2014-2015 Northwestern University Application Thread

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FictiousForce said:
Physics here, but no II yet so we'll see how that plays out.
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There was a physics major on my interview day so there's definitely hope! Also, I don't think majoring in science necessarily puts you at a disadvantage considering 17 of the 18 people at my interview day were science majors. Maybe it was just a coincidence but that was my experience...
 
Okay, so someone messaged me and I thought I would share this advice with everyone
I know I posted a message about the pros and cons at Northwestern. Honestly, these specifics may be irrelevant to how you should make your decision about a school. I remember the process of decision making was really overwhelming. Here's some advice that would have made it easier:

Ultimately, you need to know who you are, what kind of environment you learn best in, and where you want to be at this point in your life. The questions you're probably asking right now of med students are very specific but they may not matter down the line. Every school is going to have its ups and downs. I know. I have friends at other med schools and they all have things they complain about. Whatever the cons, you will deal with them. The bigger question is: are those cons hitting on anything that is absolutely essential to your success and to your happiness? Because if they are, you shouldn't chose this school. Make a list of what's MOST important to you and see which schools fit best with this list.

These were my requirements:
*Pass-fail -- I will feel less pressure. Stress is something I want to minimize.
*Stimulation, things to do, people to meet-- city if at all possible
*collaborative atmosphere, people are friends. this helps me deal with my stress (I'm a VERY extroverted, social person. Without copious amounts of human interaction, I become severely depressed, not kidding.)****
*connections with professors/faculty ---> helps with my curiosity, is essential to learning
*quality patient care
*good public health programs
*strong in women's health (my interest)

Of my choices, Northwestern just met these requirements best, and I knew I would be happy here. I still think I made the right decision.
 
ithd said:
II today. Date is end of Jan. Probably interviewing for a spot on the waitlist :/
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Congrats!! At least you got an II, I have been waiting with my fingers crossed for almost 5 month for some love from NU, but nothing yet. Even though that I have acceptances from top 5 schools I know that Feinberg is the right school for me, please show me some love Feinberg 🙄
Do you guys think there is still hope?! 😵
 
Does anyone have any info on merit scholarships? I.e. How many they give out/amounts/when we would hear about them/anything else? I've tried looking on the website but can't seem to find any specifics. Thanks, and happy holidays everybody 🙂
 
At the interview they said merit scholarships could total up to 3/4 the cost of tuition. and need based up to 1/2 the cost of tuition.
 
Just got an email- deferred until March 🙁 interviewed 12/5

How many acceptances usually come from this deferral list?
 
I wonder whether Northwestern will interview you just because you're a Northwestern student.
 
TREDWISE said:
Sorry to hear that bros. Are your stats within range?
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No unfortunately-NU is certainly a pipe dream. I've gotten IIs at other top schools so I was hopeful that my alma mater would give me some love, but you can't control this unpredictable process. I'm very content with how things have gone thus far-wishful thinking here!
 
Hello! What time does the interview day end? I'm trying to schedule transportation. Thanks in advance!
 
I think I lost my interview packet. I probably took really bad notes in there anyways. The interview day here was literally the EARLIEST and I had a fat commute on the train/bus from my friends place across town, so yeah sleep deprived. Oh well, maybe the folder will turn up somewhere...
 
For those of you who interviewed already - how did you get to and from the Airport? I will be using O'Hare. The subway sounds like it would take very long and taxi sounds like it would be too expensive (75 min?) Thanks!
 
timeturner said:
For those of you who interviewed already - how did you get to and from the Airport? I will be using O'Hare. The subway sounds like it would take very long and taxi sounds like it would be too expensive (75 min?) Thanks!
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I live in Chicago and am a frequent business traveler out of O'Hare. What are your travel times?

The issue is that the inbound Kennedy (I-90) can be really, really awful. Believe it or not, a 75 minute train ride on the L could be faster than a taxi.

The train round trip would be, like, $10. A cab would cost ~$50 one way. The quickest a cab could get you to the Northwestern medical school would be 35-40 min.

Let me know if you have any follow-up travel questions. I'be been commuting in Chicago for years.
 
timeturner said:
For those of you who interviewed already - how did you get to and from the Airport? I will be using O'Hare. The subway sounds like it would take very long and taxi sounds like it would be too expensive (75 min?) Thanks!
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I used the O'Hare Go Airport Express shuttle. I had a really good experience with them; they can drop you off and pick you up at your hotel (or wherever you're staying) and they were on time.
 
BertMacklin said:
I live in Chicago and am a frequent business traveler out of O'Hare. What are your travel times?

The issue is that the inbound Kennedy (I-90) can be really, really awful. Believe it or not, a 75 minute train ride on the L could be faster than a taxi.

