2011-2012 Northwestern Application Thread

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ycf06 said:
Can anyone shed light on what the process is for a one-year deferral to matriculation?

I was lucky to have gotten an acceptance for the upcoming class, but I would like to take time off to travel and get a break from school. I don't have a program (ie. peace corp, tfa) lined up, but I was thinking about WWOOFing or going to work in health clinics/hospitals and teach english abroad...One of my goals is to solidify my Spanish to the point of fluency.

Will Feinberg be open to this? I believe that I would probably be more prepared for medical school after taking a year off, but how do I convey this to the school?

Do any current students have experiences with this?
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you need solid plans before they'll grant a deferral.
 
I received an invite this morning!!! It's my first one due to being verified by AMCAS in early November. The available dates were the following: January 4, 6, 9, 11, and the 18. Good luck to you all.
 
To those who got the March notification post-interview...:

Are you guys just waiting? Sending in updates? As I am no longer in college and my life is just continuing on with my daily job, I really don't have newsworthy updates (the "updates" that they are always pleased to receive), but I feel so passive just waiting 🙁

I am also wondering what kind of expectation I should have around March. I know statistically I should still have about 1/3 chance of making it (in the pool of those who are deferred till March + future interviewees), but I don't know if the situation is as simple as that! Perhaps I am overthinking it... but I'd really love to get into FSM bahh!
 
I heard NW only accepts the best of the best, especially in the looks department..Sadly I just got a very bad, bad haircut and the interview days away. Is there any hope left? 😱
 
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UIUCstudent said:
I heard NW only accepts the best of the best, especially in the looks department..Sadly I just got a very bad, bad haircut and the interview days away. Is there any hope left? 😱
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...good attempt bro
 
Got my first rejection today from Northwestern MSTP. A bit disappointed but life goes on, and it was a lot easier to take with an interview at another school already in hand. Their rejection letter was very kind as well. Best of luck to you all 🙂.

Edit: Literally 15 seconds after I posted this, I got another interview invite by email! The benefits of staying positive 😛.
 
luckyducky87 said:
To those who got the March notification post-interview...:

Are you guys just waiting? Sending in updates? As I am no longer in college and my life is just continuing on with my daily job, I really don't have newsworthy updates (the "updates" that they are always pleased to receive), but I feel so passive just waiting 🙁
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I am in the same situation. I'm just working and I've already sent letters of rec from everyone I can. I'm working on a 'letter of extreme interest' - which isn't quite a letter of intent, but hopefully will get the same message across.
 
PennMedMan said:
I am in the same situation. I'm just working and I've already sent letters of rec from everyone I can. I'm working on a 'letter of extreme interest' - which isn't quite a letter of intent, but hopefully will get the same message across.
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I'm in the same boat as well. I think the letter of interest is a good idea. I'm considering adding more volunteering/medically related activities so I can update them with that.

The way I interpret the deferral is that NW thinks you're good enough to get in (meet the stats averages, research, ec, what have you) but there's nothing stellar they can brag about. You're an averagely good applicant. So any attempt you can make to have yourself stand out from the crowd is good.
 
UIUCstudent said:
heheh I try. Really did have a bad haircut though and my confidence is a bit shaken up. First impressions do go a long way according to psychology studies
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it's really ok, man. I burnt my suit the night before (at like 11pm), so I went to the interview in a suit with a burnt mark. I still heard good news, so don't be shaken up.
 
UIUCstudent said:
I heard NW only accepts the best of the best, especially in the looks department..Sadly I just got a very bad, bad haircut and the interview days away. Is there any hope left? 😱
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I think you should skip your interview. That will give me a better chance to be accepted in March. Can't have too many U of I people running around Feinberg 😉
 
Well, I've been complete since mid-September and I haven't heard a peep from NW. Anybody else in the same boat I am?

I am OOS (like it matters at NW), >3.7 cGPA, >3.9 sGPA, 35R, strong research background.

Has anybody else taken this long or longer to hear from them since when you were complete there? Thanks in advance!
 
Metallica1936 said:
Well, I've been complete since mid-September and I haven't heard a peep from NW. Anybody else in the same boat I am?

I am OOS (like it matters at NW), >3.7 cGPA, >3.9 sGPA, 35R, strong research background.

