Chance an average student. Seriously, not "oh I'm average, chance Harvard please."

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've been looking through this forum and I mostly see users requesting chances for colleges that are now far beyond my reach. Now, as much as I hate to admit it, I screwed up. As the first in my family to apply for college (both of my parents did, however, attend college), I didn't know how difficult and competitive it would be to get in. Because of this, I didn't take any difficult classes through my first four years of High School (and I also slacked off in the easy classes). In addition to this, I also have virtually no extra curricular activities either. </p>

<p>Male
Caucasian / Native American
Minnesotan Public School
Major: Business</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5UW (3.5W)
Class Rank: Top 25%</p>

<p>Classes:</p>

<p>Freshman/Sophomore/Junior Years:
Generic Required Classes and Electives (English/Math/Science/etc.)</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP Statistics
HP Pre-Calculus
HP Physics
AP English 12
Required Electives (History/Health/Foreign Language)</p>

<p>Test Scores:
ACT – 29 (Hoping for a better score after the June results come in; I took this one with no studying and three hours of sleep the night before.)
SAT – 1930 (Yeah, I'll probably be sending just the ACT.)
Math 670
English 660
Writing 600</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
Varsity Track - 2 years
Band – 3 years
30~ Volunteer hours</p>

<p>Recommendations/Essay:
These shouldn't pose much of a problem for me as I am extremely intelligent and a great student, albeit extremely lazy.</p>

<p>I attempted to chance myself for these colleges, but I really have no idea. If anyone would be willing to chance me for these colleges I would appreciate it. </p>

<p>Boston College (HUGE reach) ED
Wake Forest (Reach) ED
American University (Match?)
Boston University (Match?)
Fordham University (Match?) ED
Georgia Tech (Match?)
Gonzaga University (Match?)
Purdue University (Match)
Trinity University (Match)
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Match) *Legacy, if it matters.
University of San Diego (Match?)
College of St. Benedict/St. John's University (Safety)
University of St. Thomas (Safety) * ED</p>

<p>A bunch of random colleges found and tried to rate myself with by considering the averages of the incoming class. I'm guessing, if anything, I need to aim a bit lower.</p>

<p>Also, I have a question:</p>

<p>Do colleges really look at your Senior year when considering accepting you? Also, should I apply early with my 3.5 or regular with a 3.55 (and even higher weighted, due to the AP classes ? </p>

<p>As I previously said, any help would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Boston College ED - Reach
Wake Forest ED - Low reach
American University - Match
Boston University - Match
Fordham University ED - Match
Georgia Tech - Match
Gonzaga University - Safety/Match
Purdue University - Match
Trinity University - Match/Low reach
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities - Match
University of San Diego - Match
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University - Safety
University of St. Thomas * ED - Safety</p>

<p>Some colleges do consider your 1st semester of your senior and some don’t.
And you’re Native American? Wow. Well, if you re-take the ACT and get 31+ or so, I’d say you’d have a great shot at Boston College and the others.
Just make sure you have more EC’s because they could help you immensely. :)</p>

3

<p>You’re aiming really high… Which is a somewhat bad thing. I also live in Minnesota… So I am familiar with a lot of those places. Of the ones you listed, the u of m and purdue are the only safeties. St Thomas, Boston, and wake are definately reaches, yet possible. I reccomend looking into Marquette university in WI, UW-Madison, Mankato state, etc. If anything is gonna hold you back, it’d be ur lack of ec’s. I think you should set your heart on purdue. You’ll get in. Good luck. FYI.. If ur in the cities and attend Eden prairie hs, maple grove, wayzata, elk river, or other rich schools like those, your chances will be a lot higher because they’re a lot more demanding.</p>

4

<p>You have a good shot at your match colleges-I’d even venture to say you’ll probably make it in, at least to one of them. Your ACT and GPA is about their average. Your activities are low for people on this board, but above average pretty much everywhere else. You have great Senior year course, and your class rank is about average for the schools you listed as matches. Plus, your being Native American is seriously gonna help you–way more than you’d think. You can only apply ED at one college, so I would suggest applying ED to your top one.</p>

5

<p>Boston College ED - Reach
Wake Forest ED - Reach
American University - Safe Match to Match
Boston University - Match
Fordham University ED - Match
Georgia Tech - Reach
Gonzaga University - Match
Purdue University - Safe Match, except Match for Business
Trinity University - Match/Low reach
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities - Match, including Carlson (in-state)
University of San Diego - Match
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University - Safety
University of St. Thomas * ED - Match</p>

