ADVICE REQUESTED: Pressing Questions About College and Me!

Applying to College
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<p>***IMPORTANT--->SPAMMERS, if you don't have worthwhile advice, please don't post at all. Thank you!</p>

<p>I'm a rising senior. I live in Oregon State if this geographical region gives me any advantage. I took the SAT II World History Test and scored 780 and SAT I (cr 680, m 800, w 780). I plan to take three more SAT II Subject Tests in October, namely biology, physics, and math IIC. I'm interested in Ivy League colleges, but cost is a major concern as my family's income is at the lower end of middle class (barely over 100k per year). My school sends out several students to great colleges such as the lower tier ivies, stanford, and yale each year. This year, there are at least 4 students who have higher SAT I scores than me, national merit finalist standing (I have commendation letter only only), and 4.0 GPA. I have a 3.993 GPA and Salutatorian in my class as of now, but as you can see, I'm ranked below 2nd. </p>

<p>I have an incentive to retake the SAT I so that I may acrue a higher cr score, and increase my chances of getting merit aid, which I desperately need, at these selective colleges. Obviously, colleges to which I will be applying early action won't see any retakes (see questions below), but at least colleges to which I will be applying regular decision will and may offer me better financial aid packages.</p>

<p>The indecisions I'm having are and need answers to are as follows (I would like advice from any experienced CCers, preferably people who have gone through the same situation as I. FEEL FREE TO ANSWER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING WORTH SAYING): </p>

<p>Will a good SAT retake (cr above 700 and other section scores remaining as they are now) help me noticeably, specifically in my situation? </p>

<p>Is squeezing in the ACTs at the end of October worthwhile, considering the colleges to which I will be applying and the fact that I haven't prepped at all for this test?</p>

<p>Are there any good early action colleges at or above the level of Rice U?</p>

<p>I also plan to apply to Stanford and Yale. Should I apply regular or early action, considering the possibility of a retake? IOW, will I have a better shot at being rejected or deferred (I'm seriously doubting I'll get accepted at these schools the first round)?</p>

<p>I played the piano for 7 years and compose some music. Should I send a supplement of my best piano recordings and compositions considering the fact that I haven't won any national or state piano awards?</p>

<p>I'm spending the rest of my summer prepping for SAT IIs, getting ready for the following school year, and working on early action apps. Should I be doing something else?</p>

<p>Are there any prestigious competitions that I can compete in before regular admission app deadlines?</p>

<p>I have numerous local awards/honors and a few mediocre national ones that may be insignificant at a national level including Eagle Scout, AIME Qualifier, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, Various state math competitions. Will this make a significant contribution to my application as a well-rounded individual? Coupled with my SAT scores, will this give me a noticeable edge over other QUALIFIED applicants? </p>

<p>Should the application essay sound like an A+ English Lang. paper with sophisticated diction or should I be honest and write in a conversational style and forgo sophisticated language? </p>

<p>Should I apply to Stanford EA, Yale EA, or a combination of other schools EA w/o binding? Which is easier or harder with my stats and with my situation?</p>

<p>If interviews are on campus, do I get paid airfare to and from the campus?</p>

<p>I've made a few what I would call "grave" errors in my academic career, namely doing terrible on my PSATs and losing 4.0 gpa during my junior year. How will this effect my academic competitiveness?</p>

<p>Thank you for all of your suggestions!</p>

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<p>Wow, okay. Let’s see what I can do for you.</p>

<p>Retake the SAT if you want, but I’m not sure it will make that much of a difference, really.</p>

<p>There’s no need to take the ACT, especially since you haven’t prepared. Your SAT scores are good enough already.</p>

<p>The best EA college I can think of is Georgetown, not including Yale and Stanford with SCEA.</p>

<p>I think your chances of acceptance at Stanford/Yale won’t change significantly for a RD app versus an early app. If you want to apply early, go ahead, but I don’t think it matters much.</p>

<p>The general consensus is not to include a musical supplement unless you’re like, the next Beethoven or something.</p>

<p>That sounds like a fine use of your summer to me, but there’s always more you could do if you’ve got time. Community service is always good. You’ll be fine, though, even if you don’t do anything more.</p>

