<p>I actually go to Dartmouth right now. As I was reading the comments above I knew I had to comment so that you aren’t completely disillusioned by these negative comments. </p>
<p>Your stats and everything else are similar to what mine were when I was applying to colleges. Your GPA and ACT are really good and they definitely put you in the running for an acceptance! I would take the SAT though, or try to get your ACT up to a 32?? This isn’t the most important thing though. Despite what the people on this thread have been telling you, your scores don’t matter that much (I mean everyone who applies here has great scores!). It’s the other things that set you apart that get you accepted, NOT scores. Hopefully your essays express what sets you apart and how you would contribute to the college community as an undergrad and then eventually as an alum. Where are you from? I honestly find geographic diversity to be a weighted factor when it comes to acceptances. Hopefully you are not from California, New York, or Texas-- because then I think you have a fantastic chance of getting in! </p>
<p>Hi, I noticed you asked about your chances at McGill. They are a VERY stats focused school (their application requires no essay and doesn’t even mention extracurriculars). The faculty of science requires you to have a ACT score of at least 30 with subscores of at least 26. They also require “an A- average in grades 10,11 and 12; and an A- in each prerequisite math and science.”
The general school-wide Mcgill ACT requirement is 26 composite and 24 subject (ACT 27 for school of arts)</p>
<p>Because they don’t care about anything other than grades and scores, they will reject an applicant if one score is not up to par. So unless you can get your ACT score up to at least 30, you may not want to apply to McGill if you really want to study science. Best of luck with the college process!</p>
<p>@xoxo14 I guess I will see about retaking the ACT but idk. Also, SAT is not my forte. I think my essays are excellent. My common app I believe is superb. And I am working on supplements now. Did you have like the same gpa/ act scores as me? What set you apart from getting
Accepted. Please tell me. If not on here, PM me. And geographically, I come from a state in the southeast</p>
<p>@yebhip I am actually applying to the school of agriculture and environmental sciences…</p>
<p>@ivyhopefulebound In that case you need a “B average in grades 10, 11
and 12; B in each prerequisite
math and science; SATs/ACT as
per minimum requirements” (minimum is 26 composite and 24 subject). Knowing this, I would say it may be worth applying. You have a pretty good chance of getting in, since you meet the requirements as far as I know. I wouldn’t say it’s a definite acceptance but good luck! </p>
<p>@ivyhopefulebound By the time I graduated high school, I was in the top 10.5% (I know right!?!) my GPA was 4.6 weighted (4.777777 was the highest anyone could have gotten) and 3.81 unweighted, and my SAT (I didn’t take the ACT) was in the top 98 percentile. I was also a well rounded student----most people here are really exceptional at one specific thing, but I am great (not exceptional) at a lot of things. I think a lot of factors that I couldn’t necessarily control set me apart. I am from the “deep” south. I went to an homogenous all girls catholic school for high school after attending a overwhelmingly diverse and openminded international public school for 12 years. These different experiences gave me an interesting outlook on life and the world. I am also really passionate about public health, specifically the health of children, and all of my ECs somehow related to this interest and showed that I did all these ECs and took these particular classes for a greater purpose other than getting into college. You have to be passionate about something because that will be clearly visible on your application and make you into a real person in the eyes of the admissions staff–not just words on a few sheets of paper. </p>
<p>@xoxo14 Wow. That’s awesome!! My EC are all pretty much focused at medicine. But I am well rounded in the arts as well- I have been playing instruments, dancing, and painting for 6 years. See, your sat still did make a difference: 98%. I know scores are not everything but that did help tremendously. I have studied very hard but standardized testing is not my forte. I think my essays are good however and I think my passion for science in general is well written in my supplementals. Do you think it is possible for me to get into dartmouth? Also your UW gpa is higher then mine…</p>
<p>@ivyhopefulebound how many times have you taken the ACT? I’m not sure if that is super-scored (I know the SAT is). I took the SAT twice. The first time I scored a 2020, but my math section was low so I practiced the math sections over and over again, and then when I took it again, my superscore was like a 2180 (which some people on here might think is low, but I think its pretty standard here)! The hard part about these standardized test is not the material–we all know these answers–its the format and the time constraints. If you just practice, it becomes easier! </p>
<p>@ivyhopefulebound: In my opinion, if you have no “hooks” and you applying to very competitive schools like the Ivies, Berkeley, Emory, or Vanderbilt, you should, at the very least, have test scores above the 25th percentile and as near to perfect grades as possible, although I think colleges will like your upward trend. Right now, I don’t think you have much of a chance at the colleges you listed, except for Pepperdine, but don’t let my opinion dictate your decision. I would focus on finding what you like about the colleges you listed, and trying to find realistic reaches, matches, and safety schools. For example, if you like pre-professional schools like Penn and Cornell, look at Northeastern, Villanova, etc. And if you really like Emory, definitely apply to Oxford College.
Also, I would recommend looking at your state flagship and the “Colleges that Change Lives” to find match/safety schools.</p>
<p>@ivyhopefulebound Yes!! I definitely think it is possible for you to get into Dartmouth! I was also told by people on this forum that I would not be able to get in to any of the schools I applied to! I ended up getting in to two ivies and wait listed at another (I was actually honored by this–idk why people are so angry over waitlists!) and then all top 10 liberal arts colleges! People on here are only looking at your stats—which is a very limited view of who you are. The admissions directors will be looking at you holistically! Just make sure you apply to different kinds of schools. I would look into other top liberal arts schools like Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, Vassar, and Middlebury. These are also really prestigious schools, but are slightly less selective. </p>
<p>@xoxo14 wow. You motivate me so much. I know at the end of the day I have to be realistic, so you really think, sorry I keep trying to reassure myself, that I have a shot with a 28 ACT and the grades I listed previously? </p>
<p>Haha @ivyhopefulebound ! I’m glad I am motivating you! Too many people on this site (with probably no real experience applying to top schools and actually getting in) post negative comments to dissuade students from applying! You definitely have a chance. Try to get straight A’s this semester and I would even take the ACT again if you don’t break 30 on the last one you took. Just go into the test with a positive attitude and know that everything will work out for the best! I can honestly tell you this from personal experience. </p>
<p>@ivyhopefulebound: I don’t want to discourage you, but you did ask us to be honest. Unless you have some incredibly compelling life story or “hook,” you are not going to get into the schools you listed.
The good news is, as I said, you can get into lots of less selective but wonderful schools. If you gave us more of a clue as to what you want in a college or what your career plans are, I could give you a better list.
Boston College is a big reach. Due to its location, it has become wickedly selective in the last several years.</p>
<p>@cicero1 well in college, I wanna double major in biochem and American history. I also want to get research opportunities and work with professors etc. </p>
<p>The Ivies are high, high reaches. I’d say your chances of getting in are very low. Usually, outstanding extracurriculars can make up for an average GPA or an average test score, but not both, and definitely not scores that haven’t even broken the 25th percentile. The ACT score has to be raised signifigantly, there’s really no way around it. Try to at least break into the 30s. Without that, I just don’t see an acceptance at any of the Ivies, even if your essays are as good as you say. However, where you apply is your business and ultimately your decision, I wish you luck! </p>