<p>Any input will be well appreciated, thanks!</p>
<p>Male.
White.
Senior.
Not looking for financial aid.
Go to a very competitive public school in Washington- ranked 50th best public school in the nation.
GPA- 3.60 (UW) 3.85 (W) *Excellent upward grade trend.
ACT- 25</p>
<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Senior English
Honors Health (ASPEN)
AP Psychology
AP Statistics
AP Environmental Science
Leadership
AP American Gov.</p>
<p>Teacher & counselor recs- excellent, lots of thought put into both.
Essay- very good.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars-
-4 year varsity tennis letter winner- 9-12th grade
-Captain of my club tennis team
-Gold Medal at the Jewish Olympics
-Play in competitive tournaments locally
-Senior Class Historian- 12
-Class Senator- 9-12
-President and Founder of Sports Debate Club- 10-12
-Member of Key Club- 11-12
-Member of A.S.P.E.N.-12 (Had to try-out)
Head Tennis Pro during the summer at a Private Club.
-Community service award for completing a certain amount of volunteer hours
Volunteer work at a local tennis club, through Key Club, camp counselor, district wide volunteering events, and various other events. (100+ hours)</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure you are copying my college list.</p>
<p>I'm in the exact same position as you. I really love USC, Boston College, and Wake Forest, but I feel it is a waste to apply to all three bc I will most likely get rejected. </p>
<p>But I'm almost sure...Wake Forest is the school for me....besides my dream school UMiami.</p>
<p>So yeah I like Wake Forest over USC and Boston College because Boston College is too cold, and I have visited USC and I didn't feel a connection. I mean the school is great in all, but I could never see myself rooting for the Trojans.</p>
<p>I don't believe it is a waste of time to apply to multiple reaches if you really like those schools. You really never do know who will get in because it's not always that simple and there are always miracle stories. Colleges have an agenda in mind, and they want different kinds of people who don't always fit the expected profile. If you only apply to Wake Forrest and don't get in, the first thing you'll probably think is "I should've applied to BC/USC." Don't regret anything later this year and end up somewhere you don't want to be. My advice, if you don't feel you have the grades and/or SAT to get in is to make your essays as creative and impressive as possible. If you can stand out in that way, your stats become almost secondary.</p>
<p>Well.....you look strong until that ACT score.....which is good, but not superb. Dont despair. Do you have time to take the ACT again? It might help and you might improve it dramatically.....</p>
<p>however, dealing with what you have now:</p>
<p>BC and Wake are different in many respects. One is Jesuit (BC) and that has its very strong points....they have a unique ethics and ethos, and they will work your hiney off big time. BC and Wake are sort of preppy at times....and there are lots of kids with money at both schools. Sports are equal at both. BC is big city Boston if that appeals to you. Wake is in a medium sized city in the south...in North Carolina....but its got a lot of kids from out state there....indeed a huge majority are from out of state. Both are ACC schools and highly respected on the East Coast with a growing national reputation. Wake's campus is gorgeous....southern georgian colonial they call it....BC is a tad more urban and VERY hilly...its built on a STEEP hill. They each have strengths and weaknesses in various programs so be sure and do your homework there. Both are OUTSTANDING feeder colleges to grad school or professional school.</p>
<p>Both have a better chance of getting in if you apply early decision, but that is binding dont forget. If you apply RD, your chances drop considerably. I think BC's admissions are a tad more selective because they get more applications than Wake does. Being Jewish wont harm you at either school. Both are a tight nit and warm student body. Neither is particularly cut throat by reputation. But they are both hard working students. Wake is called "Work Forest". I dont know much about USC, sorry. But USC from what I can glean is VERY selective now and is really a tough school to get into, unless you have some hook. Its also a lot bigger than Wake and BC.</p>
<p>Based on what you tell us, I think your best shot is at Wake. But you go where you think you would be HAPPIEST, not where you think you might get in.</p>
<p>Look closely at applying ED to one of those, and then apply RD to the others, along with your match and safety schools.</p>
<p>So now i am torn between UMich and Wake as my two reachys. I really love various things about both. That being said is my OOS status and stats make it harder than Wake for me to get into? Or do i have a better shot at Mich?</p>
<p>Canes, are you from Washington DC or the state of Washington?</p>
<p>A few thoughts: </p>
<p>BC gets a ton of applications, and each year gets harder and harder to get into. It's a real gamble even for people with higher grades than you have.</p>
<p>BC is on a hill, but it;s not like you have to be a mountain goat to like it. The three parts of the main campus are each flat...but you go up or down steps to get from one level to the next.</p>
<p>I've been to USC, and can understand why you didn't feel an attraction. It's an incredible place on paper, but it's certainly not for everyone. If you didn't get a good vibe from it, scratch it from your list.</p>
<p>U of Michigan has a much different feel than the other schools you mentioned--quite liberal politically, and it's not in a compact, well-defined area. Not a high % of students living in dorms, and the off-campus options are hit or miss--lots of older houses in various states of repair.</p>
<p>I also think you'd have the best chance at Wake.</p>
<p>Michigan is REALLY hard to get into OOS, but at Wake, being from the West Coast actually gives you an advantage (they're really trying to diversify).</p>
<p>I don't understand the logic of applying to only one reach school. If you have a low but reasonable chance of getting in, it makes more sense to apply to several. Of course, if your chances are absurdly remote, it's a waste of time and money to apply to reach schools. That doesn't seem to be the case with you, though.</p>