<p>Hello CollegeConfidential members! I have a very important question about applying to Boston College. Based on my current stats, I am not sure about if I should apply to BC for early action or regular decision.</p>
<p>STATS:
3.5 GPA (Out of 4.0)
2-3 Honors Courses Every Year Throughout High School (AP Class for Senior Year)
4-Time School Scholar Athlete Award
3-Sport Varsity Athlete throughout high school and 3-sport Team Captain
Times: 4:30 Mile, 9:56 2-Mile, 2:02 800m, 15:52 5K =)
Member of DECA, Earned Regional Marketing Award and Placed 2nd in Role-Play Event of State Competition
Been Fully Employed and Promoted Since Sophomore Year (2 Jobs)
Qualifying Score for National Spanish Exam
Webmaster For Four Web Sites (Over 2,000 Views)
Over 100 Hours of Community Service</p>
<p>SAT: 1860 (630 Writing, 610 Math, 620 Critical Reading)
SAT Subject Tests: 650 US History, 580 Math I =(
(HERE IS THE ISSUE FOR ME: I didn’t prepare much and crammed for the subject tests in June, my world history score isn’t bad but my math I score is BAD, so I need to prepare for them in order to get high 600s/low 700s when I take them in November)</p>
<p>I am aiming at applying regular decision because of how I need to raise my SAT Subject Tests, and because of how I might get all A’s my first term of senior year (so BC can see those grades for regular decision).</p>
<p>SO are my chances better to make it to BC through regular decision? Thanks for all the help! =)</p>
<p>Check on the BC forum but I’m sure I read that the pool of students is more competitive for early action. Your 1230 seems a little on the low side, so you may be better off to bolster your stats before applying. I’m not an expert, though. Study those threads…</p>
<p>RD is the easy answer (hoping for higher test scores and all A’s first semester). But unless you have a hook (or can be recruited), BC will remain a huge reach with your gpa.</p>
<p>Dear edu476ea24 : While you reference your Math I section score (580) as bad, that number does indeed underscore your SAT/M score (610). Overall, your standardized test scores send the same message across the board : basically, these numbers are bottom quartile (or lower) for the average Boston College profile. Your academic rigor (two to three honors courses per year) is good, but not outstanding and you will find that your academic profile will find some tough sledding against students who have a full honors slate and a dense AP history often reaching back to freshman or sophomore year. With an overall GPA at 3.5, we are likely looking at a resume which is Top 25% of your high school class, but not Top 10% which tends to be an overall target for the accepted BC class.</p>
<p>We would never recommend your not applying as there might be essay components or other intangibles which will make your application shine. However, the harsh truth here is that your numbers present a huge hurdle and getting some valuable “expected” schools in line with your numbers might be a worthwhile exercise.</p>
<p>You might want to give some investigation time for Holy Cross, Villanova, Lehigh, and Lafayette. Basically, you need to find some schools where your 1800-1900 three-way score might sit slightly more comfortably - or at least have a broader palette of schools in the 1950-2100 range in the hope of catching at least one of them.</p>
<p>In closing, stay far away from Early Decision with this profile and see what you can do to better prepare for a Regular Decision round.</p>
<p>Best wishes and good luck with your collegiate search.</p>
<p>Scottj fives some good advise but, frankly, the four alternative schools he mentions will be reaches for you too. There is nothing wrong with aiming high but apply to backups just in case.</p>
<p>I would definitely advise against applying EA. As others have noted, your current stats put you in the bottom quarter of BC applicants so you’ll really need to have an outstanding essay and LORs to counteract the relatively low test scores and GPA. Getting higher test scores and really strong first semester grades will also help.</p>
<p>It’s not impossible, but BC is indeed a reach for you. Be sure to apply to some less selective schools as well. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have a question. my stats arent going to change and my essays are done already so applying EA and RD are going to be the same for me. But I’m wondering if I have better chance at RD because those who are applying EA are probably more competitive. Or is this unlikely??? (Dont mean to steal the OP’s thunder)</p>
<p>In response to Scott’s thread, I applied to BC, HC, Lehigh, and Lafayette and Colgate. My stats were 2110 SAT, 32 ACT, 750 and 710 SAT II. BC was my first choice and I was accepted EA. I was accepted to all colleges. HC did not admit me to their pre med program. All Scott’s recommended schools with the exception of Nova would be a stretch for you. Manhattan, Fairfield, Stonehill, and Providence may be worth considering. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! All of them definitely help - I knew that BC would be my farthest reach, and i’m aiming at a few of the lower sat scores that scottj mentioned. BUT I am looking at schools that can provide the most financial aid % possible - BC promised 100% meeting need based aid. SO do you guys know any 1800-2000 SAT schools that are more willing to provide financial aid?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Is your GPA 3.5 weighted or unweighted? If it’s 3.5 unweighted, you stand a slightly better chance. Either way though, I would apply RD if I were you. If you apply EA and you get deferred, they just use the application they already have on file. So if you got really good grades this fall, your GPA in your application will not be recalculated.</p>
<p>It might be too late but if you can try to retake the SAT in November and apply Regular Decision. If your score improves significantly, it’ll definitely strengthen your application.</p>