Are my chances realistic?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey everyone, I'm in the process of trying to narrow down the schools I'm going to visit/apply to and I was looking for some thoughts.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.56 weighted</p>

<p>Class Rigor: will graduate with 3 APS and 9 honors classes.</p>

<p>Applying: Political Science</p>

<p>SAT: 1920, 660 CR, 650 M, and 610 W</p>

<p>Awards: PFEW Scholarship, Furman Scholar, Published in Philly Inquirer and many mock trial awards (both best attorney, and best witness)</p>

<p>Leadership: Mock Trial team captain, Speak Up Leader</p>

<p>ECs: Speak Up (organization to better communication between adults and teens), Mock Trial, 2 Theater groups, Spirit Association, PR Club, Art Club, Cappies (write critiques on plays, best ones are published), Soccer, and Cheerleading</p>

<p>Schools im considering:
Furman (Target)
Elon (Target)
Loyola Maryland (Safety)
Loyola Chicago (Safety)
Fordham (Target)
NYU (Reach)
Penn State (Safety)
Wake Forest (Reach)
James Madison (Safety)
Richmond (Reach)
Gettysburg (Target)
Fairfield (Safety)
Colgate (Reach)
American (Target)</p>

<p>I really want a school with a good pre-law program because I want to go to Temple law school after undergrad. So please feel free to recommend schools! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>There is no such thing as a pre-law program. You can study any subject at any school. Entrance into law school is mostly related to GPA and LSAT scores. Go to a school you can afford where you can get good grades.</p>

3

<p>I don’t think you can call Penn State a safety. Your stats put you in match range the way I see it. I’d investigate further on that one if I were you. The rest of your assumptions seem more or less reasonable, as far as I can tell.</p>

4

<p>Penn State is a match or low reach for you I would have to think, based on your weighted GPA. Thats 2/3 of their decision, and for a weighted GPA its pretty low. I would suggest taking another AP class or two if you can.</p>

5

<p>I listed Penn State as a safety because I have a ton of connections (legacy, relatives receiving big awards, etc). And schools have a pre-law focus which is what I’m probably going to do, because I’m going to major in political science. But thanks for the input!</p>

6

<p>Yeah, I don’t think those factors put you in the safety category for Penn State. Really. That’s not to say you have no chance, but it’s not a safety.</p>

7

<p>Penn State only considers alumni relations. [C</a>. Freshman Admission](<a href=“Error Page”>Error Page)</p>

8

<p>And let’s not forget that making admission decisions based on people’s “connections” is a recipe for scandal for state schools. It toppled an administration at the University of Illinois!</p>

9

<p>That’s true, but because I go to a fairly rigorous prep school the average GPA for accepted students is actually lower than mine according to my naviance account, but who knows.</p>

10

<p>A 3.56 W GPA means something like a 3.3 UW GPA. Not great.</p>