Northwestern LoR Forum

[basilseal]

Longtime lurker, first time poster. I'll be applying in the next cycle, and very much want to be, work, and live in Chicago. Therefore, my top two choices are Chicago and Northwestern (I'll be applying to other schools as well, but these are my targets). I have been out of school for a year and will have had two years of WE before entering LS.

Based on a little bit of research, I am planning on sending two LoRs from UG profs to Chicago and most of my other schools. However, since NW places such an emphasis on WE, would it be useful to add/replace a letter from my boss (non-legal, non-profit field)?

Thanks for your help.

[splitmuch]

Longtime lurker, first time poster. I'll be applying in the next cycle, and very much want to be, work, and live in Chicago. Therefore, my top two choices are Chicago and Northwestern (I'll be applying to other schools as well, but these are my targets). I have been out of school for a year and will have had two years of WE before entering LS.

Based on a little bit of research, I am planning on sending two LoRs from UG profs to Chicago and most of my other schools. However, since NW places such an emphasis on WE, would it be useful to add/replace a letter from my boss (non-legal, non-profit field)?

Thanks for your help.

Yes you'll wan't something from your boss for NW. They have this screw LOR form that they prefer too called career progress evaluation or something like that.

[bk1]

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[robotclubmember]

Longtime lurker, first time poster. I'll be applying in the next cycle, and very much want to be, work, and live in Chicago. Therefore, my top two choices are Chicago and Northwestern (I'll be applying to other schools as well, but these are my targets). I have been out of school for a year and will have had two years of WE before entering LS.

Based on a little bit of research, I am planning on sending two LoRs from UG profs to Chicago and most of my other schools. However, since NW places such an emphasis on WE, would it be useful to add/replace a letter from my boss (non-legal, non-profit field)?

Thanks for your help.

yeah have the boss send something, they don't care what your ug professor has to say. to be honest, not having any lor's at all doesn't seem to affect your application if the rest of it is in place, you can still get in and still get scholly money if you give them nothing at all.

[Samara]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

[Flips88]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

I had 2 professor LORs and 0 CPEs. Far from mandatory.

[splitmuch]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

I had 2 professor LORs and 0 CPEs. Far from mandatory.

You're the exception, not the rule. A professional rec (i actually sent in my rec from my boss that I used for other schools along with the CPE) is a very good idea if youre applying to NU.

[Flips88]

If you can get a good CPE from an employer do it. On top of that submit 1 or 2 LoRs from academic people. Also, make the effort to interview (that's something that does seem to help a lot)

[Samara]

You're the exception, not the rule. A professional rec (i actually sent in my rec from my boss that I used for other schools along with the CPE) is a very good idea if youre applying to NU.

+1 The CPE is pretty new, no?

If you can get a good CPE from an employer do it. On top of that submit 1 or 2 LoRs from academic people. Also, make the effort to interview (that's something that does seem to help a lot)

+1

[splitmuch]

Definitely interview. If youre anywhere near a major metro its easy to set up and I think it definitely helps (or really that not doing it hurts)

[robotclubmember]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

I had 2 professor LORs and 0 CPEs. Far from mandatory.

You're the exception, not the rule. A professional rec (i actually sent in my rec from my boss that I used for other schools along with the CPE) is a very good idea if youre applying to NU.

You could always have none. No LOR's or CPE are mandatory. I submitted neither and was accepted with $$ and generally median stats. I could have submitted them too, but because of the timing of my apps, I just decided not to.

I really believe NU doesn't care about any of that shit but it gives options for you to send them what they want to hear. If you send in LOR's, I think they might actually just not read them (even though their official answer would be that they do). The CPE's they will review as a light supplement.

[Flips88]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

I had 2 professor LORs and 0 CPEs. Far from mandatory.

You're the exception, not the rule. A professional rec (i actually sent in my rec from my boss that I used for other schools along with the CPE) is a very good idea if youre applying to NU.

You could always have none. No LOR's or CPE are mandatory. I submitted neither and was accepted with $$ and generally median stats. I could have submitted them too, but because of the timing of my apps, I just decided not to.

I really believe NU doesn't care about any of that shit but it gives options for you to send them what they want to hear. If you send in LOR's, I think they might actually just not read them (even though their official answer would be that they do). The CPE's they will review as a light supplement.

Did you interview?

[splitmuch]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

I had 2 professor LORs and 0 CPEs. Far from mandatory.

You're the exception, not the rule. A professional rec (i actually sent in my rec from my boss that I used for other schools along with the CPE) is a very good idea if youre applying to NU.

You could always have none. No LOR's or CPE are mandatory. I submitted neither and was accepted with $$ and generally median stats. I could have submitted them too, but because of the timing of my apps, I just decided not to.

I really believe NU doesn't care about any of that shit but it gives options for you to send them what they want to hear. If you send in LOR's, I think they might actually just not read them (even though their official answer would be that they do). The CPE's they will review as a light supplement.

Perhaps, I guess it depends on your situation. Completely anecdotally from what I've seen of the splitters the ones who didn't get in were the ones who didn't do shit.

I also question what "generally median stats" means? If youre over a median, it doesn't really matter by how much.

[rinkrat19]

You could always have none. No LOR's or CPE are mandatory. I submitted neither and was accepted with $$ and generally median stats. I could have submitted them too, but because of the timing of my apps, I just decided not to.

I really believe NU doesn't care about any of that shit but it gives options for you to send them what they want to hear. If you send in LOR's, I think they might actually just not read them (even though their official answer would be that they do). The CPE's they will review as a light supplement.

