Am I on the right track? Chance me and I'll chance back :)

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>User Name: JoshByron
Gender: M
Location: Southborough, MA
College Class Year: 2016 (rising junior)
High School: Private
High School Type: sends many grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.93
GPA - Weighted: 0.00
Class Rank: 4/65 - top 5%</p>

<ul>
<li>I received a 67% on my first semester of advanced French, but then I was placed in beginners French and received a 96%.</li>
</ul>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 560
SAT I Critical Reading: 560
SAT I Writing: 610</p>

<p>*Will definitely take maybe two more times (I am ONLY a sophomore right now)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars:
Model United Nations (9th-10th so far)
Student Government (9th-10th so far)
National Honors Society (9th-10th so far)
Student Newspaper (10th so far)
Earth Club (10th so far)
Film Club (10th so far)
Bencaleth (10th)
Casitas Kennedy (10th)
Book Club (10th)
Interact Program (9th)</p>

<p>Leadership positions:
Class President (9th grade)
Class Senator (10th grade)
Student Newspaper - Treasurer (10th grade)
Film Club - Co-Founder & Vice-President (10th grade)
Model United Nations - Travel Team (9th-10th grade)
Earth Club - Founder & President (10th grade)</p>

<p>Athletic Status:
Baseball (4 years so far)
Tennis (2 years so far)
Track (one year)
Cross Country (starting next year)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work:
I was a member of Bencaleth, the Interact Club, and Casitas Kennedy (community service clubs) as well as NHS, where community service hours are needed to continue being a member (around 150+ hours so)</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
Honorable Mention at CMUNCE in Columbia University (10th grade)
Golden Talon Award (10th grade - only one person in each grade gets it each semester)
Value of the Month - Discipline and Humility - Award (given only to one student each quarter - 10th grade)
Excellence Award in World History 1 (9th grade)
Excellence Award in Earth Science (9th grade)
Excellence Award in English (9th grade)
1st Place in Science fair (9th grade)</p>

<p>Summer programs:
NYFA 2008
USAID internship in Honduras 2010
(hopefully) Summer@Brown or Summer at the Sorbonne 2011</p>

<p>Colleges of Interest:</p>

<p>Columbia University
Brown University
Dartmouth College
Yale University
New York University
Cornell University
Georgetown University
Northwestern University
Tufts University
Johns Hopkins University
University of Chicago
University of California-Berkeley</p>

<p>Also Considering:</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon University
Duke University
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of Virginia
Boston University</p>

<p>****Also, I've lived in 7 different 3rd world countries (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Bolivia, Haiti, and Honduras) since my parents work for the foreign service/state department. I'm starting school in the fall at a competitive boarding school in MA (St. Mark's). I don't know if any of that will boost my chances. Also, I'd be a first generation applicant AND I'm hispanic, in case that might also boost my chances.</p>

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<p>Sorry it’s so long :(</p>

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<p>keep the grades up and get a really high gpa. have lots of extracurrics and take the sats again and get at least a 2300 for the ivies but seems like your on the right track! good luck but you have time so dont stress :D</p>

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<p>Right, your SATs are low. Try taking the ACT, maybe you will get a better score. Good scores and GPA so far, you’re on track.</p>

<p>Chance me: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/953055-please-chance.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/953055-please-chance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks ^^</p>

<p>I was thinking about taking the ACT, but I think I’ll stick with the SAT - I already have several books, flashcards, etc. But, for being a sophomore only, I’m pretty happy with a 1730 (of course, anything higher would have been better). I’m probably going to take it about two more times, once in December and then again in May (hopefully I’ll get my score up to a 1950 or 2000 by December, and then up to a 2200 or so by May). But, would a 2200 suffice for the schools I aforementioned?</p>

