African American's Chances at Top Colleges

<p>Hey guys,
I wanted to know what my chances are for these schools. Feel free to post any advice and stuff like that, I could really use the help. If you could chance with things like "match" "reach" and "safety" too, I'd also appreciate that. Thanks!
Here are the schools:
Lehigh University
Georgetown University
University of Miami
Penn State UP
Uconn
UMaryland CP
University of Notre Dame
University of Texas at Austin
Emory University
University of Southern California</p>

<p>I would say my top choices are USoCal especially, Emory, and Georgetown, and Im interested in Business.</p>

<p>Stats/Info
Junior, African American Male
GPA: 3.85 UW (no weighted at my school)
PSAT:191
SAT: (Ive only taken the practice so far) but 1850 ___ 640 CR, 620 W, 580 M</p>

<p>-Honors Geometry, Honors English 9, Honors Global History, Honors Biology</p>

<p>EC's:
-Chess Club
-Varsity Soccer Captain and also on a Nationally ranked and globally rcognized soccer team
-Future Business Leaders Treasurer
-Model UN
-National Junior Honor Society (does this count?)
-Volunteered at an African village of Azope in Ivory Coast to help reconstruct homes (around 30-50 volunteer hours)
-Made a Tutoring business and made an organization out of it
-Honor Roll for all years
-Will participate in Emory precollege program
-I work on my father's rubber tree plantation and will soon take complete ownership of it
-Won First Place award and a second place award in the schoolwide science fairs
-I taught myself to speak fluent French in about a year
-Taught myself to play cello, clarinet, xylophone and african djembe, member of the Orchestra</p>

<p>Background: Well I'm a US citizen from NY but at 15 and lived there until then, but we moved to the Ivory Coast in West Africa and that's where I live now; it's a rather poor and underdeveloped country, but it's our families home. (I'm planning on writing my essay on this experience.) At my old school I did honors classes and stuff but here at my new school they don't offer such courses. There's also a lack of clubs and activities here. Im also coaching myself to take the AP Physics and English exams, since there are no AP classes here.
Thanks for reading this, and any of your messages will be appreciated!</p>

<p>Also, any recommended schools would also be taken into consideration and I can answer any questions.</p>

<p>P.S. Do you guys think that the diversity aspect of this app could maybe cover up for the subpar SAT score? Like enough for an admittance??</p>

<p>r u a sophomore</p>

<p>No, junior</p>

<p>Really cool stuff with the rubber plantation. The fact that you’re doing all this from the Ivory Coast is pretty darn impressive. I’m guessing you don’t need to apply as international (?)
Lehigh University - Reach
Georgetown University - High reach
University of Miami - Target
Penn State UP - Target
Uconn - Target
UMaryland CP - Safety
University of Notre Dame - Low reach
University of Texas at Austin - Low Reach
Emory University - I think you can make it
University of Southern California - Reach</p>

<p>Thanks BearGlove! Yea, it’s pretty cool, it’s what made me interested in doing business. Im a US citizen, so im assuming im not an international.</p>

<p>Practice more for the SAT and try taking the ACT. By this point in your junior year, you should already have taken actual tests. </p>

<p>Yea, I’ve been practicing a lot and am planning to take the SAT this May. Thanks</p>

<p>You have a great GPA and excellent EC’s. Try and take the most challenging course your school has to offer. If your school only offers a limited amount of AP’s or honors, the college will see that and understand that you were limited by your available options. The only thing holding you back is your test scores. Keep practicing and try to get to 2000+, it will really help for schools like Georgetown, Emory, and ND.
With your current test scores (1850):
Lehigh University - Low reach / reach
Georgetown University - Reach
University of Miami - Low reach, high match
Penn State UP - High match
Uconn - Match
UMaryland CP - Safety
University of Notre Dame - Reach
University of Texas at Austin - Low Reach
Emory University - Reach
University of Southern California - Low reach
Remember to never give up and keep studying and your SAT score will improve. I am living proof: I was around the 600-630s on my practice tests when I started studying in October, and it was frustrating to not see improvement, but after a few months my scores began to improve, and I just got a 2100 on my March SAT with a 770 in math. Maybe you should try the ACT? Some people find that test easier. Work hard and good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks d0texe! That was quite inspiring and impressive; it actually gave me a lot of confidence to start studying early and rigorously for the SAT. I can’t take the ACT though, they don’t offer it here in Africa :confused: . </p>

<p>Anyone else please? All and any comments are welcome :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Lehigh University- Reach
Georgetown University- Reach
University of Miami- Match/high match
Penn State UP- high match
Uconn- match
UMaryland CP- safety/match
University of Notre Dame-reach
University of Texas at Austin- low reach/high match
Emory University- Low Reach
University of Southern California- Low reach
I would recommend retaking the SAT :slight_smile: Your GPA and EC’s are good/great! Also, do you have the option to take SAT subject tests?</p>

<p>Lehigh University- :Low Reach
Georgetown University- Reach
University of Miami- match
Penn State UP- high match
UConn- match
UMaryland CP- safety
University of Notre Dame- Reach
University of Texas at Austin- high match
Emory University- Low Reach
University of Southern California- Low reach
Work on SAT a bit and your fine for most of these
chance- <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1636322-chance-for-bachelors-of-science-nurse-bsn-undergrad-colleges.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1636322-chance-for-bachelors-of-science-nurse-bsn-undergrad-colleges.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>okay, thanks everyone! I’m not sure if I have the option of taking any subject tests, I’m not sure they’re offered here in Ivory Coast. I’ll look into it. But for sure I’ll be taking the SATs, im glad this is only my practice score. I’ll make sure to really study hard and try for the 2000s.
.</p>

<p>…I’ll chance back!</p>

<p>Lool being completely honest that’s what I was thinking, johnpfc3 XD thanks!</p>

<p>thanks again :)</p>

<p>done</p>

<p>You know that the guesses here are only as good as your guesses for someone else. You have an unusual and interesting situation and you’d be better asking in the advice section not the chances. Say if you are full pay or not. </p>

<p>Better check which schools require SAT II, you might have to eliminate them if you can’t take it. Georgetown wants 3 iirc.</p>

<p>Look in the SAT - Preparation subforum for the pinned posts by xiggi and silverturtle for SAT prep tips. From your psat, I’d say you should be able to break 2000 if not higher if you go through the steps.</p>

<p>ok, very helpful advice BrownParent, thanks! For future reference everyone, I’m not full pay, I’ll be needing aid.</p>

<p>GPA is okay, but if raised up a little more it would be great. Raise SAT score too, and you’ll really have a great chance with most of these schools! Best of luck to you, and thanks for chancing mine!</p>

<p>Lehigh University- : Low reach
Georgetown University- Reach, maybe with a good SAT score on the real one, you could have a good chance!
University of Miami- Match
Penn State UP- High Match
UConn- Match
UMaryland CP- Definitely
University of Notre Dame- Reach
University of Texas at Austin- high match
Emory University- Low Reach
University of Southern California- Low reach, again with the SAT score.</p>