Did you interview?

I didn't interview (at the time, I was set on staying local and going PT, so my other apps were somewhat half-assed), and submitted 2 professional LORs (graduated too long ago to get any academic LORs) and no CPEs. I'm a mild splitter with slightly below median GPA and 75% LSAT, so my numbers weren't auto-admit. I was accepted in the second small batch in mid-Jan.

I think there was some confusion over LORs/CPEs this year, and so they were accepting either. It might get more strict as they communicate the requirements a little better in future cycles.

If I had to do it over again, however, I'd definitely interview. Still kinda wondering why they pulled me out of the pile. (But glad they did!!)

[robotclubmember]

Perhaps, I guess it depends on your situation. Completely anecdotally from what I've seen of the splitters the ones who didn't get in were the ones who didn't do shit.

I also question what "generally median stats" means? If youre over a median, it doesn't really matter by how much.

LSAT 1 above median, GPA .1 under median.

Did you interview?

No, I was actually surprised not to get waitlisted. I submitted after Dec LSAT scores came in so I would have to have done an interview on campus which would have been tough because of work. :/ I really wanted to though.

I wasn't sure about the requirements of Northwestern, so I sent no LOR's because they seemed not to care and then no CPE's because I didn't have time to get them together.

[robotclubmember]

If I had to do it over again, however, I'd definitely interview. Still kinda wondering why they pulled me out of the pile. (But glad they did!!)

ikr? lol no complaints here

[Samara]

You can always have more than one LOR in your though, so if both LsOR are good, I would still send them to Northwestern. But yeah, at least one work-related CPE/LOR is practically mandatory at NU.

I had 2 professor LORs and 0 CPEs. Far from mandatory.

You're the exception, not the rule. A professional rec (i actually sent in my rec from my boss that I used for other schools along with the CPE) is a very good idea if youre applying to NU.

You could always have none. No LOR's or CPE are mandatory. I submitted neither and was accepted with $$ and generally median stats. I could have submitted them too, but because of the timing of my apps, I just decided not to.

I really believe NU doesn't care about any of that shit but it gives options for you to send them what they want to hear. If you send in LOR's, I think they might actually just not read them (even though their official answer would be that they do). The CPE's they will review as a light supplement.

Yes, you could always have none. Hence the use of practically. But why would you advise someone to do that? I'm operating under the assumption that anyone posting here for advice is looking to put together the strongest application they can. Thus, if you want to put together the strongest application you can for Northwestern, certainly we can all agree that interviews and LOR/CPEs should be viewed as practically mandatory, considering the detrimental effect their absence can cause, no?

Good on you for getting in without LOR/CPEs or an interview! I, however, know that with my numbers no stone should be left unturned.

[Flips88]

So I think the only thing we know about Northwestern admissions is that we know nothing.

FWIW, I have no idea how I got in. 1 year out of UG, LSAT 5 points below median, but a 4.0 GPA. Submitted with 2 LoRs and a Why Northwestern. I didn't apply until I got a fee waiver ($100 is a hefty one) and by that point it was too late to interview off campus and on campus was full I think. Luckily I got held and could interview on campus in March. I wrote two supplemental essays, and got surprisingly admitted in April.

ETA: I originally thought I would get outright dinged. Then when I got held I thought I'd get wait listed.

[robotclubmember]

So I think the only thing we know about Northwestern admissions is that we know nothing.

+1

NU is a special snowflake indeed. everything i thought i knew about northwestern.... was wrong, haha

i think that obviously LORs are preferable to lack of LORs. but they are far from mandatory (and practically mandatory). i did write supplemental essays though. maybe none of the above would hurt :p

[Samara]

So I think the only thing we know about Northwestern admissions is that we know nothing.

This is oddly comforting to me re: my chances.

[Samara]

i did write supplemental essays though. maybe none of the above would hurt :p

What kind of supplemental essays did you write?

[robotclubmember]

i did write supplemental essays though. maybe none of the above would hurt :p

What kind of supplemental essays did you write?

diversity statement (not a URM). i also had what i thought was a strong personal statement, but the other schools didn't seem to agree . i only applied at half a dozen schools ranked t4 thru t14 and sent them all late jan. results: straight waitlists everywhere but NU. i would have been okay with waiting another cycle and applying earlier if i got in nowhere, but am happy to be going to NU so it's all cool.

i don't understand their admissions. they are much more amenable to splitters than other top schools. i have strong w/e and am a cpa, so i'd like to say that that's the big factor, but flips got in just fine without as much w/e, just like i got in fine without LORs. i wonder if they use a magic eightball?

[Samara]

i did write supplemental essays though. maybe none of the above would hurt :p

What kind of supplemental essays did you write?

diversity statement (not a URM). i also had what i thought was a strong personal statement, but the other schools didn't seem to agree . i only applied at half a dozen schools ranked t4 thru t14 and sent them all late jan. results: straight waitlists everywhere but NU. i would have been okay with waiting another cycle and applying earlier if i got in nowhere, but am happy to be going to NU so it's all cool.

i don't understand their admissions. they are much more amenable to splitters than other top schools. i have strong w/e and am a cpa, so i'd like to say that that's the big factor, but flips got in just fine without as much w/e, just like i got in fine without LORs. i wonder if they use a magic eightball?

Hmm...I can't decide if I'm going to submit a diversity statement or not. (Also not URM) I just don't know what I would write about that wouldn't be covered in my PS and I don't want to submit something if it's not on par with the rest of my writing examples.

I have good WE, but I'm really banking on its reputation as splitter-friendly, especially with WE.