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I just want some advice on what I should work on in order to help my chances to get into Northwestern.

I really, REALLY want to study film. I'm an absolute film buff and have a history in the film industry (television, print, movies)

Freshman year I'd just entered a school without having any friends, so I was sort of in a depression which led to me finishing my year with a 3.0

Sophomore year, I was still digging myself out of depression, and ended the year with a 3.4

This year, though, is going great. I've got around a 4.0, I'm involved and active within my school. But because my school does not weight GPAs, my ranking is way off.
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Freshman Year:
-cross country
-ice hockey

Classes:
-Biology
-Adv English
-Health/PE (req)
-Spanish I
-Adv World Civ
-Adv Alg I
-Scripture (req)
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Sophomore Year
-cross country
-track
-art club
-photography club
-technology leader (volunteered over 55 hours in school library, working with computers)
-volunteered at local hospital for over three months

Classes:
-Adv US History
-Adv English II
-Chem
-Spanish II
-AP Human Geo (4)
-Geometry
-Catholic Faith (req)
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Junior year:
-varsity cross country
-started the first ever diversity steering committe: a group of student/teachers who work on projects to help make the students and faculty more aware of diversity within the our school. (one of three schools in kentucky who have a group that takes gay rights and issues into consideration...big deal for our all-girls catholic school)
-peer leader
-work with Louisville Fairness: No on the Ammendment: Campaign that's getting people to vote no on the anti-gay marriage ammendment
-volunteer at local AIDS/HIV center, working with kids
-working on building up our school's website by adding multimedia, etc.

Classes:
-Morality (req)
-Multimedia
-Anatomy & Physiology
-Adv English III
-Journalism I: Yearbook I
-AP Psych
-Spanish III
-CP Public Speaking
--Algebra II
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I plan on studying film this summer at a small college in Chicago, getting college credit.

Also want to spend my senior year abroad in Spain to work on my Spanish.

ACT: 28
SAT: projected around a 1300 based on practice tests
I'm a femal hispanic from Kentucky, where most people think Northwestern is Northwestern Kentucky University...I'm not even sure if there is one. Heh.

By Newnudad (Newnudad) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 11:45 am: Edit

Buenos Suerte Chiquita...Just make sure you are taking the most difficult courses that your HS teaches. I think your ECs are good enough, and yes, you should get your SAT score higher if you can, but I certainly think you have the stats and ECs to apply with a decent shot at admission.

Female and Hispanic is muy buen, and if you are your family's first college applicant, you should pick up extra bonus points.... If you can kick field-goals for the football team, you are a lock!

By Glamourbaby19 (Glamourbaby19) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 12:25 pm: Edit

To tell you honestly, your stats aren't as great as many other NU applicants. However, Northwestern is the type of school where the essays and written portion of the application carry much more weight than scores and ECs. Are you applying for class of 2009, or 2010? I gather from your post that you are only a junior. If that is the case, you have more time to bulk up your application and resume. I second what Newnudad said: just make sure that you are taking the hardest courses available. On a side note: being hispanic (or of hispanic origin) will certainly work in your favor in the admission process. If oyu have any other 'hooks,' you have a very decent shot at admission - especially ED.

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 04:12 pm: Edit

Hey Mazzystar,

You may also want to check out NHSI at Northwestern for next summer. They got "Digital Media Arts".

http://www.northwestern.edu/nhsi/

By Crypticism (Crypticism) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 03:07 am: Edit

I did NHSI this summer (theatre arts). You should definitely check it out. Amazing experience.