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<p>Yes, as a rising junior, you are on the right track, and, like everyone else said, get that SAT up! That’s awesome about living in all of those countries… it must have been a great experience!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/953745-chance-me-please-i-shall-chance-you-return.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/953745-chance-me-please-i-shall-chance-you-return.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>The only thing really holding you back is your SAT scores which are something of a far cry from an Ivy League level. But then again, you’re coming into your junior year - you’ve got quite a while to improve them.</p>

<p>Good luck, and chance back
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/953304-chances-ivy-league-equivalent-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/953304-chances-ivy-league-equivalent-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I agree with the above posters. Even as an URM, a 1700 is on the low side. If you can bump it up to a 2100, you’d stand a significantly better chance. 400 points may seem daunting, but all it takes is some free time and determination.</p>

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<p>you need to find some safeties.</p>

<p>bumping your SAT to 2250+ (what you’ll need) is going to take a lot of work. it may not happen. in that case, def. try to find some safer admits, as you’re not guaranteed at much of any of those (and they’re all rather pricey), so find some schools that should easily admit you.</p>

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<p>Thanks. I am planning on raising my SAT score. When I first took the PSAT I was in the 140s (I know, horrible :() but, when I took it a second time I got a 156. And when I first took the actual SAT I got a 1730…so, I’ve already been able to raise it around 300 points (if you convert the PSAT scores to the estimated SAT scores). So, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to raise it at least 300 points by the end of the year, giving me something in the 2100s. And, maybe I could raise it even more :D</p>

<p>Thanks everyone, for all your help. Although, I do have a question. Do you think you could kind of compare my stats to the colleges I posted? For example – NYU: Match, Georgetown: Low-reach, Yale: High-reach/impossible, etc. </p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Oh, and in another post I saw that some schools, like Princeton, Stanford (I believe), Carnegie Mellon and a few more don’t look at your freshman year grades, which is perfect!!! That means they wont see my horrible 67% in advanced french :smiley: I guess I’ll add Princeton to my list then… :)</p>

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<p>I see EVERYTHING except BU as out of your reach at this point.</p>

<p>You raised your PSAT over the course of several years by being in school and learning more things. You expect a 500 point increase now (you’ll need that much)? Assuming that you’ve been taught all of the material that’s on the SAT, that’s damned near impossible.</p>

<p>I’ll put it this way: if you accomplish that, Collegeboard will likely flag it for cheating and you’ll have a tough time defending your score. This test is not designed for people to study up another 500 points. </p>

<p>I told you, find safeties. Don’t add more reaches.</p>

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<p>IBFootballer, would a 2230 really be necessary for the schools I listed (even Tufts, UofChicago, and NYU?) Cause, I believe you got a 2200 and were still accepted to both Tufts and University of Chicago…so, are you implying that you’re…I don’t know…more well rounded than I am? :D</p>

<p>And I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to raise my score up to a 2300 if it’s needed. I’m pretty determined, not to be cocky :slight_smile: And, I still have about a year and a half before I can pretty much no longer take the SAT due to college app. deadlines…</p>

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<p>Oh, and IBFootballer, congrats on Tufts :slight_smile: It’s actually on the top of my list right now, next to UofChicago, Dartmouth, and NYU…and maybe Brown and Berkeley…(those are the only schools I’m actually REALLY INTO - I still have to narrow my list) :D</p>

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<p>Your ECs are awesome… especially the leadership stuff. you seem like a well-rounded candidate. i would agree with everybody else… those SATs are crucial so definitely keep practicing. I think you might have taken it a little early. I know people who took the SAT at the beginning of junior year and the end of junior year and their scores jumped liked 150 points or so… your brain actually undergoes a lot of physical changes when you’re this age so don’t take the SAT until you’re sure you can get the score you want. Good luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/955353-chance-me-some-ivies-duke-rice-vandy-gtown-etc.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/955353-chance-me-some-ivies-duke-rice-vandy-gtown-etc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks, but you don’t seem to be listening to me.</p>