The train round trip would be, like, $10. A cab would cost ~$50 one way. The quickest a cab could get you to the Northwestern medical school would be 35-40 min.

Let me know if you have any follow-up travel questions. I'be been commuting in Chicago for years.
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Thanks so much! I have never been to Chicago myself and all the transfers sound very overwhelming, it's so great to be able to ask someone who knows the system well. My flight arrives at 5 PM sharp on a Sunday, and I will be heading to the Holiday Inn on Wabush Avenue.

Then the following day I will be leaving NU to head back to O'Hare (evidently that is when the interview day ends), and my flight time is around 5 PM but I assume the flight will be delayed...

preemed2015 said:
I used the O'Hare Go Airport Express shuttle. I had a really good experience with them; they can drop you off and pick you up at your hotel (or wherever you're staying) and they were on time.
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Oh really? Thanks! I was looking up all these reviews and they were all one-stars so I got really worried and started exploring my options. Were they able to pick you up at NU as well on interview day?
 
timeturner said:
Thanks so much! I have never been to Chicago myself and all the transfers sound very overwhelming, it's so great to be able to ask someone who knows the system well. My flight arrives at 5 PM sharp on a Sunday, and I will be heading to the Holiday Inn on Wabush Avenue.

Then the following day I will be leaving NU to head back to O'Hare (evidently that is when the interview day ends), and my flight time is around 5 PM but I assume the flight will be delayed...



Oh really? Thanks! I was looking up all these reviews and they were all one-stars so I got really worried and started exploring my options. Were they able to pick you up at NU as well on interview day?
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Sunday leaving ORD at 5 pm will be fine; maybe some traffic, but a cabbie could get you to your hotel in 30-35 min. Otherwise, public transit is a fantastic option - cheap, safe, relatively quick.

(EDIT) Also consider taking the Blue Line from O'Hare to the Clark/Lake station downtown, then hop in a cab and they'll take you to your hotel. Cab ride would be $5-$7.

A Monday 5 pm flight... What time would you be leaving the campus at? If you like to be at the airport early (1.5-2hrs before departure), you'd need to leave no later than 2:30 pm. I travel a lot and I would be uncomfortable leaving anytime after 3:15 pm for a 5 pm flight because of traffic snarls.
 
timeturner said:
Thanks so much! I have never been to Chicago myself and all the transfers sound very overwhelming, it's so great to be able to ask someone who knows the system well. My flight arrives at 5 PM sharp on a Sunday, and I will be heading to the Holiday Inn on Wabush Avenue.

Then the following day I will be leaving NU to head back to O'Hare (evidently that is when the interview day ends), and my flight time is around 5 PM but I assume the flight will be delayed...



Oh really? Thanks! I was looking up all these reviews and they were all one-stars so I got really worried and started exploring my options. Were they able to pick you up at NU as well on interview day?
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I actually left the day after but my hotel was only a block away from NU and they picked me up there so I'm sure that as long as you book in advance, they should be able to pick you up at NU.
Yeah, I did see a lot of the one-star reviews as well. However, I really had no problems with them, although maybe I just got lucky.
 
timeturner said:
Thanks so much! I have never been to Chicago myself and all the transfers sound very overwhelming, it's so great to be able to ask someone who knows the system well. My flight arrives at 5 PM sharp on a Sunday, and I will be heading to the Holiday Inn on Wabush Avenue.

Then the following day I will be leaving NU to head back to O'Hare (evidently that is when the interview day ends), and my flight time is around 5 PM but I assume the flight will be delayed...



Oh really? Thanks! I was looking up all these reviews and they were all one-stars so I got really worried and started exploring my options. Were they able to pick you up at NU as well on interview day?
Click to expand...

It's Wabash btw. If you were to take public transit from NU after your interview you would take the 66 Chicago Ave bus (which picks up on campus) to the blue line, and then take the blue line straight to O'Hare. Take this path (not all the way to ohare) every day because I work at Feinberg. It may be faster than taking a car at 5 pm on Monday.
 
quetzalcoatl said:
Long time lurker. Just wanted to let people know I received an acceptance email this morning. I interviewed on 12/12. Good luck to those still waiting.
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@questzalcoatl, I am glad to hear about your acceptance--congratulations! For the rest of us. . .serpents are not the only entities with feathers! Emily Dickinson says that "hope is the thing with feathers / that perches in the soul." (Of course, Woody Allen countered, "How wrong Emily Dickinson was! Hope is not 'the thing with feathers.' The thing with feathers has turned out to be my nephew. I must take him to a specialist in Zurich.") 😛
 
i'm locked out the portal. does that mean it's all over?
 
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