<p>1st Generation, White, Middle Class, Male
Wisconsin Resident</p>
<p>ACT: 31
GPA: 4.579 (weighted), 3.974 (unweighted)
Class Rank: 4 out of 513
AP Tests: AP Lang and Comp - 4, AP Psych - 4, AP Gov - 5
(Taking AP Calc, AP Mic-Econ, and AP Lit this year)
EC's: NHS Vice-President, Student Government Treasurer, Church Youth Band, Badger Boy (2012), 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-County Volleyball (State Qualifier as well), along with other volunteer opportunities.
Unfortunately no SAT or SAT subject tests, so I'm not even sure if I meet the qualifications for some of these..</p>
<p>I'm also wondering how much importance is placed on being 1st Generation?</p>
<p>UW-Madison
Michigan Ann Arbor
Cornell
Northwestern
Stanford
Duke</p>
<p>For Wisconsin and Michigan you only need an ACT or an SAT score, so you are fine. However, for Cornell, Northwestern, Stanford and Duke I believe you need either ACT with writing or SAT and SAT II’s. Did you take the ACT with writing?</p>
<p>Being first generation to college can help if you feel it is a major factor on why you want to go to college, etc. You could write about it in one of your essays to really expand on its importance to you.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the quick answer! And yes, I did take the ACT + writing. I go a 9 on the writing portion if that matters. Also, I agree I should definitely stress the 1st Generation thing in essays because I do feel it is important.</p>
<p>I only posted my Senior year AP courses, although I definitely see what you mean.
My junior year courses were: AP Lang and Comp, Spanish 4, Pre-Calc, AP Chem, CP Soc, and AP Psych. (Also have Physics this year)
Junior year is definitely more rigorous that this year, which I slightly regret.</p>
<p>First let me say I think you are into Madison and Michigan without a doubt. You have great stats, but alot of applicants to the top schools will have similar and better stats too. That’s why things such as class rigor and ACT scores are so important, because they help distinguish you. Secondly, unless being the first person in your family to go to college is a huge motivation, I would think about writing about something you are passionate about. When I visited Duke, they said things like being a legacy and first generation are considered a feather on the scale. It will help you a little bit without a doubt, but it won’t make or break your application because there are so many other things they look at. I can’t tell you what you should do just sharing some insight with a fellow Wisconsiner. As for your chances, I think you have your best shot at northwestern. If you would have applied ED that would have helped even more, but you can still get in RD. Stanford Duke and Cornell are all reaches, but that is because, espically Stanford, they are reaches for most people,and your ACT is a little low for them (I know it doesn’t seem right), and while you have some very good ECs there is nothing eye popping. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, and I wrote my common app essay about volleyball rather than being 1st generation because it was more personal and more relevant I guess.</p>
<p>Hey, it’s another Badger Boy! I’ll give you a chance just for that :P</p>
<p>1st-Generation: Definitely talk about this a bit, admissions people seem to really like it. Of course, don’t fake it if it’s not an issue hugely important to you, but if it is somewhat take a bit of time to discuss it.</p>
<p>SAT: As far as I know, none of these schools need the SAT. Not even Yale requires it now, though Harvard does. Some I think require ACT w/ writing so make sure you have that.</p>
<p>UW-Madison: Safety, you’ll get in
Michigan Ann Arbor: Match
Cornell: Lowish reach, you stand a shot
Northwestern: Low reach, pretty good chance
Stanford: High reach, it’ll be tough to get in especially because of course rigor
Duke: Same as Stanford</p>