<p>Hey guys! ND wasn't really on my radar until this summer, when my parents strong armmed me into taking a tour. Since then, i've fallen in love with ND, and it's now my #1 choice. Sadly, i'm not sure if ND is within my grasp, seeing as how i've struggled my freshmen and sophomore years. Well, here goes! </p>
<p>GPA: 3.59 UW, 4.19 W.
Class Rank: Top 10%
School Prestige: Non existent, Public school
Course Rigor: I've taken the most rigorous curriculum our school has to offer. As of right now, i've taken 5 AP classes and have 4 more on my senior schedule.
SAT: (Superscored) 2190
ACT: Didn't take it. :l
Extracurriculars / out of school:
-4 year wrestler (well, 3 right now. But i'm gonna wrestle my senior year as well.)
-3 year tennis player
-Newspaper Club Associate Sports editor
-2 year Debate Team'er
-Youth & Government
-I volunteer every Monday night to help out at a homeless shelter, during the winter.
-Two time Relay For Life (Cancer Research Fundraiser) participant
Side note: I realize my GPA is pretty horrible, but it shows an upward trend. My freshmen and sophomore year, i didn't take school as seriously as i should have, and it was reflected in my report card. But, i pulled off straight As my junior year, and am planning to get straight As all throughout senior year as well. I'm not planning on taking the ACT, because of the science portion. I am going to take the SAT again. Hopefully, i can get a 2230 this time around. My ECs are also really weak. I'm pretty sure i won't be able to get into ND, but i want everyone's honest opinion, i won't be offended! :3 Oh, and other schools i'm considering, if you'd like to chance me there!
University of Virginia
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
University of Wisconsin - Madison
UC Berkeley
Carnegie Mellon University
UCLA
USC</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Can you please provide the specific breakdown of the superscore. In regards to everything else, it seems like it will be a reach. The GPA isn’t spectacular but I am assuming it is showing a significant improving trend. The athletics are fine but the other EC’s are so so and I can’t say they jump off the page. Strong recs and an outstanding essay might make you competitive.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying! And sorry about the superscore, here goes. Critical Reading 750, Math 710, Writing 730. I haven’t taken any SAT subject tests, but i plan on doing so this year. About the GPA, yeah, it’s a huge bummer. There is a significant upward trend though, i pulled straight As my junior year as opposed to a fairly weak performance fresmen and sophomore years. Hopefully i can get straight As all through out senior year as well, and bring my GPA up. I hope my essay will be outstanding, and my recs will be very strong. I’m planning on asking my AP Microeconomics teacher. I got an A+ in his class, he was my wrestling coach, and i’m going to have him senior year for AP Macroeconomics. Regarding my ECs, they’re pretty weak, i know. D: And yeah, i think ND’s a reach as well, but i still want to try! (: If all the schools i listed above don’t work out, i guess i’ll end up going to UIUC! Oh and Carnegie Mellon is off my list now. How do you think i’ll fare at the other schools i listed? Berkely, UCLA, and USC are probably reaches, from what i’ve been reading on CC. But for U of V and Michigan, i have no idea!</p>
<p>Oh, and i’m reaaally hoping for a higher SAT score, since my GPA is really weak. I took SAT classes at C2 Education over the summer, and i’m planning on taking the classes they provide during the school year. I’m also going to take our school’s free sessions on standardized testing. I’ve bought the official SAT study guide from the college board, and the practice tests really help. I’m really optimistic about my future score. 2200-2280 maybe?</p>
<p>Well, the superscore itself is not terrible. It’s actually competitive as it is. Work on brining the Math score up to meet your writing and CR scores and I think you will have a solid score for most colleges (even ND). </p>
<p>As you can probably already guess it is imperative that you stress your improving trend in essays and any other communication you have with admissions. I have a feeling you realized some strength between sophomore and junior year and that is why you have been improving. Try and figure that out and work with your English teachers to craft a solid essay.</p>
<p>If you live in California the main determinant for a school like Berkeley is class rank. Six years ago I believe the top 5% of my class was guaranteed an acceptance to their top choice in the UC system. We all put Berkeley and got in but I honestly don’t know if this program still exists.</p>
<p>If you are not from California getting into Berkeley is pretty tough at any class rank. As you can imagine minority status, family background, and military service are all considerations that can help but getting into a UC like Berkeley from outside of California is not very simple.</p>