<p>Strange, all these schools and no slight reaches.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the replies everyone, I’ve researched a bit more and reevaluated my chances. (Well, they are pretty much what I thought they would be.) I do attend a large, “rich” high school that’s ranked fairly high I suppose. Will being Native American really help my chances significantly?</p>

<p>Boston College (HUGE reach) EA
Wake Forest (Reach)
American University (Match)
Boston University (Match)
Fordham University (Match) EA
Gonzaga University (Match)
Purdue University (Match)
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Match) *Legacy, if it matters.
University of San Diego (Match)
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University (Safety)
University of St. Thomas (Match) *Legacy, if it matters. </p>

<p>(Removed a couple of colleges out of consideration, and changed early decision to early action as I found that there was a difference, oops.)</p>

7

<p>While this board is wondeful i think channeling what is generally the top 5% of college applicants into one area can be troubling for alot of students who have good, but not “excellent” stats. </p>

<p>I think that while your stats are not top cc stats, they are still good among those you will be competeing against for those colleges, who are generally not cc’ers, and you seem to realize that. Id say fair-good chances at all.</p>

8

<p>You have a good list there. Matches, reaches, variety. What is your financial situation? Will you be eligible for financial aid? Have you discussed what your family/you are willing to pay, able to pay, willing to borrow? </p>

<p>As to being American Indian, yes, it can be a plus as URM categories go. However, are you registered as such? I know a number of people who were counting on that designation and were embarrassed when it had to be verified. Apparently there is some registration situation if you are to be considered such, because many American are part American Indian. Geographically, you have a bit of an advantage too. I know that BC does consider geographics heavily, for instance.</p>

9

<p>So, I just got my June ACT score of 31, does this effect my chances at all?</p>

10

<p>Awesome job.
Now you will have a better shot at all those schools.
Just try to bring your GPA up senior year and apply regular decision maybe…
And err, make sure to do some EC’s your senior year as well!</p>

11

<p>Look, “average” students don’t have a senior schedule with 2 AP classes and 2 honors courses. “Average” students don’t score a 31 on their ACT, that actually puts you in the top 1% of the country.</p>

<p>How are you applying to 4 different schools ED? When you sign an ED contract, that means if you’re accepted, you’ll enroll. You choose 1 school to apply ED to, indicating that it’s your first choice school. </p>

<p>Wake Forest doesn’t accept the ACT, only the SAT. Keep that in mind when you send in your test scores. I think it’s a reach with a 3.5. As is Boston College. Georgia Tech may be a slight reach, it’s about 50/50 whether or not you get in there (the new ACT score will probably put you in). Purdue you are safely in potentially with a scholarship. Boston, Fordham, American you’re getting into. Minnesota is a safety as well.</p>

<p>Why isn’t UW-Madison on this list? As a Minnesota resident, don’t you qualify for in-state tuition there? It’s a fantastic school and one that may not be matched value-wise by any other school in the country under your circumstances.</p>

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<p>How can Wake Forest not accept the ACT? It’s test-optional now…</p>

13

<p>I think you don’t need to aim lower at all. You have a good mix of schools there, with reaches, matches, and safeties. The upward bump in your ACT will definitely help you. Just make sure you evaluate closely which ones to apply ED. ED is different from EA. Good luck.</p>

14

<p>That’s right Knights, good call, back when I was applying to schools a few years ago they required the SAT, I believe that was something changed this year?</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the replies everyone, this is actually really useful information for me to have.</p>

<p>@UW-Madison, now that I’ve taken a better look at it it’s definitely not out of consideration, especially with the in-state tuition.</p>

<p>@ED/EA mix up, that’s my mistake, I meant to say EA and not ED.</p>

<p>A couple changes in my list: (trying to narrow it down a bit)
Boston College (Reach) EA
Wake Forest (Reach)
American University (Match)
Fordham University (Match) EA
University of San Diego (Match)
University of St. Thomas (Match) *Legacy, if it matters.
University of Wisconsin - Madison (Match)
Purdue University (Safety)
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Safety) *Legacy, if it matters.</p>

<p>I do have a couple more questions:
-Would I have better chances getting into a school applying EA with my 3.5 or regular with a 3.55?
-With my stats are there any other schools that would be a good fit for me?</p>

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<p>Since you can’t edit posts (why? but that’s irrelevant, I guess.), I have another question to ask. Assuming I apply to 5-10 colleges, how many safeties, matches and reaches should I apply to? 1 or 2 safeties 5 matches and 1 or 2 reaches? Should I apply to more safeties? More reaches? </p>

