Another kid with the same question What are my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone, just signed up after viewing a lot of helpful resources. I can’t really find many helpful points that would fit me except the overall theme of being passionate. Just looking for some other thoughts.

  1. I'm not going to college the same year I graduated high school (gap year)

I’m latino, male, come from a 500 member class high school, and ranked in the top 10%.

My gpa unweighted is 3.93
Gpa weighted 4.3
ACT: 34 (essay 9)
AP: US history (4), Spanish (awaiting score, prob. 4)
College classes: 15 courses (from math, English, physics to communications, arts)

I’ve chosen to take night classes at the community college my senior year instead of AP classes because I thought the change of atmosphere I was accustomed to would be nice for a change (I like meeting new people). 1 AP score to stress me out or new people at a college that seemed nicer than 1 giant determining test seemed to weigh the benefits in my decision.

EC’s: City youth council leader (leadership and service 4 years). Religious youth leader over 500 students (1 year). President of a frisbee club that I created (2 years). Played in a Jazz band which placed well in a state competition (2 years). Service in Latino’s in Action for a year.

Job-ish: Worked for two local politicians in their campaign, a canvasser for a summer.

This summer I’m devoting my time to creating a program to help students in school who are struggling academically (won’t go into detail). And an international online diplomacy opportunity, Wall Street Prep certification and Bloomberg Concepts Certification.

I’m trying to demonstrate myself as a student who is a compassionate leader and wants to work a little of both worlds: business and politics.

Kinda haven’t won anything – I would like to know how to give one heck of an essay.

Weaknesses I see: Lack of AP classes like everyone I know who got accepted. Lack of accolades.

Any advice, criticisms, or something related on my chances into a T20 school?

2

Hey there. Your stats look good. The key question admissions will want to know is why you took a gap year?

The college night classes sounds reasonable, but just make sure you explain it well in your essays. AP classes are preferred as they know that the grading is standardized. Also note that 15 courses might qualify you as a transfer student instead of a new freshman. This could impact your financial aid. Also transfer admissions are harder at T20.

Check each website though, each has their own policy – Columbia for instance does not count college coursework taken during high school. So you would be considered a freshman applicant. But at Yale, you would be considered as a transfer applicant because you have taken > 8 transferable college classes.

3

Academically, you have as good a chance as any other applicant. Getting into a “t20” (if there were really such a thing) is more a matter of money than academics. The biggest hurdle to overcome is the tuition bill. These schools are so difficult to get into, that if you manage to get into one of them, chances are, it will end up not being affordable. That’s why they’re reach schools.

If you do a gap year, you need to do it for the right reason. If you’re doing it to pad your list of accomplishments so you can get into a prestigious school…that’s the WRONG reason. And those colleges can see it a mile away. Don’t cheapen yourself like that. You’ll be surprised how little employers care about school brand name.

4

I looked at the financial aid brackets and my family makes well under 40k. For many top ranked schools they have good financial aid since my family contribution is 0 on FAFSA.

The reason I want to go to a T20 is networking for Investment Banking. It’s extremely hard to break in otherwise. I’ve well thought out this career path and just trying to piece together what I need – can do – to reach there.

Gap year for the right reasons, yeah you have a point. I mentioned the program I wanted to be working on with schools and expand that across multiple districts in my state. Other reasons is “padding” you say, I saw that I am missing calculus like a lot of good applicants so I’m taking college classes over the summer to try and stay in the competition – I think?

5

If you want IB, you’re going to have to shoot for higher than T20. I would say T10 if possible. Even students who attend colleges like Brown have difficulty getting into IB. IB recruiting is mainly about college prestige and whether or not you in the same set of clubs/fraternities as your bros. So networking is key.

What was your reason for the gap year? Would you mind revealing?

6

I tried to establish this in my first comment, I want to help create an educational tool I see lacking in my community – details I won’t express because seems pretty niche. True Brown would be difficult, but less impossible than an unknown school on basis of prestige.

7

Ok thanks. So you’re taking time off from school for a non-profit or educational program of some sort. Got it. I know you don’t want to reveal to much to avoid doxxing yourself. But just know that the colleges will want a crystal clear reason on why you took a gap year. Good for you.

The top IB schools are (in no particular order): Wharton, Harvard, Yale, NYU Stern, UChicago, Columbia, Princeton. If you got into one of these, it will make getting an IB position much easier.

8

Investment banking is one out of literally thousands of well-paid occupations you can do with a business degree. And it’s not worth taking a gap year over. Even with low income, there’s still a good chance you won’t be able to afford the school even after financial aid…NYU especially. Have you thought about a scholarship?

9

AFAIK, you can take any number of Dual Enrollment college classes while you’re in high school, but as soon as you graduate, taking further community college classes will forfeit your freshman-applicant status. So consider the consequences carefully before you enroll in a summer calculus class.

What’s your home state? Depending on where you are, CC-to-flagship might be a perfectly reasonable path. But if you don’t want to be a CC transfer, don’t keep taking CC classes post-HS-graduation.

10

Thanks Coolguy40. I checked in with their financial aid calculator and seems to be very low still. I feel I will love the atmosphere regardless of high stress and maybe lack of sleep. I take pride in my work when I feel motivated and that’s how I’ve felt when investing in the stock market for fun.

Aquapt CC-flagship could work, but my flagship is not ranked in the top 100 for Finance, as well as, I’ve checked their networking/job-placement info.

Your right about getting out of CC transfer, I’ve decided I will put my hopes for BYU since they have confirmed I will still be classified as a freshman applicant. I do know that Brown has an alright transfer rate and NYU. So I will stay on this path for now and just hope for the best, thanks!

11

Given your stated family income, Questbridge could also be an option - all of the top IB schools that people have listed, except for NYU, are also Questbridge schools. I know that it’s possible to be a Questbridge Scholar after a gap year - it might be worth investigating how CC classes would affect your eligibility there. In addition to an enhanced financial aid package if you Match, being a QB applicant enhances your application even in the RD cycle, so it could be worth checking out. https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match/who-should-apply

12

I didn’t know Questbridge accepted gap year students yes that would fit me well if that is true. I’ll investigate that.

13

Are you in a gap year now? Check each college website to see if they’ll consider you a freshman or a transfer student. Most don’t offer a lot of aid to transfers.

14

Google target schools for IB or MBB for a list. Focus on the business school rankings, not the overall school rankings. If you’re interested in business and ethics maybe consider the Catholic schools like Notre Dame, Fordham, or BC. I liked Fordham and my friend’s kids go to ND and ethics is a big part of the program. They also were very generous with FA. Not too sure about BC.

15

Notre Dame is something I’ll consider thanks.