I wouldn’t say you don’t have a shot. I think you need to demonstrate interest - which all kids have to do. Since AP wasn’t offered, they shouldn’t hold it against you.
Obviously you are applying for a sought after major. Do you have more activities?
Your ACT is fine. The range (one year ago) was 30-34 - but more importantly, only 47% submitted. Now I don’t have this most recent year info - but you’re ok there.
I’d call it - as you did - a reach. But not impossible.
At the same time, I would absolutely not label Ohio State a safety. More like a target. Do I think you’ll get in - yes. But am I sure you’ll get in - no.
So I’d look to add another - a Miami or if you prefer the city, then a Cincinnati or a UK/UTK type school if you’re willing to go OOS.
Do an info session and if they have a departmental one, do that.
If they are in your area in person, go.
Open emails. Play videos - even if you walk away.
You don’t need to be over the top. You simply need to show you’ve invested time.
Your activities needn’t be political - they need to show commitment, accomplishment, and hopefully tenure. Whether you play a sport, work at the local Kroger or walk dogs at the shelter - it’s all good.
They are not bringing in robots but rather individuals of all shapes and sizes.
So don’t sell yourself short.
But also don’t hold yourself hostage to their barrage of emails and sessions - limit yourself to a few - but do open emails and click on links within.
We went to their preview day. Wrote the AO, Did various sessions. Played videos, etc.
She got in but got not enough merit.
Interestingly, one of the CC ambassadors who goes to - I want to say NEU - got rejected at American…why I don’t know.
So demonstrated interest matters - but I don’t think it’s scaled - so it’s not as if you do 50% of the next guy, you get 50% of the points - it’s more did they show they care or not - I believe.
You can only do your best. Never fall in love with a school.
And make sure you add a true safety - I say Miami - but it’s rural. I’m not seeing OSU as a safety…more a target. Cincy is another option.
Are you applying ED?
I would say you have a very very good shot ED, and a decent shot RD as well.
Your GPA and is above the median accepted student and your ACT is right in the middle range of those who submit and are accepted. Rigor is relative to others in your school, so if no AP is offered, you won’t be faulted for it.
While your school doesn’t rank, where approximately does your unweighted 3.95 put you? Are you in the top half of your class? Top quarter?
Do you have other ECs you can talk up in the application? Especially, if you’re looking to get into their excellent International Relations program, what have you done to show interest in International Relations? Model UN? Volunteering with international humanitarian organizations?
The issue is that when I say I have a 31 ACT score, that is because I am retaking the ACT in December with a 31+ guarantee act prep course. Right now I have a 29.
For class rank, I can’t say for sure since it’s a large, state-wide online school. I would at least say top quarter, however.
Rush out to find a good EC to put on your RD application.
Write a stellar essay.
I wouldn’t submit a 29.
So if you don’t submit a score, and you have no relevant ECs… you’re really just applying with a good GPA… You still have a shot. But it’s more of a reach. You really need to polish the rest of your application — You really need SOMETHING on that application beyond, “I have a good GPA”
So go find a good EC that you can really be involved in over the next couple of months – Then write it up really well in the application.
Get a fantastic letter of recommendation. And write an essay that really makes you stand out.
A 31 guarantee does not mean you’ll get a 31. It means you’ll get your money back or more prep or whatever. So yes that changes your calculus.
Do you have any EC that you’ve done for a long time - it’s quality, not quantity. Have you had a part time job? Do you take care of a family member? Do you babysit?
Don’t sell yourself short.
ED, even with a 29, might give you better odds than RD with a 31.
But ED binds you financially - and doesn’t allow you to see other offers.
Next time you do a chance me though - be very up front with current #s.
I know ‘guarantee’ isn’t a certainty. But it was a hope I thought was necessary. I believed I needed a good ACT score to compensate for a not-incredibly intensive academic record, even if I have a good GPA. I thought applying with a 29 was pretty pointless.
The two ECs I’ve included on my Common App are:
Game Design club at school that I’ve been in for 3 years
Mowing my Grandmother’s and her neighbors’ lawns
Tbh I’m not sure if I should include the 2nd one though, seems insignificant, especially without proof.
