<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am an incoming junior who will begin the college application process for entry in Fall of 2011. </p>
<p>At our school, the classes are different levels. Level 1 is the most difficult, 2 is moderate, 3 is the least difficult. I take two level 1 classes (German and English) two level two classes (Science and History) and (gasp!) a level three class...math. I'm concerned that my weakness in math will be a serious detriment to my ability to get into college, as I earned only a C+ for the year in algebra, in a class that is supposed to be the least challenging. My other grades are fairly good, A- in English, and in the B-range for the other classes. My weighted GPA is 3.66 (on our 5-point scale, 2.9 on the 4-point scale.) </p>
<p>The colleges I have been seriously considering are Marymount Manhattan College and Fordham. Does anyone have advice for me on how to improve my chances of getting in? </p>
<p>Also, our school allows us to drop certain classes senior year, presuming we have met the graduation requirement. Would it be damaging to drop math, considering I would have to take the most basic course offered anyway? And do you think 2 years of a language is sufficient?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Fordham is a very, very, very, high reach for you not only based on your gpa, but your rigor of classes. Honestly, you might want to consider dropping it from your list and replacing it with a less selective school.</p>
<p>I’m going to assume that you attend a high school in NY state–possibly a private Catholic HS. If this is true, you should realize that LI/NY has one of the most competitive applicant pools in the country. In order to stay afloat in this pool, you need to take the most rigorous curriculum that you can handle. Two years of a foreign language will not keep you afloat in this pool. You need a minimum of 3 years. You need a solid Math foundation–at least 3 years of math through trig. You need at least 3 years of lab science and you need 4 years of English, 3 years of history, and a year of government/economics.</p>
<p>Also, it’s important to understand that colleges recalculate your GPA. They throw out the grades in the fluff classes (like nutrition, religion, health, basket weaving… you get the idea) and recalculate based on CORE classes–English, History, Science, Math, and Foreign Language. They’ll come up with their own gpa and then add in their formula for weighted classes. </p>
<p>While Fordham seems to be a high reach for you, Marymount Manhattan seems to be a good fit for your list. A lot will depend on your SAT/ACT scores and your GPA on a 4-point system at the end of your junior year.</p>
<p>Thank you, I appreciate your honesty.</p>
<p>I thought Pace University would be an excellent fit for me, as it has a 75% admittance rate, and offers the major I’m interested in. I’ve heard some rather alarming things (vermin infested dormitories, roaches in the shower, employers are not enthusiastic about alumni) that have made me think my “excellent fit” might not be what it seems, and suddenly I feel very insecure about where I’m going to end up. </p>
<p>Do you think taking another honors course (that would make me 3/5) could make me significantly more competitive? Or am I likely to end up in the same tier of schools regardless, due to my weakness in math?</p>
<p>It’s all about grades, rigor, SAT/ACT scores, and teacher recommendations followed by essays and EC’s. </p>
<p>-You need to bring up your unweighted GPA. Don’t even consider weighted GPA’s at this point in time.</p>
<p>-You need to take the most rigorous classes that you can handle, but only if this means not destroying the unweighted GPA. In other words, colleges want to see that you have challenged yourself and succeeded in the challenge. </p>
<p>-Consider getting a math tutor at the start of school BEFORE any trouble begins. Having a tutor right from the start will help you master skills and gain confidence. The tutor could focus not only on your classwork, but also SAT/ACT math prep.</p>
<p>-Don’t take the easy way out. In other words, if your school only requires two years of foreign language to graduate, take more. If your school only requires 2 years of lab science to graduate, take 3 or 4. If your school only requires 2 years of math to graduate, then take 3.</p>