Are these schools unrealistic for me?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I realize that I'm a bit early because I'm only a rising junior, but I really need to know if I am not the right fit for these schools. My parents doubt that I can get into these schools, so I am looking for some feedback. If it seems like these are too big of reaches, some lower tier suggestions would be appreciated. :)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.96 unweighted. My school weights a little differently, so I'm not going to include this.</p>

<p>Rank: Top 1% of about 700 students</p>

<p>ACT: Unfortunately, no score yet. I'm taking it twice this year though, and I've taken some practice tests. I'm in the low thirties, hope to increase it by a few points.</p>

<p>SAT II: 770 USH, taking two more next year. I took WH as a freshman and scored poorly, so I wouldn't send that.</p>

<p>AP: </p>

<p>9th: WHAP (4)
10th: APUSH (5), AP Euro (5)
11th: AP Chemisty, AP English, AP US Government, AP Macro, AP Micro
12th: Not quite sure what I'm taking senior year, but I'll take 5-6 exams.</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<ol>
<li>I play soccer competitively. It takes up a lot of time because my team competes regionally, and we travel to different states just for regular season games. I also play high school soccer.</li>
<li>I run varsity XC as much as I can, but soccer sometimes gets in the way.</li>
<li>I'm VP of German Club, maybe president next year?</li>
<li>I'm joining NHS, so I'll be getting a lot of volunteer hours. It is very serious at my school.</li>
</ol>

<p>Sadly, I don't have anything more than that... /: This will probably hurt me.</p>

<p>Hooks: I'm looking to be a recruited athlete at the D3 level schools that I am listing. Also, though I am not 100% sure, I believe that I am a first generation college student.</p>

<p>Schools:</p>

<p>University of Chicago (dream school)
Washington University in St. Louis
Tufts University
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Rochester
Johns Hopkins University (maybe)
Case Western (maybe)
Cornell University
Northwestern University
Vanderbilt University
University of Michigan (in-state)
University of Wisconsin -- Madison
University of Illinois -- Urbana Champaign</p>

<p>Obviously this needs to be slimmed down. I have a couple of safeties in mind. My first five are definitely my favorites though. Please don't say to come back when I have test scores and whatnot. I just really need some advice for these next two years!</p>

2

<p>Your SAT1 or ACT scores will be the tipping point. If you come up with an 1800, SAT, for instance, my answer would be game over for most of those schools. With a 2200, you have good chance. That is really the single most important thing in an appl. I inow kids who got any of those schools with a 3.0. Don’t know any (except the state schools) accepted with a sub 1360 math/verbal two part SAT 1 without a strong hook, and I mean like recruited athlete. That’s how heavily your test scores will weigh in there. With high test scores and continued good performance, you;ll likely get into a number,maybe all of the schools. Without it, maybe the state schools, but not the private colleges on your list.</p>

3

<p>Come back to CC in a year. Your junior year grades, leadership, and test scores are very very important, and we cannot chance you without them. </p>

<p>Having said that, you’re clearly on the right track. Keep being awesome, and good luck!</p>

4

<p>Since you have a 3.96 and 5’s on the APs you took, I expect a 33+/2250+ as your final test score, with that, you stand competitive at these schools as a potentially recruited athlete! uChicago does not recruit in the traditional sense btw, keep that in mind :)</p>

5

<p>I agree: come back in a year. You’re on the right track. Maybe next summer you should do something with your extra time (shadowing, volunteering, etc) because it seems like you haven’t been doing much in the summer (other than training). This coming year try to get leadership and add one club relevant to your intended major. Hopefully next year you’ll be a recruit at more schools :)</p>

6

<p>Essays are going to be crucial, especially for UChicago, as well as test scores. Colleges say they prefer depth to breadth, so your obvious love of soccer shouldn’t be too much of a problem. But I have to warn you: Chicago is very expensive (upwards of $60,000/year, and it’s just going to get higher) and doesn’t offer a very good financial aid package. I have a friend who was accepted with merit and athletic scholarships which only offered less than $10,000 combined. He couldn’t afford it. It’s horrible to be accepted into your dream school and not be able to go. Before you get your heart <em>too</em> set on such an expensive school, you may want to look into that. Sorry, I don’t mean to be a downer, and of course they may have improved their policies by the time we apply. I hope you succeed in life!</p>

7

<p>Alternatively, my D got her best FA package from U of Chicago last year… so you can’t tell for sure. Agree with those who say test scores are where you need to focus. You mentioned the ACT, but you may want to try the SAT as well. Some students do better on one than the other. If you can do well on your tests (say, 34 ACT or 2200 SATs), you have a good chance at a lot of these schools. Are you taking the PSAT this fall? Study up – you may be eligible for NMF if you do well, and if you have a good score you can extrapolate to the 50% ranges (just add 0 to the end of each PSAT section score) for these colleges to show them that you do have a good shot at them.</p>

<p>One other thing you need to do is run the net price calculator for these schools. You may get admitted to quite a few of these if your test scores are good, but can you afford them? You are very lucky that you have U of M as an in-state option if cost is an issue for you. You will need your parents’ help to run them, though. So maybe work hard to do well on the PSAT, and in Dec/January when you have scores and can show your parents that some of these schools are realistic, ask for their help with the calculators.</p>

8

<p>All I can give you is target scores at this point.</p>

<p>U Chicago: Reach
Tufts: Reach
Vanderbilt: Reach
UWI: Aim for 29+/2000+
UIUC: Aim for 30+/2050+
UMI: Aim for 31+/2100+
CMU: Aim for 32+/2150+ (for something other than CS)
JHU: Aim for 33+/2200+
NWU: Reach
WUSTL: Reach
Cornell: Reach
U Rochester: Aim for 29+/2000+
Case Western: Aim for 30+/2050+</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all of your opinions. The SAT is definitely not for me. Trust me, I’ve tried that out. I hope my ability to be recruited can be enough of a hook. I would just much rather be at a D3 rather than a school like Michigan because I want to be able to play my sport. I’ve been talking with some coaches.</p>

<p>So as long as my ACT turns out how I expect, then I have a chance? And I’ll make sure to try to do something next summer. It’s pretty busy regardless, but I’ll start looking. I’ve done a little bit of volunteering this summer, but not much. Thanks. :)</p>

10

<p>Why don’t you also look at some smaller D3 schools that are highly ranked for soccer? If you play competitively, that would definitely help you get in (as long as you score well on the ACT).
I’m thinking of Messiah and Scranton, although with your stats why not aim for Williams, NYU, Vassar, Kenyon, Haverford or Brandeis?</p>

11

<p>Perhaps your safety can be a D2 school…</p>

12

<p>I have a couple of small D3 schools that are interested in me in my home state. And thanks for the suggestions. I’ll look into some of those schools. :)</p>

13

<p>Have you run the net price calculators? I really don’t think getting admitted is likely to be your problem assuming you get a pretty good ACT score. But paying for it may be. I am sure you know that D3 schools don’t give athletic scholarships. If you are first gen, your parents may not understand the cost of these schools or much about financial aid. First step is the calculators to see whether you can even afford any of the schools on your list.</p>

14

<p>You’re looking great so far! Don’t let your parents get you too worried, just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be just fine.</p>

15

<p>I’ll run the net price calculators this weekend. I’ve always thought about it, but never got around to it. But I agree that it is a good idea. Thanks for the input :)</p>