a 'safety school' for Northwestern rejects. Wisconsin is probably a better bet.

I would suggest you cast the net wide - good for him he's carrying two V sports. But be careful he doesn't end up as part of that group of kids that gets washed everywhere he applies.

Are you wanting to pay for private/OOS if he doesn't get Northwestern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC private school ds with a UW 3.9 GPA, all top rigor classes, two varsity sports and a bunch of solid ECs (nothing hook worthy), part-time job during the year and full time counselor in summer loves a program at Northwestern. His SATs don't look like they will crack 1480 since he doesn't do well on timed tests. Taking them the last time in June. He would be happy at Michigan or Wisco (his school sends a bunch there every year) but wants Northwestern. Is this a waste of an ED? his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough. Would you try and go test optional? or submit those? Or be realistic with him and say if he really wants to ED a school he should look elsewhere?

A waste of an ED is applying to a school you’re not passionate about just to get one with a slightly higher ranking at USNWR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYC private school ds with a UW 3.9 GPA, all top rigor classes, two varsity sports and a bunch of solid ECs (nothing hook worthy), part-time job during the year and full time counselor in summer loves a program at Northwestern. His SATs don't look like they will crack 1480 since he doesn't do well on timed tests. Taking them the last time in June. He would be happy at Michigan or Wisco (his school sends a bunch there every year) but wants Northwestern. Is this a waste of an ED? his school is trying to steer him elsewhere and is saying scores not high enough. Would you try and go test optional? or submit those? Or be realistic with him and say if he really wants to ED a school he should look elsewhere?

Unless he has a hook,I agree with the counsellor - scores are low.

You say he'd 'be happy at Michigan' - i'd be very careful making assumptions there...please do 'expectation management' on that one. It's foolish to regard Michigan as a 'safety school' for Northwestern rejects. Wisconsin is probably a better bet.

I would suggest you cast the net wide - good for him he's carrying two V sports. But be careful he doesn't end up as part of that group of kids that gets washed everywhere he applies.

Are you wanting to pay for private/OOS if he doesn't get Northwestern?

A better bet, but not a safety - the OOS admission rates have plummeted in the past decade and particularly since COVID.

[Anonymous]

According to the 2021-22 common data set for NU, 82% of applicants submitted test scores. Not sure if this year will be lower. 1490 is 25th percentile.