Can I get in? What are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

I am also interested in Amherst, Bates, BC, BU, Bowdoin, Clark, Holycross, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tufts, UChicago, Upenn, and Villanova.

Okay so about me:
I am a junior and a female from an underrepresented/minority suburb. I am mixed-race (African, White, Latina)

Stats:
Sat: 1200 (I took it earlier last year without any prep but I plan on retaking it as well as the ACT)
GPA: (school does not release GPA until our senior year but I calculated it and my UW is 3.7)
I am taking the Latin, Bio, and Math 1 subject tests and the APUSH and AP Lang exams this year as well as the National Latin Exam.
My transcript is almost all honors/ AP classes (Except Latin, Gym, and Medical)

I take an elective in my school known as Medical Assisting where we basically learn how to be a medical assistant and we have clinic twice a week and at the end of our second year of the course we can take a test to become certified.

Classes for next year: AP Bio, AP Latin, Gym, Medical Assisting, Pre-Calc H, AP Lit

Extracurriculars and Activities:
Soccer Team (Varsity, County Champs, Captain, won multiple awards) My town is well known for our soccer team we consistently make it to states, we have scouts at almost every game.
Rowing (Varsity, medaled multiple times)
SGA Member
NHS Member (very involved)
Latin NHS
Participated in a study/research program with a local University about substance abuse.
Participated in a research program about the effect of global warming on aquatic communities at the same University.
Part of a Teen ran council (4H) for two counties in my state ( News Reporter and Treasuer)
(As you might be able to guess I am probably a bigger athlete than student)

Volunteering: Most of my community service revolves around 4H and I plan on writing one of the college’s essays about this program because I’ve been doing it for 4+ years now and it means a lot to me.
400+ Hours of community service 4H ( Teaching science to underprivileged children, Cleaning up local parks and schools, building gardens for students, etc.)
100+ Hours Coaching soccer teams and reffing games for our town’s recreation program. (Been doing this since Freshman year)

I think that is everything. Please be honest and tell me if I am setting my expectations too high. Is there anything I should focus on/ add to my transcript?

2

Also, I forgot to mention I want to major in Biology with a pre-med track.

3

Your list is way too reach-heavy especially given your SAT score. Please take the time to look at statistics of accepted students for every school you are considering either from: 1) school websites, 2) Naviance (if your HS has it), or 3) google common data set and look at section C.

You may also want to study for and try the ACT (some people do better on that exam) and also look at some test optional colleges (I believe a few are on your list) http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

4

SAT scores can improve. And, as noted, some score better on the ACT. But STUDY hard for these either way. Your 3.7 UW GPA at what I presume is a public high school is also low for many of these schools. I think you may have a shot at Holy Cross, Penn State, Villanova, Rutgers, Syracuse, Clark and BU but the others are true reaches for your stats now…despite what may be a lot of other great qualities in sports, extracurriculars, etc.

Certainly being an URM will help, but I am not smart enough to know what that will do for you other than being a positive.

Pre-Calc (even H) is a low math threshold for all of these schools, as well as taking only four courses that might be viewed as core academic ones. Obviously this needs to be viewed in the context of your school.

You have a lot of great qualities. Spend the time to find the best school for YOU.

5

Hey! I’ve recently been admitted to Notre Dame’s class of 2023. I am by no means an admissions officer, but I could give you some tips that I think helped me get accepted to Notre Dame.

First, I had a tough time getting a good standardized test score, as I got a 1420 on my SAT the first time I took it. After taking it again and getting a 1440, I decided to switch to the ACT. I knew I could perform better on this test, as I liked the faster pace structure. I studied my butt off for the June 2018 ACT, and sure enough, I ended up getting a composite 34 ACT. Like someone mentioned above, you should try the ACT, as you may perform better. (I also ended up taking the SAT a third time and ended up getting a 1560 somehow, but I only sent my ACT to Notre Dame.)
— However, I do not believe that my score helped me in any way of getting admitted, as the majority of students who applied to ND already had excellent scores. I truly believe that scores are just a way of filtering students who are qualified and unqualified.

Second, I’m a firm believer in the impact that supplemental essays can have on the outcome of a decision, and I’m confident that I was admitted because of my essays. In my ND specific essay, I talked about how Notre Dame was the only school that fulfilled and connected my passions in Music, Medicine, and God. Even if you are not religious, I think you can find ways to present your interests to the admissions committee. I further expanded upon my interests in the remaining supplemental essays by elaborating my passion in playing the violin and leading my state-wide orchestra, as well as the impact that playing the violin in my local church had on the person I am today.

To conclude everything, I truly believe that if you put your best foot forward in everything that comes to you throughout your highschool life, you will be at a place where you belong. You should spend your time doing things that you are passionate about, and shouldn’t force yourself to do anything you aren’t passionate about. College admissions have increasingly been a “crapshoot,” and there are so many things that you won’t be able to control. However, if you improve your studies and put your best effort at school and EC’s, you will have great results.