<p>Instead of telling you all about my various accomplishments and every grade I ever got, here's my final list of colleges and my test scores and GPA. Please just glance at my list and tell me if you think I should add more safeties, reaches, matches, or edit it in any way. I'm a senior, btw. Thanks!</p>
<p>GPA: 3.0/5.0 (hopefully a 3.5 or 4.0 out of 5.0 by the end of this semester - it's a long story)
ACT: 34
AP's: 5 on European History, 5 on Biology, 4 on U.S. History, 4 on English Literature; currently taking AP German, English Language, Chemistry
SAT-II's: U.S. History: 750, Biology: 760, taking Math Level 2 in November</p>
<p>My List: </p>
<p>University of Chicago (ultra reach - my dream school)
Illinois Wesleyan (reach?)
Knox (reach/match?)
Earlham (reach/match?)
Beloit (match?)
University of Illinois @ Chicago (match)
University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign (match)
DePaul (match/safety)
Northeastern Illinois University (safety)
Illinois State (safety)</p>
<p>That's it. My trouble is determining which are matches, because my GPA and my ACT score really don't go together.</p>
<p>if you are senior your GPA is the one schools will accept you. IT looks like you are bright enough to get reat scores but it does not explain where your lower GPA comes from?
Anyway don't be overly obsessed about match/ reach category. What I do see that you have lots of different schools in your bag. University of IL Champaign is huge state flagship which pays attention mostly to grades. Certain programs like business or engineering are very hard to get in.
Un of IL Chicago and Depaul are city located. Knox, Earlham and Beloit are all in small rural cities. What do you looking for?
Depaul is Jesuit school, Earlham with Quackers. Is it something to think about?
Anyway, besides of U of Chicago, which is not sure thing for almost anyone
you will probably get everywhere else.
Have you visited any of those schools? What do you like about them?
Illinois Wesleyan cares very much about interest you show them. Every contact will count. Is some cases it will outweight lower grades.
Knox, Beloit and Earlham are whole person evaluation schools, your interest will count but your whole presentation, essay will count great deal, interview will help.
If you are into small LAC look up Augustana, Lake Forest and North Central Colleges. Very good schools as well.</p>