Average-Okay Student, Should I even try to apply to Better places or Just stick with list

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I consider myself an average or an okay student. I’m not the best and part of it can be attributed to sickness, which caused me to be absent quite often in school. In junior year, I was pretty much out of school for 40% (honestly, it was almost 50%) of the year- I ended up dropping all , but one of my APs I was taking because there was too much to catch up with. I couldn’t do it.

NJ Resident

Weighted GPA: 3.83
Unweighted GPA: 3.6

SATS:
OLD: Math 720 Critical Reading 640 Writing 630 (I know…I had a bad day…not really an excuse for my test scores)
New: *Just took Nov 2016–> expecting at least high 1400s to mid 1500s

APs
Taken two so far, but did not write AP exams (AP Computer Science-- took online since school doesn’t offer and AP Chemistry- Got A’s in both)
Taking now: AP Spanish & Language, AP Calc AB, AP Biology

Extracurriculars:

9th Grade- Science Olympiad- didn’t medal, but made it to State
9th-10th Grade- Debate Team- was junior varsity
10th Grade- helped start an Asian culture club, secretary position- took minutes & attendance & helped plan activities
10th-12th Grade Math League- no stellar accomplishments, just a casual member
11th Grade- an Asian Dance organization at school; I spent a lot of time practicing and mixing music for my group for an annual dance show

Volunteer work:
10th Grade- helped out at an Osteopathic Clinic at local Medical school twice a month for about 6 hours each time
9th-12th-(been a member of March of Dimes Youth council since almost middle school), helped raise money ~10k in total, helped put on annual fundraising dinner + dance show
9th-12th- member of local organization focused on fostering better communication and unity between government/police and general public, helped set up annual picnic event

Pretty much, I’m an average student. Nothing particularly noteworthy about myself. I did my share of activities that I was interested in and kept up with long term volunteer work. I don’t know if my course schedule is necessary… Scholarship availability and financial aid are important factors in my applications. Also, I’m looking for preferably North eastern part of USA(tri-state is even better)

I’m also unsure of which major I will pursue- finance or computer science…I am leaning towards Computer Science, but my parents are kinda pushing for Finance.

Applying to:
The College of New Jersey - Regular Decision- Intended Major: Finance or Computer Science (I think it’s a slight reach for me, but my teachers think I could get in)

Rutgers University- both campuses (New Brunswick & Camden)-- Regular Decision
Temple University - Regular Decision
Kean University — Early Action
Farleigh Dickinson University –
Hofstra University – Early Action
Rowan University

REACHES: (My dad wants me to apply- I am not too keen at all about these schools and do not think that I will get in)
Bryn Mawr College
New York University

What are my chances at these schools? And are there any other schools I should consider?

2

Do you want in state or out of state school suggestions?

3

I’d drop FairleighDU, Kean, Hofstra.
I’d add Marist (strong for CS, safety, likely merit), Dickinson in PA (match), Lafayette (reach).
CS is more in-demand and pays better than finance, but it’s also harder.

4

You said you are seeking merit/financial aid. Do you know what your family can pay and what your EFC (expected family contribution) is for these schools? What can your parents pay per year? Without a budget, it’s difficult to recommend schools.

Bryn Mawr seems like a reach with your stats and NYU is not very generous with financial aid.

I think your chances are reasonable at TCNJ, Rowan, and Rutgers-Newark. You also have a realistic chance at Rutgers-NB. I agree with @MYOS1634 that Kean, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Hofstra are less desirable, unless there is a compelling financial reason to consider them.

Do not be hard on yourself - your 3.6 unweighted is quite respectable and I would guess that your old SAT score is somewhere in the 90+ % If you do as well as you think on the pending SAT scores, that would provide a significant boost to your chances. Good luck and I hope you get the scores you want!

5

@BreBre235 I said I was considering both in state and out of state suggestions. They would just have to be preferably in tri-state area or North East.

@MYOS1634 Thank you for your suggestion. I will look into those three schools. Yes, I agree. CS is better paying and harder than finance.

@mamaedefamilia My family and I have not yet filed the FAFSA- we will be finishing it soon. But, my parents are only willing to pay at most 25-30k per year for college (including room and board). They really do not want to pay more and most likely cannot pay more. (Not too sure about this, but I definitely wouldn’t want them paying more than that) My older sister will finish Medical school this year and my younger brother will enter high school next year- so we will need to also pay for my brother’s undergrad.

I was considering Kean, Farleigh Dickinson, and Hofstra because of the possibility of receiving a considerable merit scholarship.

Thank you for your kinds words also. I just feel that in comparison to many people, I am an average student. Especially on here! The Chance me thread was full of students asking about Ivies or other great universities.

6

Okay, I think 25-30k base tuition fee is alright, but would be better if that included room and board as well.
Dickinson has really expensive tuition! 50k per year! There could be a chance for a merit scholarship of some sort from the school so I will see. Marist seems a bit better in terms of tuition, but room and board has it come to 50k, which is significantly better than Dickinson still…

7

Did you run the NPC on them ?

8

Go to the colleges that change lives website - ctcl.org - and see if any of the options appeal. You might be able to get merit at some of them. They are typically smaller schools with lots of mentoring that are geared towards the B/B+ student with medium test scores. However, the merit awards typically top out at 25K or so, which would leave 35-40K to pay. But run the numbers. Maybe there’s a hidden gem waiting for you. However, if a school requires CSS Profile forms, probably best to eliminate it from consideration if your biological father is unwilling to fill out the forms.

I went to Rutgers-NB back in the 80s and had a great experience and the surrounding area is much nicer now than it used to be. TCNJ is also very highly regarded and Rutgers-Newark is not bad. So I think you have some great in-state options that would fit within your family’s budget.

