How to Get Into Northwestern: Admissions Data and Strategies - College Transitions

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How to Get Into Northwestern: Admissions Data and Strategies October 23, 2020 APPLICATION STRATEGIES, COLLEGE SEARCH/KNOWLEDGE, NAVIGATING THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Located in Evanston, Illinois, near the desirable city of Chicago, Northwestern University is home to 8,300+ brilliant undergraduates and a number of the top academic programs in the world. The notion of Northwestern being a highly-selective school is nothing new, but—as with most elite institutions in 2020—becoming a Wildcat is more challenging than ever before. The acceptance rate has remained sub-9% the last three years.

Wind back the clock to 1993 and 42% of applicants to Northwestern were welcomed aboard; even in 2009, a solid 27% of those who submitted an application ultimately received good news. Some simple math tells us that getting in to this powerhouse private Midwestern research university is three times more challenging in 2020 than a mere decade ago. Given this turn toward increased selectivity over the past decade, you’ll need every advantage you can get. The purpose of this blog is to provide you with:

1) An understanding of the big-picture of Northwestern University admissions.

2) Data to help you assess your chances of admission of more accuracy.

3) What the Northwestern admissions committee looks for and how to get your application to stand out from the crowd.

To accomplish these goals we will touch on the following topics:

Northwestern University’s Class of 2024 acceptance rate
Northwestern University’s ED acceptance rate
SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted Northwestern University applicants
Admissions trends from the Class of 2024
The demographics of current Northwestern University undergraduates
Northwestern University’s yield rate
How Northwestern’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
Tips for applying to Northwestern
How to assess whether applying to Northwestern is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Northwestern University’s: Overall Acceptance Rate – Class of 2024

Northwestern ranked in top 10 by two major ranking organizations - Northwestern Now

In aiming to create a freshmen class of 1,975 students, Northwestern admitted 8.9% of the 39,261 who applied in the 2019-20 admissions cycle. This is actually up from last year’s 8.4% acceptance rate.

Northwestern University Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The university plucked 54.6% of their incoming freshman class from the ED round (Class of 2023 figure). In looking at all students admitted, those granted acceptance via ED comprise 29.8% of the total accepted applicants. Students applying ED were accepted at a 25% clip, better than three times the regular decision rate of 7%. The conclusion is obvious: Those who are serious about attending Northwestern should definitely consider applying via binding early decision.

Northwestern University Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank

Class of 2025 Early Decision and Early Action Results - College Kickstart

Those enrolled in the Class of 2023 sported middle-50th standardized test scores of 1450-1540 on the SAT and 33-35 on the ACT. An astonishing 92% of Class of 2023 members placed in the top decile of their graduating high school class and 98% landed in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2024)

20% of students in the Class of 2024 received Pell Grants.
13% of those in the Class of 2023 are first-generation college students.
The number of applications fell from 40,595 to 39,261 between the 2018-19 and 2019-20 admissions cycles.
Undergraduates now come from 95 countries and speak 60+ languages.
Slightly more students submit SAT results than ACT results—64% include an SAT score with their application and 53% opt for ACT results (with some clearly submitting both tests).

Who Actually Gets Into Northwestern University?

Let’s look at the demographics of the Northwestern University Class of 2023:

Students come from all 50 states.
Roughly 30% hail from the university’s home state of Illinois.
11% are international students.

As at any highly-selective university, competition is toughest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (New York, California, Massachusetts). If you come from a less populated state like Alaska, North Dakota, or Montana, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances.

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of members of the Class of 2023 was as follows:

Asian American: 24.6%
Hispanic: 12.8%
African American: 10.2%
White: 57.2%

The breakdown by gender of all current undergraduates is almost perfectly split down the middle:

Male: 49%
Female: 51%

Yield Rate

Northwestern University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was 55% for the Class of 2023. For comparison, other top-ranked private schools have the following yield rates: Duke (55%), Vanderbilt University (49%) and Rice University (41%).

Northwestern University early decision acceptance rate falls as applications rise

How Northwestern University Rates Applicants

There are four factors that Northwestern University ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, and standardized test scores (test-optional for Class of 2021 only). An additional five factors are considered to be “important”: essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, and talent/ability. “Considered” items are an optional alumni interview, first-generation status, alumni relation (legacy), racial/ethnic status, volunteer work, paid work, and the level of an applicant’s interest in Northwestern.

In the admissions office’s own words: “Northwestern evaluates applications holistically. We seek to develop a contextual understanding of a student based on different sources of information.” Elaborating on this process, the Dean of Undergraduate Admission recently stated the following:

“Our review process is extremely thorough, taking into account the vast bdifferences between student experiences represented in our applicant pool. Every student’s achievements, talents, and skills are considered within the context of her or his high school and community setting. Our decisions are not based upon any particular formula or quota. Northwestern has the resources to meet the full financial need of all admitted students. If you applied for financial aid as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented U.S. high school student, your financial need did not factor into our final decision.”

