At a Loss of Words

New Trier is listed when I do a search for it in Naviance so I assume NT uses it like our HS so all you have to do is use it to find schools. Your GC and school should have walked you through it. Do you have access to and have you used Naviance??

I would take WashU off the list, as they prefer full pay and it’s difficult to get any of the merit scholarships.

" For example, Lehigh University has been taking 5 to 7 students from New Trier every year. So does WUSL."

I agree with most of 85Bears46’s post, but this is a great example of how you can’t ignore fit (AKA - what the college is looking for. Not what the applicant is looking for - what the college is looking for. )

If you simply toss in an app to Lehigh or WUSL without doing your research and showing some love, it’s going to result in a fairly certain denial. Both those colleges are up front about how important demonstrated interest is. Both are seeking applicants who show the college is their top choice. So if you haven’t done some work to demonstrate that interest and show in your essays you’re interested and a fit both those colleges will move on to an applicant that has done that.

Yes, there is a time crunch. Yes, OP needs to reconsider the last minute shotgun. But doing that without doing some research may not give any better results.

OP - pick a few potential matches and do this research so you can make sure you show fit. Very, very important.

Naviance is just basics, not the full match. OP already got caught in thinking stats are enough.

Counseling at NT should be better than this thread suggests. Note OP said the GC is writing for 50 kids. Not 500.

I wonder what’s missing here, from OP. I’m also curious about his own grade dustribution, with a 3.75uw. How many non A and in what.

No one’s going to miss that OP is DACA. Or assume wealthy. Btw, NT does offer aid to cover the registration fee, which includes many activities, and more.

I’ve been reading all of your helpful advice and here are some things I’m doing/where I’m at.

  1. I've had all my ACT/SAT scores sent to the colleges that require them to be sent officially.
  2. The supplements for my 16 schools are around 70% done (No, I haven't been just "finalizing lists" and waiting on what to do. I have been writing them beforehand.)
  3. I am also applying to Rochester, Bates, Bowdoin, and Emory but not Case Western (as they don't meet the full demonstrated need)
  4. My counselor and I have figured things out a little. We have sent transcripts and school reports to all the school. What I left now is to just finish the essays.
  5. My parents will hopefully find a job next year and I will be continuing to "work" at my aunt's place.
  6. The schools I am applying to all meet 100% of demonstrated meet need, and I have run the Net Price Calculators which cover rooming and board as well as supplies/textbooks. The majority of them also cover travel expenses, and if they don't my parents and I are sure it's something we can sort out.
  7. I do have the Fiske's guide as well as the book by Mamlet which has been giving me a general idea of what the colleges are.
  8. My high school does have Naviance and I use it to gauge myself - just statwise (I know this isn't the only thing important...hence why I have extracurriculars, leadership positions, and other things like LOR I have been making sure to get down).
  9. My PHC is very helpful and of course, there are things he may not know considering I'm an extremely unique case in my community and I'm probably one of few if not the only one that is DACA + low-income for my PHC.
  10. Also, I have been told WashU is very stat oriented so it will be of benefit to apply (of course I know they pay attention to EC...) and they cover all my financial aid.
  11. Just an FYI to the person I think who was interested in my course load and lowish GPA (3.75), I am taking the most rigorous courseload my school has to offer. This was the case my Junior and Senior year (and my sophomore and freshman year have been rigorous as well).

Also at this point, it would really help me (that I’ve gotten the colleges I’m thinking of down and have figured the logistics of most of this and the scenario I don’t get into any), if someone or some people would be interested on reading some of my essays. I feel like I struggled a bit to “get to the point” and only took specific things about the college and not on a broad perspective (if that even makes sense). Thanks

If you are a dependent of your brother, why isn’t he gifting you his GI bill benefits? You aren’t his “child” but you are a dependent. Check to see if he can transfer his GI bill. https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_transfer.asp

and please strongly consider not saying

when you mean only one parent. This is confusing and could confuse adcomms as well. While some have used the generic plural term, they aren’t applying for a Profile waiver or significant FA. JMO. If some here were confused, others could be as well… where the price is higher, literally and figuratively.

Make sure you triple-check your essays for small grammatical errors and word omissions. Your English teacher may be helpful in this regard.

Well, that’s a welcome change in tone, OP.

But I asked about what grades lower than A because the colleges will look for that. Cores and especially courses related to your major. Eg, if some stem are B, that matters. If you took, eg, AP bio and don’t report the score because it’s less than 4, that matters, adcoms notice.

These are all the points that matter. Not just UW GPA or most rigorous. By my quick figuring, which may be off, you have several B grades?

WashU is far more than stats oriented. That’s why so many high stats kids aren’t admitted.

Naviance, although basic, is a good starting point for finding likely or match schools.

@jym626 I’m not sure specifically (though my father/parent knows better) but I think that is the bonus we are getting or at least part of the bonus we are getting form my brother stationed abroad. Also yikes I am so used to saying “parents” in everything since it does feel a bit awkward if I just say “father” since sometimes I’ve had people say “so what do your mother do/work/help?” etc.

@lookingforward. As for my grades, all my STEM (AP Sciences and Math classes) have been A’s or A- with the exception of regular honors Bio and Geometry which I’ve had B’s in (but A- second semester). The English, I have always been getting A-'s (not a single B range or regular A, always A-…ugh). It’s really the social studies that get me - world history, apush, human geo (which I thoroughly enjoyed however).

The editing function is getting really weird

Also just to get things straight…is it a good idea to infuse my DACA status as a part of some of my supplements? For example, the Stanford asked “five words which describe you” and I chose one word as “DACA”.

Interestingly enough, Columbia’s Question section asks if I have a DACA or have applied to one and if I did, when it expires.

Unless you are speaking truth to power and your application demonstrates work or endeavors that you have participated in to assist DACA students and other undocumented immigrants, your plan will come off just as what you are doing, grasping and trying to use your status as a hook, when it is not one. It is also a bit of a slap in the face to DACA students and applicants who are out here doing real work keeping DACA in the forefront and giving back to their communities and will be reflecting that in their applications or having that work be part of their essays.

Don’t read too much into Columbia’s questions regarding DACA. Just seeking clarification so that they could bucket your application correctly. Their process is need blind to DACA students and undocumented students living in the USA. Keep in mind that Columbia is in NYC which probably has one of the largest group of DACA students in the country, especially coming out of th 8 specialized high school in NYC. Remember even among DACAA students appliying to schools that meet 100% demonstrated need, the pool may not be wide, but the talent will be deep.

I would definite recommend that you read about Jin Park, who is one of the first DACA students at Harvard to receive th Rhodes.

Did you read my post #42? How would you afford the day-to-day costs of a school in NYC?

Yes, DACA can be mentioned.

I would mention it and move on instead of dwelling on it unless you participated in political activities to help this group.

Once again they will know on at the very beginning of the admissions application that student is DACA (or undocumented attending school in the US). Why does Op need to be redundant?

@sybbie719 being undocumented is not the same as being DACA. DACA is a special immigrations status that must be applied for. Not all undocumented students are DACA. In fact, I believe right now you can’t become DACA as an undocumented minor.

I think all of the posters have good advice and it is a very good point about being involved in community activities around DACA really being the “hook”. BUT being a DACA-status student is incredibly stressful and I think people are being pretty hard on the OP who is just trying their best. @HKimPOSSIBLE is between a rock and a hard place like every other DACA status student. It’s ROUGH. It took guts to even “out” themselves and their families as undocumented in order to gain DACA status. Other top students aren’t expected to be advocates for their community. It’s OK if the OP just wants to live their best life.