<p>Sorry for asking so many questions, but, like I said earlier, I’m the first in my family to actually go through the whole application process, so it’s all new for me.</p>

17

<p>bump :slight_smile: 10char</p>

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<p>Ok, it’s good to hear you got your ACT up to 31. That’ll help you a lot. You asked what some other schools you could look into are, well…</p>

<p>SAFETIES:</p>

<p>University of Iowa: Good, large school, relatively simple to get into, nice campus, party school, good athletics… typical college experience</p>

<p>Mankato State University: Smaller school, feels private, not the best place in the world but it’s decent</p>

<p>University of Wisocnsin- Lacrosse: Nice campus, medium sized school, good atmosphere… like a smaller version of U of M-Twin cities.</p>

<p>Ohio State: HUGE school, HUGE parties, HUGE sports… good academics, especially in the sciences.. great college experience, and likely one of the most fun universities in the US.</p>

<p>MATCHES:</p>

<p>Brigham Young University (Provo Campus)- In Utah, very religious, amazing campus and nearby scenery, nice place to go to school. (This might be a “low reach.”</p>

<p>Carleton College: VERY small, located in Northfield Minnesota, nicest people ever, small classes, good atmosphere, and one of the prettiest campuses in America… TOP OF THE LINE business.. my dad is a CEO grad from there. This might also be a “low reach,” sorry.</p>

<p>University of Arizona: This is a place I’m considering. It’s highly regarded academically, especially in journalism/business. The classes are big. People go to the pool, leave the pool, go to class in their swimsuit, go back to the pool… it’s that kind of place. LOTS of palm trees and grass.. it’s a pretty cool place. Lots of parties, too.. if that floats your boat. </p>

<p>Hamline University: I know nothing about it, it’s in St. Paul. It’s a good school, I think? You are a match for it, though.</p>

<p>University of Washington-Seattle: This is MY dream school… and I assure you I’ll probably go here. It’s friendly, large, and has some of the best academics in the US. The campus is SO PRETTY (I was there 2 weeks ago), the surrounding area is amazing (take uptown Minneapolis, and times the size by 50), and the atmosphere is AMAZING. The Husky Athletics are really good too.. Game Day is a big deal there. I’m not sure about their business program, though. REALLY look into this place.</p>

<p>REACHES:</p>

<p>Stanford University: You probably won’t get in, but it’s really prestigous and cool.</p>

<p>UC-Berkeley: The UC’s only look at 10th/11th grade, so knock off 9th grade and recalculate your GPA. If that’s above 3.6, you have a good shot at this school. There are a lot of liberals, and a lot of people with different cultures. I’m considering it. It’s really big, too. I was there recently, and thought the campus was butt-ugly, however. Again… idk about business.</p>

<p>University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign: This place is almost identical to UW-Madison. Just harder to get into. And there is no huge lake.</p>

<p>Macalester: In St. Paul. Hard to get into. That’s all I know. </p>

<p>The ivies: I think that if you applied to ALL of the ivies, you would get into ONE.</p>

<p>I tried my best there. Good luck with your college admissions. Really look into the University of Washington-Seattle, though.</p>

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<p>Wow.. It doesn’t let you edit posts… that’s stupid.
To continue:</p>

<p>It’s superior to apply to 3 safeties, 5 matches, and 2 reaches. If you do it this way, you’ll likely get into 6-7 schools.</p>

<p>Try to get your EC’s up a little bit too. Places like Boston and UW-Madison are really big on EC’s, because they define you as a person rather than having you appear as a bunch of numbers and stats.
Cause you know, someone may be a compulsive weed-smoker, but still have a 4.0… EC’s help colleges define what type of people they are encountering with, so that they don’t accept druggies and people like that. And because they show a lot of passion.</p>

<p>Just by the way you present yourself on here, though, you seem like the kind of person that schools would want. I reccomend doing interviews if they’re available.</p>

<p>PS: Have you looked into Track/Band scholarships yet? You should if you haven’t..</p>

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<p>It’s stupid to think that you have to apply to X amount of reaches, X amount of matched, X amount of safeties. </p>

<p>The bottom line is you HAVE to apply to a school that fills 3 requirements 1) It’s affordable, 2) You’ll like it there, 3) You’ll get in there. That’s your safety school. </p>

<p>Outside of the safety school, you can apply anywhere you want. Your list could include 8 safeties, or 1 safety and 9 reaches, or 3 safeties and 4 matches, etc. It should just be filled with schools that you want to go to. You should never think “OMG, I need another reach school, let me apply to Dartmouth even though it doesn’t have my major”.</p>