It definitely helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of Northwestern University’s 19 Division I sports teams; there are presently around 470 varsity athletes at the school.

Tips for Applying to Northwestern University

If you plan on joining the 39,000+ Wildcat hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

Northwestern University expects to see evidence of advanced coursework in high school. Taking multiple advanced classes, particularly within your area of academic interest is a must.
You must apply to one of the six academic schools on your application. Some have different admissions requirements and standards. The schools are: 1) The College of Arts & Sciences 2) the School of Engineering and Applied Science 3) the School of Communication 4) the School of Education and Social Policy 5) the School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications 6) the School of Music.
Northwestern University does offer optional alumni interviews. All admissions interviews in 2020 for ED applicants will be conducted virtually.
Northwestern University weighs “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process. Therefore, you will be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit (in non-pandemic times) contacted an admissions officer, etc.
Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essay offered by Northwestern. In the 2020-21 cycle the prompt is as follows:

While other parts of your application give us a sense of who you are, we are also excited to hear more about how you see yourself engaging with the larger Northwestern community.

In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

We should note that Northwestern’s supplement essay is technically “optional,” but skipping the prompt would be a huge mistake. In the school’s own words, “We strongly encourage a response, as your answer will help us connect the dots across your application to imagine what kind of college student you might become.)”

The school advises the following: “This question is intentionally open-ended. You may choose one or several aspects of Northwestern to focus your writing, though the majority of the essay’s content should relate to your own interests or experiences.”

The key to addressing the prompt is to learn everything you can about Northwestern and communicate genuine reasons why it is the right place for you. For more, read our blog entitled Mastering the “Why This College?” Essay.

Should I Apply to Northwestern University?

With acceptance rates of 8-9% in recent years, Northwestern is a school that is looking for students that are at (or above) the 97th percentile on standardized tests and who placed toward the very top of their high school class. Just about all “A”s in an AP-heavy curriculum is expected. If Northwestern University is your aim, make sure to also have a rock-solid backup plan. All students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. You’ll definitely want to get your counselor’s input during this process.

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).SHARE

Northwestern University: Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores

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What is Northwestern’s Acceptance Rate & Admissions Requirements?

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The history of Northwestern University is as rich as its academic program. In 1850, nine men with little money, no land, and little experience in higher education met with a vision: to build a university that would serve the Northwest Territory. They could have never imagined that the college that opened in 1855 with just one building, two faculty members, and 10 students, would eventually grow to become one of the top national universities.

Today, Northwestern University, still located 12 miles north of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, is home to 12 schools and colleges, 3,300 faculty, and 21,000 total enrolled students. It is ranked as the number 10 national university, and boasts top programs in journalism, business, and education. Its endowment of nearly $10 billion ensures that it consistently offers top resources and facilities, along with nearly $700 million spent on research each year.

For students interested in a larger university with a competitive academic program, Northwestern is a great choice. To learn more about applying, don’t miss this post.

Want to learn what Northwestern University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Northwestern University needs to know.

Applying to Northwestern: A Quick Review

Northwestern offers several different processes for applying. They include processes for international students, transfer students, and the QuestBridge program for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges.

Traditional applicants may choose between Early Decision and Regular Decision. The Early Decision deadline at Northwestern is November 1st, while the Regular Decision deadline is January 1st.

To complete your Northwestern application, you’ll need to submit:

The Common App or Coalition Application
An official secondary school report and transcript completed by your counselor
At least one recommendation from a teacher
One recommendation from your counselor
A mid-year report completed by a counselor or school official
Test results from either the SAT or the ACT
Nonrefundable application fee of $75 or application fee waiver
Northwestern’s supplemental application essays
Early Decision Agreement (ONLY required from Early Decision applicants)
Midyear transcript (ONLY required from Regular Decision applicants)
Music audition (ONLY required from School of Music applicants)
Required for homeschooled applicants ONLY: 3 SAT subject tests

There are also some additional requirements for students who apply to specific programs. These include the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME), the Integrated Science Program (ISP), the Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS), and the School of Communication applicants to the Music Theatre Certificate Program. To learn more about the specific application requirements to each of these programs, visit Northwestern’s Application Requirements page.

Due to COVID-19, Northwestern is adopting a test-optional policy for applicants in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. To learn more about test-optional policies, visit our blog post.

Northwestern’s Acceptance Rate is 9%

Northwestern’s acceptance rate for the class of 2023 rose slightly from the previous year. This was the third year that Northwestern’s acceptance rate dipped below 10%.

