Anonymous wrote:Waitlisted last year, >1500 SAT, weak GPA, double legacy law.

Agree w/the PP, assume WL/rejection and plan the rest of the college list accordingly.

But, ED if possible.

Forgot to clarify - kid did not apply ED because kid had not visited (covid) and we didn't realize kid's level of interest until RD. WL was probably legacy courtesy.

Waitlisted last year, >1500 SAT, weak GPA, double legacy law.

Agree w/the PP, assume WL/rejection and plan the rest of the college list accordingly.

But, ED if possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show a lot of interest, ED, and be from a state that doesn’t send them a lot of applicants.

ED is a must. A must.

What about for a kid who doesn’t or can’t apply ED?

NP, I agree with the PP that ED is absolutely the way to go if it is DC's first choice. Is this OP? OP, can your DC apply ED or no?

If financial aid is the issue, you should already have some idea of whether Northwestern is affordable or not. Use the Net Price Calculator https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/northwestern

Google for ideas for the supplemental essay - there are some tips out there - though I don't think it makes a huge difference.

No secrets. Have one kind who got in RD and one who did not last year. Both very similar stats, though the one who did not was test optional during covid, and the second scored high on ACT. Otherwise no substantial difference

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show a lot of interest, ED, and be from a state that doesn’t send them a lot of applicants.

ED is a must. A must.

What about for a kid who doesn’t or can’t apply ED?

His chances plummet even more. NU is a school that picks most of its class in ED. If you can’t afford to take that risk financially, your student may not feel comfortable there anyway. The students mostly come from exceptionally wealthy families and being normal there feels bad for some kids.

No one can give you the secret sauce OP. The reality is that an 8.4% admissions rate means that 91+% of all kids who apply are rejected. And most of those kids are fully qualified. ED is the one thing you can do to perhaps shift the odds slightly in your kid's favor - it looks like half the admits come during the ED phase. Once they've filled half the class, they can afford to be especially picky during RD.

Fwiw I have a colleague whose DD applied this year - valedictorian, massive if predictable ECs, tons of awards and leadership positions, nat'l merit scholar, from a non-coastal state. Waitlisted. I heard from another contact about his DC who was deferred at Northwestern in ED and then rejected. She was a top student w/1540 SATs at a very well-known private school, would have been a third generation legacy. One parent was on an alumni board and a significant donor. Assume your kid will be WL or rejected, and plan accordingly.

Anonymous wrote:Show a lot of interest, ED, and be from a state that doesn’t send them a lot of applicants.

ED is a must. A must.

What about for a kid who doesn’t or can’t apply ED?

On the common data set, they say that the "very important" considerations are:

Rigor of secondary school record
Class rank
Academic GPA

Also "important":
Application Essay
Reommondations
Extracurricular activities
Talent/ability
Character/personal qualities

Anonymous wrote:One kid I know is just extremely bright and has a *lot* of volunteering experience. Just a nice kid too, as well, which I think shone in his essays. Maybe that's a hook? Do they care a lot about the essays portion a lot (at least, any more than the other schools do)?

No.

Show a lot of interest, ED, and be from a state that doesn’t send them a lot of applicants.

ED is a must. A must.

Have heard from multiple sources to ED if possible.

One kid I know is just extremely bright and has a *lot* of volunteering experience. Just a nice kid too, as well, which I think shone in his essays. Maybe that's a hook? Do they care a lot about the essays portion a lot (at least, any more than the other schools do)?

Full pay. Hired a counselor to advise on apps and essays.

The the two kids I know who got in there recently for undergrad are one really well rounded impressive kid who got in through Questbridge, and one very spiky kid who got in based on his musical theater audition.

Hello. DC is a junior and loves Northwestern - a lot. We visited last summer and loved it. Any tips or intel on what spikes or characteristics NU might look for in students? Aside from stats? Would love to hear your story!

And if your kid graduated Northwestern - how did they like it? How are things post-grad?