Am I on track for Fordham University?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Fordham University
1

<p>Am I on track for acceptance to Fordham University looking at my first two years of high school? Here is a list of things I have done in my freshman and sophomore years of high school:</p>

<p>Freshman Year</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<ul>
<li>Two Honors Courses (Chemistry Honors and Geometry Honors) </li>
<li>Two Electives (Multimedia Design and Concert Band) </li>
<li>Maximum Number of Credits </li>
<li>Community Service Honors (50+ Community Service Hours) </li>
<li>GPA - 2.957</li>
<li>Chemistry Honors (usually taken by strong juniors at my school): C+</li>
<li>Geometry Honors: C-</li>
<li>World Civilizations: A-</li>
<li>English I: B</li>
<li>Spanish I: B-</li>
<li>Multimedia Design: A</li>
<li>Concert Band: A+ (counted as half of a course)</li>
</ul>

<p>Extracurricular</p>

<ul>
<li>Elected Ninth Grade Class Council Officer</li>
<li>Volunteer at the Children's Section of a local library </li>
<li>Judge in the Elementary School Science Fair</li>
<li>Performed in the School Spring Drama Production</li>
<li>Member of a Roman Catholic Church Youth Group </li>
<li>Host at a School Open House</li>
<li>Wrote and Acted for two different short plays in the Instant Drama Festival (less than 24 hours to write lines and less than 12 hours to learn lines)</li>
<li>Member of the Chess Team</li>
<li>Summer Volunteer at a hospital</li>
</ul>

<p>Sophomore Year (so far)</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<ul>
<li>Two Honors Courses (Biology Honors and Algebra II Honors) </li>
<li>One AP Course (World History AP) </li>
<li>Two Electives (Computer Science and Concert Band) </li>
<li>Maximum Number of Credits </li>
<li>Community Service Honors (50+ Community Service Hours) </li>
<li>GPA - ? </li>
<li>Biology Honors: B+/B</li>
<li>Algebra II Honors: B/B-</li>
<li>World History AP: B/B-</li>
<li>English II: B+</li>
<li>Spanish II: B-</li>
<li>Computer Science: A/B+</li>
<li>Concert Band: A+ (counted as half of a course)</li>
<li>PSAT - 184 (without prior preparation)</li>
<li>PLAN - 22 (without prior preparation)</li>
</ul>

<p>Extracurricular</p>

<ul>
<li>Elected Executive Council Secretary (Highest Student Council Position Available to a Sophomore; Planning to run for Executive Council Vice President next year)</li>
<li>Elected Tenth Grade Class Council Officer (served until elected Executive Council Secretary)</li>
<li>Member of the Cross Country team</li>
<li>Member of the Swim team</li>
<li>Member of the Tennis team</li>
<li>Weekly Volunteer at the Children's Section of a local library</li>
<li>Performed in the Fall and Spring Drama Productions</li>
<li>Member of the Set Construction/Technical Crews for the Fall and Spring Drama Productions </li>
<li>Member of a Roman Catholic Church Youth Group </li>
<li>Founding Member of a Junior State of America chapter (Appointed to the position of Chapter Secretary & Director of Debate for next year)</li>
<li>Appointed to lead the chapter at the JSA Spring State Conference</li>
<li>Model United Nations delegate</li>
<li>Wrote and Acted for two different short plays in the Instant Drama Festival (less than 24 hours to write lines and less than 12 hours to learn lines)</li>
<li>Staff Writer for the School Newspaper</li>
<li>Staff Writer for the School Literary Magazine</li>
<li>Member of the Community Service Board </li>
<li>Member of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter </li>
<li>Founding Officer of the 30 Hour Famine Chapter </li>
<li>Member of the Chess Club </li>
<li>Host at School Open Houses and School Orientation</li>
<li>Vice President of the Sports Writing Club</li>
</ul>

<p>Summer Plans </p>

<ul>
<li>Teen Leadership Summer Volunteer at a hospital</li>
<li>Mission Trip in Nicaragua for one week during the summer</li>
<li>(Hopefully) Attending the Junior State of America Northeast Institute on Leadership and National Security at Princeton University in the summer</li>
<li>(Hopefully) Attending the National Student Leadership Conference in Law & Advocacy or Intelligence & National Security</li>
<li>Attending the U.S. Naval Academy Swim Camp</li>
</ul>

<p>My overall goal is to enter the U.S. Navy as an Officer after graduation, serve for a few years, then transition to the U.S. Navy Reserve and attend a top law school.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>Here is the profile for the class of 2015. Applications are up again this year so admissions is getting more competitive all the time.
[Class</a> Profile](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/admissions/undergraduate_admiss/applying/class_profile_28473.asp]Class”>http://www.fordham.edu/admissions/undergraduate_admiss/applying/class_profile_28473.asp)</p>

3

<p>The Grim Reaper of College Admissions is that no matter how nice you are and how committed to your extracurricular activities, the bottom line for ALL schools is your GPA and SAT, then class rank and EC’s. </p>

<p>Many applicants have a lot of EC’s and many of those are fabulous internships. I think the error some kids make is that they think EC’s can erase a mediocre GPA or SAT. They don’t at schools that are highly or uber selective. </p>

<p>If you are happy with what you are doing, the level of your school work, and your commitment to EC’s, then I wouldnt recommend changing who you are for one or more schools. Instead find the schools that fit your profile and your interests. </p>

<p>On the other hand, if you pared down your EC activity and spent more time on your school work would your GPA significantly improve? Were your PSAT’s high? </p>

<p>Realistically to get into Fordham you need a 3.5 or better, with a strong curriculum. And an SAT of 1250 or better. The goal with ANY applicant for school is to be in the 50th percentile or better…and really to be in the 75Th percentile. If you are below the 50th percentile you have a poor chance of being admitted. (Not impossible, and exceptions do occur, but that is often for athletes or something else extraordinary.) </p>

<p>Its up to you to decide who you are, where you really want to be and what is possible in the final two years of your high school curriculum (knowing that Junior Year is really the last year to show improvement since applications are due early in your senior year.) </p>

<p>If dropping some EC’s and putting the rubber to the road you can realistically focus on your schoolwork and get that GPA up to 3.5, then go for it. But if that is not who you are, then you need to find some schools that fit your profile, where you will be happy and thrive. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>