<p>Getting in to every school you’ve listed is contingent on increasing your SAT score substantially. The CB has designed the SAT so that this does NOT happen. The average change in each section of the SAT for people retaking it is within 20 points either way. You’re looking for 150-200 points across the board. You must realise that this is very likely NOT going to happen, and if your list stays the way it is, you may very well NOT GET A SINGLE ACCEPTANCE. Yeah, you may pull off a really big SAT increase. But you must also plan for the very likely circumstance that you will not, and look at schools more in your range.</p>

<p>My final SAT score was a 2290. I applied as a varsity football player, captain of the debate team, amateur foreign policy analyst, and full-IB diploma candidate with 8 APs by senior year (from a programme which schools recognise as one of the toughest IB programmes in the world). No offence, but my demographic is more of a sweetspot. Moreover, my essays were outstanding.</p>

<p>Yes, you need a much higher SAT score. You need in the 2250s + for Uchicago, 2100s+ for Tufts, and 2050+ for NYU. </p>

<p>You are not at the point where adding Princeton to your list is called for. Your application , as it stands now with your SATs, would not be considered at many of the schools you’re applying to.</p>

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<p>OP seems like the only thing really holding you back is SATs…Remember when I had the same feelings that you’re probably having. I was in this program called Duke Gifted and Talented or something like that and my SATs were only 1350 shortly after 6th grade…but that was with no studying at all. Today if I took them (now in 10th grade I’d probably get around 1950. Hopefully in another year 2200 for JHU.</p>

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<p>Thanks rrr321 :)</p>

<p>And yeah, I’m definitely going to continue practicing for the SAT. :)</p>

<p>And thanks dylandlima :)</p>

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<p>Wow, IBfootballer, brag much? For someone who stated they didn’t believe in the Ivies, you seem to be pretty much a snob…</p>

<p>My current school is also IB, so so far all my 10th grade classes have been Pre-IB…but what I don’t understand is how you were able to take 8 AP courses when you were full IB…that kind of seems impossible, no offense* Also, as I mentioned in my original post, I will be attending a rather competitive (ranked 12th in the US, also renowned and recognized** as one of the best in the world) prep boarding school (just like you bragged about your school being recognized as having one of the best IB programmes in the world).</p>

<p>And why do you have to be so pessimistic? I truly believe I can raise my score up to a 2200. Just wait and see :slight_smile: And, btw, I know of several (several would be an understatement, but it is the only word I can think of that would fit) people who were able to raise there SAT score from 200 to even 500 points.</p>

<p><em>Most commonly spelled as offense, not offence. :slight_smile:
*</em> Also most commonly spelled as recognized, not recognised :slight_smile: –> at least in the US.</p>

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<p>“are you implying that you’re…I don’t know…more well rounded than I am? :-D”</p>

<p>you asked, I replied. not to mention that your question wasn’t exactly exuding humility, either. Your tone was met with…firmness.</p>

<p>I took AP USgov Freshman Year, USH and ES sophomore year, Eng. Lit, Spanish, AB Calc, Macro, and Micro Junior year. 6 or 7 APs by Junior year at my school is pretty standard for IB students at my school because while we don’t take 6 or 7 AP classes, our IB classes are designed to prepare us to take the AP (classes like English HL, Econ, and Spanish). I threw in APES because I like that kind of stuff.</p>

<p>I also spell my words with correct (British) English (somewhat of a personal quirk, and ‘correct’ is intended to be sarcastic).</p>

<p>I never said that it wasn’t possible to pull your score up that much, but it is highly, highly unlikely. 500 point jumps are not supposed to happen, otherwise Collegeboard wouldn’t be selling a very good product. You must be prepared for the event that you don’t raise your SAT high enough. Even if you do, and even with your grades, you may still not get in to a school you want. Moreover, you still lack a single financially reliable safety school on your list, which means that you may be posed with a similarly bad problem come May of your senior year: not having a college you can afford.</p>