Anonymous
Post 10/03/2025 15:37     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Your non-dmv experience is not relevant to those of us who do live here. Admissions looks for geographical diversity.
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2025 15:09     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:What is the most highly ranked school you’ve seen:
a 3.8uw private/high rigor get into? Humanities major
34 ACT

Curious.


Looking for recent 2024/25 datapoints and answer to this question.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 13:21     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Northwestern did not take anyone under a 3.95 from our Big3 private THIS YEAR. And 12+ applied.
My 3.88/1550 was outright rejected. Not even waitlisted.

Just talked about these stats with the counselor.


Wow.
Northwestern also really likes demonstrated interest. The more the better. They don’t like being a shotgun application.

There are a lot of ways to show genuine interest, including sitting in on classes during the fall (purple preview), even after your early applications are in. I would definitely look into that.


Most of these apps were ED. Not sure there is any stronger than that but it didn't matter.


I have seen some surprising RD admits to Northwestern this year (and waitlists who were admitted). It might be better to apply RD, assuming you do all the other stuff suggested to show interest. A LOT of people are getting pulled off waitlists this year. And they typically don't WL their ED candidates, so you lose that chance.


Certain ones are (Brown, Michigan, etc). Others (Dartmouth, Williams, Bowdoin, Tufts, Davidson, etc. etc. etc.) all closed without movement or took 2 kids and then closed.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 13:03     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:What is the most highly ranked school you’ve seen:
a 3.8uw private/high rigor get into? Humanities major
34 ACT

Curious.


Any "top" school is a possibility but they are all low single digit admission rates, so if there is a favorite, use the ED for that and be prepared with a host of similar schools as targets.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 12:49     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Northwestern did not take anyone under a 3.95 from our Big3 private THIS YEAR. And 12+ applied.
My 3.88/1550 was outright rejected. Not even waitlisted.

Just talked about these stats with the counselor.


Wow.
Northwestern also really likes demonstrated interest. The more the better. They don’t like being a shotgun application.

There are a lot of ways to show genuine interest, including sitting in on classes during the fall (purple preview), even after your early applications are in. I would definitely look into that.


Most of these apps were ED. Not sure there is any stronger than that but it didn't matter.


I have seen some surprising RD admits to Northwestern this year (and waitlists who were admitted). It might be better to apply RD, assuming you do all the other stuff suggested to show interest. A LOT of people are getting pulled off waitlists this year. And they typically don't WL their ED candidates, so you lose that chance.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 11:49     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Northwestern did not take anyone under a 3.95 from our Big3 private THIS YEAR. And 12+ applied.
My 3.88/1550 was outright rejected. Not even waitlisted.

Just talked about these stats with the counselor.


Wow.
Northwestern also really likes demonstrated interest. The more the better. They don’t like being a shotgun application.

There are a lot of ways to show genuine interest, including sitting in on classes during the fall (purple preview), even after your early applications are in. I would definitely look into that.


Most of these apps were ED. Not sure there is any stronger than that but it didn't matter.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 10:57     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Northwestern did not take anyone under a 3.95 from our Big3 private THIS YEAR. And 12+ applied.
My 3.88/1550 was outright rejected. Not even waitlisted.

Just talked about these stats with the counselor.


Wow.
Northwestern also really likes demonstrated interest. The more the better. They don’t like being a shotgun application.

There are a lot of ways to show genuine interest, including sitting in on classes during the fall (purple preview), even after your early applications are in. I would definitely look into that.


Yes, bc DI is so important, Purple Preview, 'Cat Chat, and one other thing (can't remember) are KEY for RD.
Also, the supp essays at Northwestern are the whole game. They basically don't read the personal statement - so your kid's best and most original NU focused (creative) work should be in the supplements.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 10:54     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Northwestern did not take anyone under a 3.95 from our Big3 private THIS YEAR. And 12+ applied.
My 3.88/1550 was outright rejected. Not even waitlisted.

Just talked about these stats with the counselor.


Wow.
Northwestern also really likes demonstrated interest. The more the better. They don’t like being a shotgun application.

There are a lot of ways to show genuine interest, including sitting in on classes during the fall (purple preview), even after your early applications are in. I would definitely look into that.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 10:50     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.


Northwestern did not take anyone under a 3.95 from our Big3 private THIS YEAR. And 12+ applied.
My 3.88/1550 was outright rejected. Not even waitlisted.

Just talked about these stats with the counselor.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2025 10:47     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:“Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?”

Unlikely. This is why many private school kids ED to privates the next tier down - think Bates, Colby, Tulane. Much more likely admit going full pay ED at one of these types of schools than roll the dice with northwestern.


Someone linked this thread in another thread.

Just want to respond to this about Northwestern.
My 3.83uw (private - non-DMV) is going to Northwestern (admitted in RD)...... Didn't even apply to the lower-tier schools people listed here. Some of the advice here is just questionable.

I think being full pay from a "known" private without grade inflation was a benefit this year, given the sheer number of apps (highest number?) and funding cuts.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2025 18:26     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
No, public health was super hard this year. It's all the pre-meds.

My daughter from a big3 applied 3.87/1550, high rigor classes. Public health with a lot of support in application.
Great extracurriculars outside school and a ton of school leadership.
Rejected NU in RD.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2025 18:04     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?


They need to max out the SAT (1550+) and have incredible ECs/Essays. Try to aim for an undersubscribed major. NU has a lot of interesting majors. My 3.7/34 ACT kid got into NU from a private school, but he applied for Classics and had a lot of interesting ECs related to that major.


Are there any undersubscribed majors in the STEM field?


You can actually research this yourself. Usually specialties like "Earth Science" or "public health" are undersubscribed. This list is dated, but it will give you an idea of what major NU might be looking to fill.

https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/documents/records/degrees-conferred/2020_21degrees.pdf
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2025 16:47     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?


They need to max out the SAT (1550+) and have incredible ECs/Essays. Try to aim for an undersubscribed major. NU has a lot of interesting majors. My 3.7/34 ACT kid got into NU from a private school, but he applied for Classics and had a lot of interesting ECs related to that major.


Are there any undersubscribed majors in the STEM field?
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2025 16:16     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:Does the 3.8 kid have a good shot at Northwestern?


They need to max out the SAT (1550+) and have incredible ECs/Essays. Try to aim for an undersubscribed major. NU has a lot of interesting majors. My 3.7/34 ACT kid got into NU from a private school, but he applied for Classics and had a lot of interesting ECs related to that major.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2025 16:14     Subject: 3.8 uw private school gpa/odds
Anonymous wrote:

Same for my kid (also NMF, 36, very involved, genuine interests and great attitude). CCO assures us the recs were good and that my kid just doesn’t meet any “institutional priorities.” I think several similar friends are in the same boat and a bit disappointed.

I’m sorry your kid had a similar experience. Hope they land at a fantastic school and hit the ground running.



Did CCO shared what specific "institutional priorities" the colleges were looking for? Do you mind sharing?