Being prospective but realistic

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, everybody!</p>

<p>I am pretty clueless in regard to how to use this website, much less post a forum topic. Anyway, I just finished my junior year of high school, and, of course, I am beginning my summer obsessing over different colleges.
I don't really know what's realistic, so I figured I might ask a well-rounded community, considering people on this website always seem to know what they are talking about.</p>

<p>My cumulative unweighted GPA is about 3.81, and weighted it is just over 4.0 (that is with several AP courses in social studies, English, and in chemistry as well.) I've taken the ACT and got a 31, although I am taking it again and hope to raise my score a point or two. In regard to in-school extra curricular, I will be student council president next year, speech captain, band secretary, as well as the flute section leader in our top band. I play in orchestra, band, and will be in the school's top choir, and I am also a member of our National Honor Society and our debate team (my partner and I do steadily very well in debate.) Also, along with the president of our National Honor Society, I am currently working on starting a student-leader coalition within our school to foster a better sense of school community. Outside of school, I have had a summer job at the same place for four years, and have done 6 mission trips (2 of which were to Haiti) and used to serve on my church's youth council for two years.</p>

<p>I hope I don't sound braggy. It's a heavy load but really I'm no different than the next gangly teenager panicking about college applications. My reach schools are Duke and Cornell, but I'm thinking realistically I have a shot at Northwestern. What do you all think? I think I am going to be relying on my common app essay, because it's fundamentally the only part of my application that will reveal any sense of wit, humor, or interesting facets of my character.</p>

<p>Sorry to be another bland teenager fishing for advice, but any input would be appreciated. Thanks much!</p>

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<p>Oh, also, I am on my district’s school board.</p>

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<p>Northwestern, Duke and Cornell are peer schools – your chances at NU are probably no better than they are at Duke or Cornell. Here’s what I think:</p>

<p>Reaches: Duke, Cornell, Northwestern, other Ivies, Stanford, MIT, U Chicago, etc.
Matches: UW-Madison, Illinois, Texas, U Washington, Boston University, many more.
Safeties: Lower-tier state schools, mid-to-low privates.</p>

<p>If you want similar examples for Lib Arts schools, holler.</p>

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<p>Your EC’s are really really widespread… I’d revise your list. Decide what’s most important and include that.</p>

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<p>I would reiterate what prezbucly said because at that tier of school it is difficult for anybody to get in. However, I wouldn’t say sell yourself short. Be passionate about those schools but find a couple schools you would be more than happy to attend based on what you want in a college. If you are thinking you want something with a religious affiliation (6 mission trips - Catholic?), I would recommend Boston College or Georgetown as mid-reaches and Villanova as a match. If you are thinking you would like a small liberal arts education, I would recommend Davidson (Harvard of the South that not many people know about). Visit lots of schools! </p>

<p>Write a great common app essay and good luck! </p>