Has anybody else taken this long or longer to hear from them since when you were complete there? Thanks in advance!
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Don't worry, I'm in the same position, except I was complete early August! Kind of surprised at the lack of response, since I thought Northwestern was a great fit for me. Anyway, my impression is that NW continues inviting people into the new year, so fingers crossed for the both of us 🙂
 
I was complete early August and got an interview invite a week or two ago - don't lose hope!
 
MonicaMelquiade said:
I was complete early August and got an interview invite a week or two ago - don't lose hope!
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Congrats on the invite and thank you for the encouraging words. That makes me feel a lot better. NW is my top choice. Sending a letter of intent/interest to NW pre-interview would be kind of useless, right? Also, would you mind sharing your stats? Thanks a bunch!
 
34S/3.9. I didn't send them a letter or anything, so I have no idea how receptive they would be.
 
Did anyone send update/interest letters during that 4-6 week period of time between interviews and decisions?
 
When do they start sending out pre-interview rejection letters? I've been completed since Sept and havent heard anything yet
 
Accepted! Interviewed 11/11. International applicant. 3.71, 36R
 
ACCEPTED the fact that this is going to be a long wait until march. Especially with all the acceptances being handed out.
 
according to past stats, they give somewhere around 450-480 acceptances out by the end of the process...don't let a few here and there on SDN overwhelm you. They massively overaccept since it's toward the back end of the top 20 and many, MANY top applicants apply here along with just about every other highly-ranked school. Keep the hope alive!!
 
Metallica1936 said:
Well, I've been complete since mid-September and I haven't heard a peep from NW. Anybody else in the same boat I am?

I am OOS (like it matters at NW), >3.7 cGPA, >3.9 sGPA, 35R, strong research background.

Has anybody else taken this long or longer to hear from them since when you were complete there? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

candav said:
Don't worry, I'm in the same position, except I was complete early August! Kind of surprised at the lack of response, since I thought Northwestern was a great fit for me. Anyway, my impression is that NW continues inviting people into the new year, so fingers crossed for the both of us 🙂
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Joining the ranks of the hopeful...🙁

3.7/39Q with a strong research background and I've been waiting since early august. meh.
 
Are any of you in the deferred-till-March group sending in anything? :-/ I feel like i should be doing *something*, though i have nothing concrete or noteworthy to say... Argh.
 
Complete since July 27 and all it says is "complete and under review"

Accepting that I probably won't hear anything from NW.
 
luckyducky87 said:
Are any of you in the deferred-till-March group sending in anything? :-/ I feel like i should be doing *something*, though i have nothing concrete or noteworthy to say... Argh.
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I sent a couple updates regarding new research, volunteering, leadership role, and tutoring. I'm not sure how this will impact their decision, but I suppose it can't hurt.
 
Interview invite today! Complete mid-August. It's so late in the season...I'm not sure what to do.
 
People on this board are so ******ed.
 
NYCmedschoolapp said:
Interview invite today! Complete mid-August. It's so late in the season...I'm not sure what to do.
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zerog said:
People on this board are so ******ed.
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I'm pretty sure she realizes that even though she got an invite, she is not at the top of Feinberg's list. NickNaylor and others have observed that being invited late in the application season after being complete for a few months usually indicates that one is interviewing for a waitlist spot. If she has the cash then she should go. However, from my experiences and those of my friends, one shouldn't get too excited about an invite after being complete for 3-4 months. So, her question isn't ******ed as you seem to imply.
 
FearlessHyena said:
I'm pretty sure she realizes that even though she got an invite, she is not at the top of Feinberg's list. NickNaylor and others have observed that being invited late in the application season after being complete for a few months usually indicates that one is interviewing for a waitlist spot. If she has the cash then she should go. However, from my experiences and those of my friends, one shouldn't get too excited about an invite after being complete for 3-4 months. So, her question isn't ******ed as you seem to imply.
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why wouldn't she have withdrawn beforehand then, so her spot can go to someone who actually wants it?

really. nw puts half the people it eventually accepts on hold first just so late interviewers have a fair chance
 
zerog said:
People on this board are so ******ed.
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Wow. Spoken so eloquently and P.C. I would be less than pleased to have you as my physician.