9

Honestly, I think you’re selling yourself short. You have almost an A- average. Check the Bryn Mawr website. I think you’re in the middle 50% for scores, at the higher end of some and lower for others, but not out of the ballpark! Unless you don’t like the school, why not try? If your GC explains your lengthy absences, it could mitigate your stats.

To me, though, the bigger question is what kind of place you think you’d like. Size? Students who go home on the weekends or stay at school? BMC has a more intellectual vibe than Rowan, for example. What do you prefer?

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@MYOS1634 No, I did not run the NPC on them. I was just comparing costs and scholarships and the criteria or profile of students awarded certain scholarships. I will need to sit down with my parents for some of the data that I don’t know.

@mamaedefamilia I will look into the site and check out the colleges. Yes, we do have some in-state schools that are great if I get accepted. I very much liked TCNJ when I visited for the campus and size of classes.

@gardenstategal Thank you again, but the admissions process has become increasingly more competitive in recent years and I know there are plenty of qualified candidates out there. That’s partly the reason I don’t think I have much chance of getting admitted into Bryn Mawr. For Bryn Mawr, to begin with, I’m not too keen on an all female undergrad? I also haven’t yet visited the campus, but am only applying since my father wants to try at least a couple reach schools.

It’s a bit late to add in GC input on lengthy absences since he already sent out his recommendation letter for Kean university already…I was thinking of putting on common applications a slight note about my health and absences, but I just do not know if that will sound whiny or as an excuse for my lack of performance. I may since my dad thinks it is best to put it down. I will still apply to Kean, I think, but will consider dropping Hofstra and Farleigh.

For some further information about stats. I realized I forgot to put down letters of recommendation and class rank. My college essay is in the works. Trying to get that done as soon as possible…

Class Rank: Top 20%
Letters of Rec:
AP Chemistry Teacher (9/10 or 10/10) I had a strong relationship with him(talked about different ideas, subject material, general stuff, helped him out as a lab assistant) and he knows how to write rec letters well. He has family whom worked at an Ivy college admissions office. I’m not applying to the university where his family worked though.

Spanish (8 or 9/10) I also had a pretty strong relationship with this teacher. The teacher is qualified and able to write strong letters. The teacher went to an Ivy and is capable.

11

Your gc absolutely needs to mention health issues. If provided by gc it is not whiny and it is indispensable 'context '. Colleges WANT to know that.

Bryn mawr has plenty of men in its classes due to bi-college registration - men are even allowed to livr in the dorms, which your father may not want to know lol.

12

In that case, since he already wrote the letter- is it possible for him to add stuff? I am going to assume he did not mention my health issues. I will have to ask him, I guess. He did upload the letter to my common app though…so I do not know how this will all pan out…

And oh, I didn’t know that part about Bryn Mawr.

13

Because Bryn Mawr and Haverford are so close in so many ways, BMC may not be what you expect from a single sex school. Based on the other schools you’re applying to, it’s local enough that you should visit before deciding if you like it or not. It definitely has a vibe, but whether it’s one you like or not only you can say.

14

He should be able to upload it in “Optional report”, which is designed for this type of situation.

15

@MYOS1634 Thank you for your advice.
@gardenstategal I will visit hopefully one of these days to see how I feel about the universities.

Just received my SAT scores. :confused: Thought I did better than what I got…but it’s too late to do anything now. 1400.
I don’t think there is much point to trying to take it one last time…I could since some schools have deadlines in February, but very few on here do. I’m already taking subject tests and I don’t really like the ACT nor have I done any prep for it.

I’ve pretty much finalized my list of colleges to just the following. I may add Ramapo college or one more.

Rutgers- all campuses -------------------------------------------------- Regular Decision
New Brunswick: School of Arts & Sciences
Camden: School of Business
Newark: School of Business

TCNJ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regular Decision
Intended major: ?

Kean -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Early Action
Intended major: Finance

Farleigh Dickinson ------------------------------------------------------ Early Action
Intended major: Computer Science

NJIT -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Early Action
Major: Computer Science

Rowan ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------Regular Decision
Major: ?

Temple -----------------------------------------------------------------------Rolling Admission
Major: Computer science

Bryn Mawr ---------------------------------------------------------------- Reg Decision
Major: ?

NYU------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reg Decision
Major: Computer Science

16

1400 is really good!!

You should add Barnard (Economics&Social History), Dickinson (International management), Muhlenberg (Business)
Susquehanna Honors (business).

17

Barnard doesn’t give merit money, though…

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@HiToWaMom It’s alright. If I apply to any reach schools, then it’s just to see if I get in…I guess and then considering if I really want to go there…I doubt I will even get any merit aid at any reaches.

I talked to my parents and they could potentially pay for all of undergrad, but they are unlikely to pay for schools that cost 50-60k per year (including room and board). They don’t want to. And we must likely won’t get much federal aid… family income is >100k…My parents said they did file the FAFSA for my older sister and didn’t receive too much aid…So, we’re not filing it.

I was considering Barnard as another reach, but was not super sure. I don’t really think I’ll apply to the others @MYOS1634 mentions…I will have to see though. Probably not considering the fact that they are kinda pricey (Dickinson for sure and not too high merit scholarship chance)…I will see though since it’s good to apply all over and see what I get. I think my sister applied to at least 15 schools, but then again, she had much higher stats than I did and went to a pretty competitive NJ school plus she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

19

NJIT honors college.
The honors curriculum will connect you to continue with your master’s very easily. It’s the same kind of rigor you’d get at a very good school.

20

At some private colleges (like Barnard), there’s financial aid for families in the 100-225K bracket, so, do file unless your parents make more than that.
Unless the college meets full need (and out of 3,700, only about 80 do) what your sister got is meaningless wrt how much you’ll get at another college.
Dickinson has merit AND need-based aid.