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has anyone seen the newest essays topics for 04-05? extremely hard, at least compared to all the other essay topics i've seen. does anyone have any idea how to write about those?
cheers

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 04:39 am: Edit

Northwestern topics aren't very easy. I had a great deal of trouble w/ mine last year actually.

By Asianalto (Asianalto) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 08:50 am: Edit

I actually kind of like the short answer questions. But the essay questions...yeah, I think easiest one is the one about the unknown you would most like revealed, since that's the one that doesn't really deal with life experiences

By Miluo (Miluo) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 09:20 am: Edit

Northwestern's topics are notoriously difficult. The essay has a lot of weight in the application. They put a lot of time into thinking of essay topics and expect you to put a lot of time into writing yours.

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 08:53 pm: Edit

You will think forever about what to write and spend hours staring at a blank screen trying to come up with something. You will try to brainstorm and get nowhere, then suddenly, doing something random like standing at the gas pump it will hit you. Trust me. Mine came to me that day that the app was due, I just figured out how to change my common app essay for NU. Your short anwsers are cool though, I think ours were harder/ less crative.

By Vanillaice (Vanillaice) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 11:39 pm: Edit

gosh...bt i don't have so much time pondering over ONE essay. i mean, im applying to like, 16 schools. i know its a stretch but i want to increase my chances.
so the essay is really important for Northwestern? darn it, i thought i could just fool them with something short and sweet because they wouldn't be reading so closely...panic panic

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 11:47 pm: Edit

If you are really interested in NU, I'd expect that you want to spend time pondering of the essay. I think that's why they make the app hard..they want people who really care enough to fill out their app w/ full effort.

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 01:23 am: Edit

Try to apply comomn app to more schools... I only had to do NU's other than my common one plus four more supplements.

By Vanillaice (Vanillaice) on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 10:50 pm: Edit

oh also another thing...what about that essay that asks why you want to attend northwestern? ugh...i hate those kinds. i'll just end up sounding really cliche-ish. apart from writing whatever that's in the info booklet, what else can i write?

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 01:56 am: Edit

One of the best things you can do Vanillaice is actually talk to NU students. Do you know anyone that has gone to NU? Do you know a sibling of a friend that has gone? Even if you don't know anyone, I suggest emailing some people on this board that have gone to NU. See if you can talk to them online. By talking to students and seeing a personal view of the school..you'll have some good detail. I talked to a sibling of a friend about internships her friends have done, what kinds of things stand out about the school, etc. I actually ended up having some good detail.

Another thing,
I hope I'm making the wrong assessment. But judging by your complaints toward the essays, it seems you're not applying to NU b/c you really like it. It seems you're applying just cause it's a well-known private. I mean it's your choice..but that doesn't seem like a very good thing.

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 09:02 am: Edit

Vanillaice:

The way i write my college essays (as well as all my essays). Is it just sit down and write about the first thing that comes to my mind. The reason being it is very likely that it will be something you are passonite about. Also, don't worry about the 16 applications, the essay questions will get very familiar and you will be able to re-use most.

By Desrtswimer (Desrtswimer) on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 04:37 pm: Edit

So northwestern's essay questions are unusually hard? I didnt apply to any other schools with essay questions so I didnt have anything to compare it to! I started on UPenn's actually but besides that...

I just wrote my essay in like an hour one day cause the topic CAME to me. but thats how i write. in long spurts when i get an idea it comes out fast and i'm done. i can never THINK of a topic on my own. So thats the only advice i can give you. Its august, you got plenty of time, it will come to you!

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 11:09 am: Edit

Exactly, it all comes to you. My NU why I want to go there essay I turned into a personal thing starting with "I owe my existance to the rock." Which is true, because my great-grandparets met there and I breifly discussed liking the North Shore location, Valuing the liberal arts education that comes along with their Radio/TV/Film program and the International Communications center they had developed in Ampsterdam. I said something about being able to see myself in the Norris Student Center drinking coffee and checking out a movie. The best thing I can say is make it relate to YOU and if you can include the names of places or people found on campus use them, that means that you've really looked into the school.

By Theguac (Theguac) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 01:46 pm: Edit

My essay for Northwestern was about the disillusionment in society and how humans are all racing to a deadly future. I blamed today's parents and leaders (even college administrations) for the devastation and today's youth's superficiality. My short answers all revolved around the state of Wisconsin, my favorite state for its cows =). By the end, I got a merit scholarship when admitted. Just put a lot of thought into the essays and be honest.

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 05:01 pm: Edit

I thought NU didn't give merit-based scholarships..only scholarships based on need.

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 03:12 am: Edit

That's what I thought too...

By Theguac (Theguac) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 03:19 am: Edit

Guess not...

I believe I got $1000+ a year. It was for the most innovative something; I forget. I wasn't a fan of the quarter system so I didn't spend much time on Northwestern after I was admitted.

By Miluo (Miluo) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 04:55 am: Edit

They don't give merit scholarships.

By Theguac (Theguac) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 02:44 pm: Edit

I have no clue what category the scholarship I got would be in then. It was definitely money and not for need since I remember getting $0 from the financial aid office. Oh well.

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 06:19 pm: Edit

Perhaps as an experiement to try out merit scholarships, NU wanted to see if that $1000/year would be enough to steal Thequac from Duke.