2013-2014 Northwestern University Application Thread

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Does anyone what days of the week Fienberg interviews applicants?
 
Did anyone else have trouble getting letters of rec to FSM? I transmitted them via AMCAS almost a week ago but it looks like my application is incomplete due to missing letters.
 
Amba said:
M/W/F if I remember correctly.
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Thanks, one more questions if you don't mind. You were probably the first batch of II's. When is the earliest date that you can interview on?
 
metview said:
Thanks, one more questions if you don't mind. You were probably the first batch of II's. When is the earliest date that you can interview on?
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I want to say September 16th...
 
are the cut offs strict for the secondary? will it cut you off right at 250 words?
 
dr bauer said:
are the cut offs strict for the secondary? will it cut you off right at 250 words?
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I want to say so, but cannot remember for sure. I'd do my best to be under that amount.
 
Adria0 said:
I also have not received a secondary. My AMCAS application was verified/processed on 7/9.
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Sorry if you answered this already but did you check your spam folder? That's where the email seemed to have gone for a lot of people.
 
dr bauer said:
are the cut offs strict for the secondary? will it cut you off right at 250 words?
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Also, in general, you don't want go over a limit set by a school - generally discouraged regardless whether the application system will cut you off.
 
II this morning! complete 8/19. Very impressed with the turn around time! Can't wait to be there in September!
 
GingerGirl27 said:
Sorry if you answered this already but did you check your spam folder? That's where the email seemed to have gone for a lot of people.
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Still no secondary here either. Checked spam folder everyday and still nothing. Primary verified in mid July :/
 
ThunderBear said:
Still no secondary here either. Checked spam folder everyday and still nothing. Primary verified in mid July :/
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I would call the school. Sometimes they'll forget to process one AMCAS application amidst the flood that they get. I've had that problem at a school or two.
 
Sent an in the area. Got a response. No dice ....

Worth the try. 😛
 
premed2000 said:
What did they say?
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Thank you for your e-mail. No decision has yet been made on your application. The review time varies from applicant to applicant and once any decision is made, you will be notified via e-mail.
Until a decision to interview has been made, there would be no way to coordinate an interview visit. Our interview season runs late September through early February. Applicants who are invited to interview are given a choice of around 3 or 4 interview dates. If an applicant would like to request an alternate interview date, they may contact our office at that time to request one.

Guess I wasn't qualified enough to warrant an early II :laugh:
 
Did it take a while to get the link to secondary once verified?
 
Hi everyone I just had a wanted a quick clarification on their policy on letter of recommendations

On their website it says:
"Your letters may be written by your college's pre-medical advisory committee, or they may come from three faculty members, at least two of whom are science faculty members, who have taught you."

This means that I can not include a letter of reference from my research PI correct? Because he has never taught me in an undergraduate course.
 
Josh138 said:
Hi everyone I just had a wanted a quick clarification on their policy on letter of recommendations

On their website it says:
"Your letters may be written by your college's pre-medical advisory committee, or they may come from three faculty members, at least two of whom are science faculty members, who have taught you."

This means that I can not include a letter of reference from my research PI correct? Because he has never taught me in an undergraduate course.
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Two of them have to have taught you, so the third could be your PI. If you're invited for an interview you are also allowed to send in more letters.
 
kanzeon said:
Two of them have to have taught you, so the third could be your PI. If you're invited for an interview you are also allowed to send in more letters.
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Okay thanks for clarifying! Appreciated the quick response =)
 
Was just thinking about sending an "in the area" email a few days ago, but decided not to.

II yesterday!!! Complete 8/9! This is an absolute dream!
 
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For all those who got interviews-

Did you guys all do the optional diversity essay?
 
jilljack593 said:
For all those who got interviews-

Did you guys all do the optional diversity essay?
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I wrote a short paragraph explaining why one of the "social background" checkboxes applied to me, but I did not use the longer diversity essay that I used for other schools.
 
In regards to the diversity question...I am a white middle class female and did not check any of the social background options...and while I think I will provide diversity in categories other than the three they listed, I still feel like I should write something here...like perhaps something about how I support diversity?

Thoughts on this/leaving this section blank?

Thanks!
 