I could try to find an internship or volunteering opportunity then apply RD or apply ED now. Pretty big gamble either way.
Also if I get into Ohio State, that gives me time to complete college courses so my high school record wouldn’t matter as much, and get job and internship opportunities.
How many neighbors? Is it a business? If it is (and only if it is), you can say I’ve mowed lawns for x years - and if it’s a good # of lawns, you can includes this.
In some ways, you are shorting yourself - and again, your ECs do not have to be major related.
What’s your proof on any EC - no one is asking for proof. You shouldn’t lie. But if you’ve mowed lawns for years, then you’ve mowed lawns for years. How do I know you were in the Game Design club?
ED will be better than RD, even with a 29 is my belief. But you don’t ED unless you are willing to pay - and are you sure you entered into the NPC properly?
I’m glad you say 'if" you get into Ohio State…now also less likely with a 29 and wasn’t a sure thing b4.
So what is your safety school ?- because as I mentioned up top, while OSU is likely (less so now), it’s definitely not a safety.
I’ve heard from many AOs, that nowadays, they really prefer ECs that show some direction towards the major/program. Something that shows a commitment to the interest in your future studies.
Being Class President is great, but a bunch of science awards are better for a future STEM major…
Being a volunteer EMT is fantastic for a pre-med student, but less impactful for someone going to study art history.
Any good ECs should be included, you definitely don’t want to have a mostly blank page. But if you can do something towards your desired major, all the better.
On that we agree. Should flush out your top 4-5 activities, shouldn’t make it sparse.
And Spring / Summer part-time employment providing lawnmowing services to the neighborhood definitely belong there.
But really, should try to have more for competitive schools and competitive programs.
I mow for my grandmother and 2 neighbors. It isn’t a business. Honestly, I would have thought the school clubs I attended would be put in the school report my counselor has to put together.
I do have an accurate NPC estimation.
I decided to go with Miami Uni as a backup/safety.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career for most of high school. I only decided to pursue this passion during the last of my junior year. I haven’t been able to plan for long.
I guess the best plan is to apply ED to George Washington and roll the dice. But should I submit the ACT score at all? Since it would be a below-average score I can’t imagine it would help my application.
Definitely put the mowing in your activities. Did you fill out a ‘brag sheet’ for your GC? If there are things you want your GC to include in their rec letter, communicate that to them.
I wouldn’t send the 29, good luck on the retake.
Like tsbna said, make sure to demonstrate interest by doing a virtual admissions session, opening emails they send you, clicking on links, even reach out to your AO if you have a good question for them that’s not easily found on their website.
My personal belief is that someone shouldn’t ED to a school where they haven’t visited. Especially a school like GW, where the campus can be a bit polarizing. There are people who absolutely love it and find it invigorating being in the center of everything (that was my experience from a visit), while others end up with a serious distaste for that style of campus. Although GW now has an off-site campus for most of its first year students, it’s something you’d want to visit and see how you like it (as well as switching between the campuses for classes). A lot of people end up in the “this is not for me” camp after visiting GW (or BU or NYU, schools that have similar campus styles, per CC).
So I would show as much interest as possible, but I would not apply ED to GW. where I think you have a shot, but not a lock, on admission.
You haven’t shared your budget, but if it’s within budget, you may also want to take a look at George Mason. It’s known for having a good international relations department, it’s right by D.C., so there are lots of internship opportunities (though since it’s not as centrally located as GW, not as easy), and I think you’d be extremely likely to be admitted with your current ACT score and ECs.
We were on the tour - and it was beyond urban - and no dining halls (at the time) - and we actually left the tour - my daughter just did not like it at all…whereas she likes what she has now - urban, but a campus.
So yeah you should absolutely know what you’re getting into.
Yeah, I’d love to visit, but the costs and logistics of that may be prohibitive. Although if I apply for ED II I could, which I will probably do anyway because I don’t have all the required material to apply in 4 days.
I will research George Mason, thanks for the suggestion!