FearlessHyena said:
I'm pretty sure she realizes that even though she got an invite, she is not at the top of Feinberg's list. NickNaylor and others have observed that being invited late in the application season after being complete for a few months usually indicates that one is interviewing for a waitlist spot. If she has the cash then she should go. However, from my experiences and those of my friends, one shouldn't get too excited about an invite after being complete for 3-4 months. So, her question isn't ******ed as you seem to imply.
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Yes, thank you, you are correct. I am low on cash and while I love the school (this is why I have not withdrawn after other acceptances), I would hate to spend the money to travel when I am interviewing for a WL spot.
 
chronicidal said:
why wouldn't she have withdrawn beforehand then, so her spot can go to someone who actually wants it?

really. nw puts half the people it eventually accepts on hold first just so late interviewers have a fair chance
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I didn't withdraw my app. because I love the school. I would like to know if I actually have a shot at an acceptance after not hearing for about 4 months.
 
NYCmedschoolapp said:
I didn't withdraw my app. because I love the school. I would like to know if I actually have a shot at an acceptance after not hearing for about 4 months.
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The truth is Northwestern traditionally ultimately accepts about 2/3 of those who interview. If you think you would possibly prefer Feinberg to any of the school's you have already been accepted to, you would be doing yourself a disservice in not going. You have a great chance of getting in, whether through a direct acceptance or waitlist.

My advice would be to go, even if the interview costs are adding up. Remember, have to think really really long term here.
 
NYC,
I don't think any one on SDN can tell you whether you interview for a W/L or not. NW is probably the best school you could have interview so far. They must think highly of you to offer you an interview invite. I think you should take the invite. What do you have to lose beside some money? Why waste a good opportunity? Just my 2 cents.:luck:
 
tripledouble said:
The truth is Northwestern traditionally ultimately accepts about 2/3 of those who interview. If you think you would possibly prefer Feinberg to any of the school's you have already been accepted to, you would be doing yourself a disservice in not going. You have a great chance of getting in, whether through a direct acceptance or waitlist.

My advice would be to go, even if the interview costs are adding up. Remember, have to think really really long term here.
Click to expand...


HereIgo2011 said:
NYC,
I don't think any one on SDN can tell you whether you interview for a W/L or not. NW is probably the best school you could have interview so far. They must think highly of you to offer you an interview invite. I think you should take the invite. What do you have to lose beside some money? Why waste a good opportunity? Just my 2 cents.:luck:
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Thank you both for the advice! I am going to go 🙂
 
NYCmedschoolapp said:
Wow. Spoken so eloquently and P.C. I would be less than pleased to have you as my physician.



Yes, thank you, you are correct. I am low on cash and while I love the school (this is why I have not withdrawn after other acceptances), I would hate to spend the money to travel when I am interviewing for a WL spot.
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Truth be told, nobody can predict if you will be accepted, get on the WL or rejected. If there was a clear correlation between interviewing in January and getting on the WL, it would be well documented but evidence is anecdotal. The only thing we can say with certainty is that there are slightly fewer open spots in Jan.

Ultimately, if it is a school you would seriously consider based on whatever aspects of the school you value, spending a few hundred dollars will be trivial compared to the chance to spend 4 years at a school you love. I would take the chance for Northwestern. What do you really have to lose?

PS - I loved Feinberg when I went for my interview.
 
NYCmedschoolapp said:
Thank you both for the advice! I am going to go 🙂
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Good to hear. Current student here. I was complete in mid-August last cycle, had virtually given up on FSM, got an interview invite mid-January, interviewed late January, then was accepted outright a week and a half later. If you're able to attend an interview, I'd highly recommend it. Best decision I ever made.

:luck:
 
NYCmedschoolapp said:
Thank you both for the advice! I am going to go 🙂
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good decision🙂 if money isn't an issue, one should always attend an interview. You will love Chicago. NU has the best location of any school in my opinion. I know those in Cali or Miami will argue, but the art institute of chicago and a host of other attractions puts NU over the top.
 
FearlessHyena said:
good decision🙂 if money isn't an issue, one should always attend an interview. You will love Chicago. NU has the best location of any school in my opinion. I know those in Cali or Miami will argue, but the art institute of chicago and a host of other attractions puts NU over the top.
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Thank you, I'm looking forward to it! Money is an issue, but I will just have to give out some IOUs for Christmas... :laugh:
 
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