Can anyone comment on how many interviewees are there per each interview day? And also, after receiving an II, does that mean we are allowed to add more LORs? Because on their website, it says additional LORs can be uploaded via electronically after receiving an II. Though it says on ''the day'' of the interview, so idk. Anyone?
 
smile8888 said:
Can anyone comment on how many interviewees are there per each interview day? And also, after receiving an II, does that mean we are allowed to add more LORs? Because on their website, it says additional LORs can be uploaded via electronically after receiving an II. Though it says on ''the day'' of the interview, so idk. Anyone?
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There were about 15 people there on the interview day (I think). I'm fairly certain you can send in additional letters via AMCAS anytime after you get an interview invitation. They will review them/any additional material once you interview and they are making a decision (or deferring the decision). Northwestern really likes additional material/letters of interest and will read everything you send them and it can make a difference in a final decision.

You can always email the admissions office too, they're very responsive.
 
This is a shot in the dark, but is there a local Chicagoan who's scheduled for Sept 20th that would be willing to take either Sept 25, Oct 2nd or 4th? I emailed them last week with a true 'in the area' email (flying out a day early for a Saturday interview) and I got a 'wait your turn' response. Super excited to get an invite a few days after that but now my free day is booked up. If miraculously applicable, please PM. Thanks ya'll, and best of luck to everyone.
 
Blech, nevermind. I feel too lucky to get this one to justify sitting on my offered dates.
 
Can any current FSM students comment on how they think a small bit of humour in the essay on coping strategies would be received by the admissions folk? Are they generally open to something of this nature? Or is the dynamic more formal?

THANKS, Y'ALL! 🙂
 
gorun said:
Can any current FSM students comment on how they think a small bit of humour in the essay on coping strategies would be received by the admissions folk? Are they generally open to something of this nature? Or is the dynamic more formal?

THANKS, Y'ALL! 🙂
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Humor is always risky. I think it would be okay if it's classy, subtle and actually funny... but it's hard to tell what other people will find funny. It's a coin toss.
 
kanzeon said:
Humor is always risky. I think it would be okay if it's classy, subtle and actually funny... but it's hard to tell what other people will find funny. It's a coin toss.
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I used blatant humor in my essay to UChicago. Rejected. Never again.
 
YankeeBean said:
I used blatant humor in my essay to UChicago. Rejected. Never again.
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It may not necessarily have been your humor. A lot of well qualified applicants get rejected by UChicago. Though blatant humor is certainly very risky.
 
kanzeon said:
Again it's kind of a coin toss. I used humor in one--first interview, first acceptance and a full ride.
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But then again, I bet it was not your humor that got you the full ride 😉
 
Just sent an 'in the area' email, crossing my fingers!
 
Should I apply my MCAT is low (30), but I have a 3.9 gpa from a big well known school? I am white. Also can anyone suggest top schools that I might have a chance at just not a waste of money reach school where I won't even get a secondary?
 
deanthedream17 said:
Should I apply my MCAT is low (30), but I have a 3.9 gpa from a big well known school? I am white. Also can anyone suggest top schools that I might have a chance at just not a waste of money reach school where I won't even get a secondary?
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I can't tell you anything about your chances (in fact, you should open a "What are my chances" thread rather than ask the same question in multiple school-specific threads), but the thing is, it's not only about the numbers. There is a lot of "numbers talk" on SDN simply because numbers are easy to compare. Unless you have terribly low stats (which you don't), you may have a chance at most schools if you have good ECs and LORs and a good personal story which you can tell really well.

Also, the vast majority of schools (except for Vandy and UC schools, as far as I know) don't screen for secondaries, they send them to everybody. You can find this information in MSAR or on school web sites. Pre-secondary screening is actually is good thing, as it saves you secondary fees, which are substantially higher than primary fees.
 
I just got verified on the 9th, I got my secondaries from most schools. Northwestern is one of the few I still haven't received. I've been checking the spam folder too. This is my top choice, so making me a little nervous. any idea on how long it takes after verification to receive the secondary from them? because as far as i know they don't screen.
 
apate232 said:
I just got verified on the 9th, I got my secondaries from most schools. Northwestern is one of the few I still haven't received. I've been checking the spam folder too. This is my top choice, so making me a little nervous. any idea on how long it takes after verification to receive the secondary from them? because as far as i know they don't screen.
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No, they don't screen, but, as you can see from this thread, it may take them a while to send a secondary.
 
apate232 said:
I just got verified on the 9th, I got my secondaries from most schools. Northwestern is one of the few I still haven't received. I've been checking the spam folder too. This is my top choice, so making me a little nervous. any idea on how long it takes after verification to receive the secondary from them? because as far as i know they don't screen.
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I was verified 8/7 and didn't get my secondary until 8/12 so give it some time.
 
The link they provided me in the secondary email keeps going to the same page. tried on a bunch of different browsers etc. as mentioned above.
 
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