<p>I dunno if there’s any need to get involved in intensive competitions this late in the game, really.</p>

<p>Put those awards on your app. They might not give you an edge per se, but colleges like to see them.</p>

<p>I’ll get to the rest of your q’s later - my mom is hassling me to get off the computer and eat dinner. :p</p>

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<p>Thank you for your response!</p>

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<p>Alright, as for the rest of your questions:</p>

<p>IMO the essay should be like a cross between the two - you don’t want to sound like you’re just spitting out what they want to here, but you don’t want to write a letter to your friend, either. Try to represent yourself eloquently, while at the same time coming across as a real person, not an academic robot.</p>

<p>I personally would recommend that you apply to several non-restrictive EA schools, because then you have your cards in hand around Christmas and can adjust your regular decision application list accordingly. Others might recommend other approaches, though. It’s really up to you - applying EA won’t necessarily affect your admissions chances, it’s all about the benefits of being notified earlier.</p>

<p>Not sure about the interview airfare question. In most cases, there will be available alumni nearby to you in order to conduct interviews without the hassle of airplane flights, etc.</p>

<p>A bad PSAT score has little to do with admissions. If you do well on it, that’s great. If not, it doesn’t really matter. Basically, being a national merit finalist is a plus, but not being one isn’t a minus, if that makes sense.</p>

<p>Losing your 4.0 isn’t a huge deal - there’s not much difference between a 3.95 and 4.0 in the eyes of admissions officers. Neither of these would be classified as “grave” errors in my view - they certainly aren’t helping you, but they won’t kill you either.</p>

<p>Let me know if you’ve got anymore questions, I’ll do my best to help you out.</p>

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<p>Great! It sounds like you’ve been through this process many times. </p>

<p>Are you in a prestigious college already or are you applying like me?</p>

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<p>I’m actually a rising junior with way too much time on my hands and a borderline-obsessive passion for research. :p</p>

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<p>highopes, you took the words right out of my mouth!</p>

<p>Some additional tips:

  • Colleges won’t see your PSAT score; it has absolutely no affect on college admissions.
  • If you want to do an on-campus interview, they probably won’t provide air transportation money. Usually when people do on-campus interviews, their parents drive them. It’s unusual for people to actually fly to another campus just to visit and have an interview, especially when there are alumni interviews.
  • One B doesn’t really matter at all.
  • Other things to do in summer: get some summer reading done, look at the previous year’s financial aid application and go over with your parents to make sure you/they know how to do it.</p>
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<p>First, it’s 1 A- in ap physics C semester and second, does reporting my to be status as commended do anything? </p>

<p>Also, do you guys know some test prep sites for SAT II biology, physics, and math. In particular biology. I haven’t found any helpful sites (with good mc questions) except for NY Regents. Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>Whoa. and I thought I was middle class. But apparently, I’m low, low, low.</p>

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<p>no irrelevant posts please. :)</p>

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<p>I don’t know too many SAT prep sites, I usually buy the books instead. If you look on ebay or Amazon marketplace, you can find cheap secondhand books. On the other hand, if you find a good SAT II website, let me know, ok? ;)</p>

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<p>Do not, I repeat DO NOT, apply anywhere Early Decision if you will need to compare financial aid packages. Non-binding Early Action is OK, Rolling Admission is OK, but absolutely no Early Decision. You will want to put all the offers together after April 1 and see which is going to be best for you and your parents.</p>

<p>If your parents haven’t already run one of the FAFSA calculators, ask them to do so. Start with the calculator at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) . Before you fall in love with any of your schools, be clear about how much money your parents have available to pay for your education.</p>

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<p>Ok…so did you know that at Stanford and Yale if your parents make below 120K you pay on a sliding scale. 100k and under NO tuition! 60K and under NO tuition and No room and board! It is a great new financial aid package that can make going to Stanford or Yale cheaper than most state schools for “middle class”. So all you have to do is get in! I think you have a fairly good chance, Good Luck!</p>

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<p>woah so youre saying 1 A- is a grave error in your academic career?</p>

<p>ha. haha.
wow.</p>