In 2019, Northwestern received 40,595 applications from hopeful first-years. It accepted 3,673 students overall into the class of 2023, giving an acceptance rate of 9%.

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So, How Does One Get Into Northwestern?

Due to its selective acceptance rate, getting into Northwestern requires just the right balance of qualities evidenced throughout your application materials. You’ll need to perform well academically during high school to show that you’re capable of college level work. You’ll also need to achieve strong test scores and present an outstanding essay and recommendations.

Admits to Northwestern typically display their academic prowess in a number of different ways. More than 90% of them ranked in the top 10% of their graduating high school class. 75% of of accepted students received a composite SAT score of 1450 or above, and 75% of those submitting ACT scores received a composite score of 33 or above. For more statistics on accepted students, you can check out this document.

Of course academic prowess alone doesn’t get you into Northwestern. Northwestern’s admissions committee works hard to identify applicants for whom Northwestern is “a good fit”. Their admissions page outlining The “Fit” Factor points out that fit isn’t about being perfect, it’s about the overlap between your strengths and the strengths of the university.

Northwestern encourages applicants to consider the following questions as they debate the right fit for them:

What topics are you excited to explore? What kinds of questions drive you forward?
How have you shown initiative in learning more about the world around you?
How have you challenged yourself? Surprised yourself?
What role(s) have you played in the communities around you (e.g., family, school, religious, service organization)? What impact have you had? How have these communities shaped you?
What types of involvement have been the most meaningful for you? Why?
How do you envision yourself plugging into, learning from, and contributing to Northwestern’s community?
What are you proud of? What makes you awesome?
What kind of friends do you hope to make in college? What kind of friend would you be?
How do you overcome challenges or manage disagreements?
What gives you joy?

How To Make Your Application Stand Out

Schedule an Interview. Northwestern makes alumni interviews available to every applicant possible. Though they aren’t a required element of your application, and you will not be penalized if they can’t accommodate you, interviews are an good way for the school to learn more about you and for you to learn more about the school. Check out their Admissions Interviews page to learn more.

Consider Your Theme. A theme might seem like an odd choice of word when describing your college applications, but Northwestern is a selective school, and if you want to stand out, you’ll need to craft an application that tells a story. Think about your experiences, what makes them unique, and the threads that weave throughout them, turning it into a cohesive story. Tell that story on your application and you’ll make yourself even more memorable.

Apply Early Decision. If you know for sure that you want to attend Northwestern, you should apply via the Early Decision program. In 2018, roughly half of the incoming freshman class was accepted through this program. The acceptance rate through regular decision dipped to just 6.4%, while early decision applicants were accepted at a rate of 26%.

Polish Your Essay. We’ve observed that Northwestern places a significant amount of emphasis on the essay portion of your application. Students who don’t shine as much in their extracurriculars may do particularly well in admissions if they can truly stand out through the application essay. For tips on how to do this, don’t miss our post How to Write the Northwestern University Supplemental Essays 2018-2019.

What If You Get Rejected?

First of all, don’t beat yourself. Due to its selectivity, the huge majority of students who apply to Northwestern ultimately are rejected. In addition, Northwestern does not accept admissions appeals of any kind.

Northwestern does accept transfer students, so it is possible to attend school elsewhere and then reapply as a transfer student. This should not be your first plan of action, however; Northwestern’s transfer acceptance rate is still a low 12%. Instead, you should focus on choosing another school at which you’ll be genuinely happy. If a few years go by, you do well, and you still want to transfer, then you might consider it.

Your best bet after a rejection is to set your sights elsewhere. This may be a bitter pill to swallow at first, but it’s important to remember that ultimately it’s not where you go to college that matters, but what you do with your time there. For our advice on adjusting to life at a college that wasn’t your first choice, read our post Envisioning a New Future: Preparing for Life at Your Second-Choice (or Third, or Fourth) School.

The Ultimate Guide to Applying to Northwestern

How to Write the Northwestern University Supplemental Essays 2020-2021.

A User’s Guide to the Common App

Early Decision versus Early Action versus Restrictive Early Action

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

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Kate SundquistSenior Blogger

Short BioKate Koch-Sundquist is a graduate of Pomona College where she studied sociology, psychology, and writing before going on to receive an M.Ed. from Lesley University. After a few forays into living abroad and afloat (sometimes at the same time), she now makes her home north of Boston where she works as a content writer and, with her husband, raises two young sons who both inspire her and challenge her on a daily basis.Other articles by KateWhat is Vanderbilt’s Acceptance Rate and Admissions Requirements?September 1, 2020 10th Grade,11th Grade,12th Grade,Applying to College,College Application Tips,College Lists

How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows CollegesJune 24, 2020 12th Grade,Essay Tips

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Northwestern ED Acceptance Rate