Afraid of being Rejected by all my Colleges!?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm not completely confident in my academic record. I kept a steady pace through my Freshman and Sophomore years, maintaining a B+ average in my AP/Honors classes, but Junior year my grades plummeted due to various reasons (Sports, Family Issues, depression, etc). But Senior year truly has been a lot better than all 3 years combined, I've received straight As so far and I'm hoping to maintain that for my Mid Year School Report. But I'm not sure how colleges will review my academics and so I worry of being rejected. I'm expecting around a 3.3 UW GPA, shooting for a 2100+ SAT (June Results 1950), and have decent extracurriculars, a good amount of leadership roles, and I am a URM (African American Female) looking to major in Film.</p>

<p>I tried to ask my Guidance Counselor about my chances at some selective colleges but she was more than unhelpful. She really couldn't tell me much I didn't already know my self. So I'm hoping people on CC might have some advice.</p>

<p>I'm looking at the following Colleges:
Reaches:
USC School of Cinematic Arts
Vassar </p>

<p>Low Reaches:
NYU Tisch
Bard College
Colorado College </p>

<p>Matches:
Occidental College
Chapman University - Dodge College (Film)</p>

<p>(in-state) Safeties:
Florida State University
University of Central Florida</p>

2

<p>You don’t have a safety in my opinion. Your SAT score is great, but your GPA is in the bottom quarter for UCF. Ditto for FSU, and FSU places less weight on standardized test scores, which is not good for you. You’re chances are decent at both but by no means assured at either. I’d have to dig through college navigator to suggest an actual safety for you, and it doesn’t seem to be up at the moment.</p>

3

<p>If you are afraid of being rejected by all of your schools, then your “safeties” are not really safety schools. I’m not familiar with the FL state schools but if you want film, maybe look at Emerson in MA.</p>

4

<p>I think that with a 2100 SAT, you will get into a lot of those schools.</p>

<p>There are not that many african americans out there with 2100 SAT scores.</p>

<p>And while you are applying to some good schools, you are not applying to the Harvard and Yales of the world.</p>

<p>In my opinion, if you are a URM, the schools are looking for kids who can do the work at their school. They are not necessarily comparing you to the best candidates. They are simply searching for a URM who is a good candidate. </p>

<p>If they see your 2100 SAT, or even a 1950, in my opinion, that will be enough to get you over the top at at least some of these schools. Plus, you are taking AP classes. Hopefully, you are passing the AP exams, because if you get a B+ grade from your teacher, but a 2 on the exam, to me, that shows to the colleges that there is grade inflation or overly-generous grading.</p>

<p>So many times, I see a URM on CC who says they are valecdiictorian at their school, but they only have an 1800 SAT, and I wonder how that is possible. I think many colleges realize that the A grades that that kid received in all his classes may not be the same as an A had a super competitive private school where the children of the elite go. </p>

<p>That is why standardized tests are necessary. Because it is hard to compare a kid at a big high school in Iowa to a kid from a small high school in California, to a kid from a high school in downtown Chicago, etc, etc. etc. </p>

<p>That being said, be careful about majoring in film.</p>

<p>The New York Times recently had an article where they wrote about how tough it is for film graduates.</p>

<p>Be sure to at least have a more practical minor, or double major.</p>

<p>Best Wishes</p>

5

<p>FYI, it looks from the common data sets that the florida schools don’t consider race in admissions, so I don’t know how much the URM hook will do for you. I also don’t know if they have an admissions formula where they input SAT, GPA, whatever and it spits out a yes/no. Some publics do that, and if so then you’re in much better shape. I’d call the admissions offices at both FSU and UCF to ask them how they determine admission or rejection.</p>

6

<p>I think Bard has an early admission program that informs you—maybe in December?? Anyway, that would save you from applying to schools you want less (unless there are financial issues). For reaches, I’m surprised that you don’t have Wesleyan on your list. They have an ED II program if you are willing to commit by January 1 and that might give you a slight edge…</p>

7

<p>What can your family afford? NYU (for example) will cost you >$50K/year.</p>

8

<p>I wouldn’t call Occidental a match, but it is certainly within your reach. Here is their profile. No mention of GPA but there is class rank. What is yours? Your SAT is right in there, which is were I think that might cut a URM some slack, but I’m not sure how much they allow for a GPA. (My D, also a URM applied in 2008)</p>

<p>[Occidental</a> College :: Class Profile](<a href=“http://www.oxy.edu/x1984.xml]Occidental”>http://www.oxy.edu/x1984.xml)</p>

<p>I think I have mentioned this to you before but consider LMU. Again, may not be a match with a 3.3, but it won’t be much of a reach. Not sure about Chapman, but it’s pretty competitive for film majors.</p>

9

<p>I agree that those Florida schools are not safeties. Those schools do use GPA heavily to weed out kids and I’m not sure if they can give URMs special treatment. </p>

<p>I would apply to a couple more Florida publics…maybe USF and FIU</p>

10

<p>I’d put NYU in the reach.</p>

11

<p>New York University has a reputation of giving poor financial aid to “needy” students, so it should be considered a reach (at best) if you need financial aid, even if it would be considered a match or safety for admissions based on academics and such (which is unlikely with a 3.3 GPA).</p>

<p>I.e. you would not only need to get admitted based on academics and such, but you would also need a sufficient financial aid package, which seems unlikely for New York University.</p>

12

<p>bump bump bump</p>

<p>Could anyone give me some more choices for matches and safeties. I seem to be having the most trouble with those.</p>

13

<p>

We can’t suggest safeties until you answer this question.</p>

14

<p>If you want film look to UCF.</p>

15

<p>Check your state schools and see if any offer film as a major for safeties.</p>

16

<p>You’re applying to some of the top schools for film studies and you’ll probably get into at least one. You shouldn’t worry. However, do any of the schools have rolling admissions? An early acceptance will put your mind at ease. If none of them are rolling, here’s one to consider:</p>

<p>[Film</a> and Media Studies: Areas of Study: Department of Communication and Culture: Indiana University Bloomington](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington)</p>

17

<p>@Erin’s Dad I might be a high need applicant so money may be an issue. </p>

<p>@tsdad I’m already looking into UCF for Film.</p>

<p>@OhioMom3000 I have. FSU does, but is highly competitive, so I’ll just be applying as a general applicant. UCF does aswell.</p>

<p>@quakerstake I would consider Indiana Bloomington but they only offer Film and Media Studies not Film Production.</p>

18

<p>

I don’t understand this “might” word in there. Have you looked at your EFC and asked what your parents can afford? They frequently are two very different numbers (what can be afforded vs. what is expected in the EFC). NYU will cost $50K+/year and USC will be similar. I doubt your stats are good enough to get any merit money at either place.</p>