Northwestern costs about the same as at least 20+ other private universities in the country. Yes tuition costs are insane and borderline highway robbery, but it’s endemic to all US colleges, not uniquely Northwestern.

Anyways, back on topic. ED will definitely give you a boost, and Northwestern is perhaps on the more lovey-dovey side of the spectrum when it comes to admissions, so the softer things like ECs, essays, letters of rec will give you a boost if they’re stellar. Demonstrated interest is also big.

Anonymous wrote:OP has said more than once now that they would be willing to go full pay. Why keep bringing up the cost?

not the PP but is a Northwestern Degree worth $336,00 +

That said, my nephew goes there and is full pay. My brother is counting the days until he graduates this December.

OP has said more than once now that they would be willing to go full pay. Why keep bringing up the cost?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - your kid has great scores. Best of luck. Are you comfortable paying $83,888 a year? Someone posted on this site a few years back that they hadn't paid attention, daughter got in and there was no way they could afford the then $81K. You can probably find it by googling something like "DC got into Northwestern, no way we can afford it".

I appreciate the response. We have talked through the financials and would be able to do full pay if so. That said, we know of a couple who sent their kid to Northwestern a few years back whose HHI and EFC is almost identical to ours, and they ended up paying a bit less than half. Any other Northwestern parents able to chime in?

Your answer is right here https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/northwestern

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - your kid has great scores. Best of luck. Are you comfortable paying $83,888 a year? Someone posted on this site a few years back that they hadn't paid attention, daughter got in and there was no way they could afford the then $81K. You can probably find it by googling something like "DC got into Northwestern, no way we can afford it".

I appreciate the response. We have talked through the financials and would be able to do full pay if so. That said, we know of a couple who sent their kid to Northwestern a few years back whose HHI and EFC is almost identical to ours, and they ended up paying a bit less than half. Any other Northwestern parents able to chime in?

Things have changed a lot in the last few years. I gather you ran the calculator on the school’s page, right?

Anonymous wrote:How many APs and what are the scores? Is he a “best student of my career” type kid? NU has become incredibly hard to get into.

Not the OP, but my DCs attend a no-AP school as the faculty argue that they are already teaching college-level/style courses.

How many APs and what are the scores? Is he a “best student of my career” type kid? NU has become incredibly hard to get into.

Great stats. ECs a possible issue. Is there something your Dc can add in now? Maybe be an internship on environmental matters?

The ED boost definitely helps in my experience. It's hard to say just how much it helps. That said, I still know quite a few kids who got in RD so I think the stats range/competitiveness is pretty consistent between the two rounds.

OP, please see the Brown ED thread, same thing.

Your kid has an excellent record.

Your kid is applying to a school where more than 90% of the applicants are rejected.

Just keep it in context.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - your kid has great scores. Best of luck. Are you comfortable paying $83,888 a year? Someone posted on this site a few years back that they hadn't paid attention, daughter got in and there was no way they could afford the then $81K. You can probably find it by googling something like "DC got into Northwestern, no way we can afford it".

I appreciate the response. We have talked through the financials and would be able to do full pay if so. That said, we know of a couple who sent their kid to Northwestern a few years back whose HHI and EFC is almost identical to ours, and they ended up paying a bit less than half. Any other Northwestern parents able to chime in?

It's been a while since I went, but I actually got a good financial aid package from Northwestern and didn't get aid anywhere else. Hopefully the financial aid people are still good. But boy tuition has gone up since I went. I did not apply ED.

It’s been a few years out but DD got decent financial aid through the ED round, and our aid package actually increased slightly year over year. Stats actually a little lower than your DC, but she was very passionate in her essays and had some strong EC hooks. Best of luck!

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - your kid has great scores. Best of luck. Are you comfortable paying $83,888 a year? Someone posted on this site a few years back that they hadn't paid attention, daughter got in and there was no way they could afford the then $81K. You can probably find it by googling something like "DC got into Northwestern, no way we can afford it".

I appreciate the response. We have talked through the financials and would be able to do full pay if so. That said, we know of a couple who sent their kid to Northwestern a few years back whose HHI and EFC is almost identical to ours, and they ended up paying a bit less than half. Any other Northwestern parents able to chime in?

Hi OP - your kid has great scores. Best of luck. Are you comfortable paying $83,888 a year? Someone posted on this site a few years back that they hadn't paid attention, daughter got in and there was no way they could afford the then $81K. You can probably find it by googling something like "DC got into Northwestern, no way we can afford it".

Hello DCUM. Are there any other parents on here whose kids are applying ED to Northwestern, or who have already had their kids accepted ED in previous rounds? DC has 3.95 UW/4.6 W GPA, 35 ACT (didn’t take SAT), and a couple of standard ECs (president of recycling/environmental club is most involved EC) but no other hooks. Most likely applying undecided. We are willing to go full pay, does anyone know if that would help?

Thank you, and best of luck to all. DC is just a little nervous because the ED acceptance rate at NU has shrunk by quite a bit and it’s been DC’s dream school for a long time. We are also looking at other options of course, but any other recommendations for target schools similar to Northwestern would be welcome.