<p>Hey, this is my first post here. I'm a rising senior who only recently become interested in the college admission process, actually it was just this year, I brought my GPA up from 3.0 to 3.17 and studied hard to get a good SAT.</p>
<p>I've been reading a lot of posts about extra-curriculars (ECs?) and AP classes. I mostly just like hanging out and I've taken all normal classes so far, although I plan to take 3 APs next year and maybe join a few clubs. </p>
<p>My GPA's been going up all through high school, freshman year it was 2.8, sophomore year was 3.2, and this year (junior) was 3.5. I've never gotten anything lower than a C and this year my lowest grades were Bs.</p>
<p>I'd like to go somewhere fun but also prestigious. I'm planning on studying economics and becoming an economic adviser to politicians or teaching at a college. I'd like something bigger than my 1,600 person high school, but not huge, and it can be anywhere in the country.</p>
<p>None of the automatic services like collegeboard have been a big help, I was wondering if this forum could help me find schools to apply to?</p>
<p>Personally, I will be going there next year but Clemson University may accept you. They are probably looking to raise their average SAT scores and I got in with a 3.0 GPA so you definitely have a chance. #1 Happiest students this year and Top 20 Best Quality of Life according to the Princeton Review! (Yes, it’s not accurate but Clemson students love their school!) Let me know if you have any questions about the school!</p>
<p>btw, Davidson, Washington & Lee (not William & Lee), Claremont McKenna, William & Mary and Rice do not seem like places where the OP may be likely to gain admissions.</p>
<p>^I agree–William and Mary is a big reach if he’s OOS, and Rice/Claremont McKenna/W&L are just big reaches, period.</p>
<p>Clemson is a good suggestion. I would be inclined to suggest Michigan State, but that is a bit on the huge side. </p>
<p>What about George Washington University, with a student population of about 10,600? It is a bit of a reach still, but College Board notes, “a strong college-preparatory program, 3.0 GPA and class rank in top third [are] important.” You meet the GPA qualification, though your lack of “college prep” classes may be a bit of a difficulty. Still, I don’t think there’s a better place to study economics with the intent of advising politicians than DC! And it’s a least worth a look, especially if you can get good recommendations and write convincing essays.</p>
<p>You might want to consider Bradley University in Illinois. Their business department is very strong and they might be a good size for you: around 5,400 students. I think your GPA will prevent you from getting into some of the finest schools, but with your strong SAT scores you would get some money from them. They offer half tuition for NMS semifinalists and full tuition scholarships for finalists, if that affects you. I would have gone there myself but they don’t offer Japanese and I absolutely must have that; it is a non-negotiable to me. </p>
<p>Sorry on the error of Washington & Lee I was tired when I wrote that</p>
<p>And I was just throwing out schools which are reasonably sized and have pretty good econ. Also I assumed that the trend will continue to climb. Since he/she had freshman 2.8, sophomore year was 3.2, and junior was 3.5, that senior will be around the 3.7 range. And although the GPA will not be the highest, it has a upward trend which they take notice of. And the SAT score will make up a bit.</p>
<p>It’s called honesty, not rudeness. How many “prestigious” schools, defined by CC terms, will exactly be reachable by him? I can’t possibly help him if he has unrealistic criteria. If I ask for a prestigious engineering school, whilst having B/Cs in all my engineering/science classes, obviously there’s nobody in the world can help me if prestigious to me means Caltech/MIT. Unless he qualifies what prestigious means to him, there’s no way for me to suggest anything that will fit that criteria.</p>
<p>Okay, I understand that, but there’s a much better way of phrasing it. Just say ‘What do you mean by prestigious?’ and go from there. And, might I add, billions of ECs and stellar grades are no foolproof ways of being admitted to college. The facts speak for themselves; many students with ‘average’ grades have been admitted to top colleges.</p>
<p>Tim, you seem just a bit dissilusioned. Lack of ECs shows lack of passion, while lack of rigourous classes or high GPA shows a sort of unreadiness for college. Sure, a high SAT is great, but it is known, if you bother looking though the site, that a curiosity for knowledge, a passion for learning, true potential are what colleges are looking for, not kids who are naturally smart but not applied. Anyway, good luck OP. Remember that you can make any college a good one. It is not about the prestige, but rather what you make of college that makes it worthwhile.</p>
<p>I completely agree. Everything you say about ECs and GPA is true. My point is that a lack of those things does not necessarily disqualify you from top colleges. They without a doubt increase your chances of admission a great deal, but those without a high GPA and ECs can still get into top colleges, however unlikely and there’s no real harm in trying.</p>
<p>Those without those things have hooks. Unless the OP is legacy, first generation, or URM, he would just clog up many of the admissions on the highest levels. He is not looking for false hope, but a set of decent schools that he can hope, with reason, to get into on his stats.</p>
<p>People here act as if top colleges are the only ones that exist, and that you need a 4.0 and 2300 to go anywhere. He can get into plenty of schools with those credentials.</p>