<p>Hey guys! So I'm still a junior, almost done thank goodness. Thanks for any help and advice you can give. Anything is appreciated since this is pretty important to me. Have fun!</p>
<p>Stats:
African American Female/Really Low Income
GPA weighted- 4.2, but should be higher by next year
GPA unweighted- 3.9
SAT math: 770
SAT writing: 710
SAT reading: 690 (I know its low but it's my best from two tries...)
Our school doesn't rank but I'd estimate top 10% AT LEAST</p>
<p>Extra:
National Honor Society- Vice President
Science National Honor Society- President
National English Honor Society Member
College Partnership Program- Secretary
Model UN- President and Co-Creator
Internship at Neuroscience Clinic- about 300 hours
Volunteer at Children's National Medical Center.. lol I have no idea how long but it's a lot
SAT tutor for students over summer</p>
<p>Ok well that's all I can think to tell you. Thank you so much for the help, it's really appreciated!</p>
<p>This may seem like a stupid question, but could you explain high/low reach? It’s been a while since I’ve been on CC…</p>
<p>Sure… Ill just put a list in from most likely to get in to least likely</p>
<p>Safety
Low match
Match
High match
Low reach
Reach
High reach</p>
<p>Hopefully that helps. Also, I’d really appreciate it if you chanced me back</p>
<p>I completely disagree with the poster above. The fact that you’re African American (and low income) helps a ton. I think:
Brown- Match
Columbia- Match
Boston U- Safety
UVA- Safety
Upenn- Match
I know students who had a lower gpa than you, and didn’t have the racial bonus of being African American, who got into Brown and Cornell. People on here seem to think that even a 4.5 Weighted GPA makes someone not able at all to get into a university like Brown; completely false. Once again, I’ve seen 3.8s, weighted, get into Brown.
Also: Your ECs are great (not excellent, but impressive), and your scores are decent.</p>
<p>Although, I didn’t factor in the fact that she is a URM, I’d only adjust my opinion slightly in her favor… Ill re-do it (sorry OP)</p>
<p>EDIT: After ‘re-thinking’ her chances after considering her URM status, I still wouldn’t call UPenn, Brown, or Columbia a definite match. But hey, everyone has their own opinion</p>
<p>Thanks ccjunior1 and vipstephen, I really appreciate the opinions. Me and my friends always joke about being a minority and how its our ticket to college, but I know not to rely on it.</p>
<p>Also, ccjunior1, I did my best chancing on your post, good luck with the colleges!</p>
<p>Also, any advice for bettering my chances? I’d appreciate any feedback!</p>
<p>Thank you for chancing me
Here is what I think
Brown-Low reach
Columbia-Reach
Boston U-Safety
UVA-Match
UPenn-Match</p>
<p>Since you said you have a really low income, I think that UVA or BU would give you a good scholarship.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, and no problem with chancing you, glad I could help</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Low income? Brown will essentially give you a free ride on room, board and tuition if you get in. You’d need to do work-study 8-10 hours a week during the school year and pay for your own books, travel and incidentals (estimated $3000 a year, but you can do it easily with less than $2000 if you’re frugal and a good shopper).</p>
<p>I’m sure the same is true for Columbia and UPenn and any of the top-20/25 schools – these schools have large endowments and can afford to subsidize the students they want most. The ones below that tend to be not as rich and have to settle for being need-aware.</p>
<p>Have you considered applying via Questbridge? There’s info about it in the financial aid section.</p>
<p>you have an excellent chance at all of these schools.</p>
<p>but in response to the above replies, racial bonus doesn’t make anyone a “match” for an Ivy. plenty of URMs are rejected from these schools because, contrary to public opinion, admissions officers don’t blindly pluck black/hispanic kids to fit diversity quotas. everyone who gets into an Ivy gets in on their own merit.</p>
<p>As much as we’d like to believe it is true, I had heard of a study (whether legitimate or not, I don’t know) where the admissions likelihoods of asians, caucasians, and african-americans were compared. Supposedly, there was a huge (100+) point disparity between each of the students with respect to their SAT score and admissions chances. </p>
<p>I don’t recall the exact scores, but an asian student needs something like a 2200 whereas a white student needs a 2100 whereas a black student needs a 1950 to get into the same caliber school if everything else was held constant. Although these are not the exact numbers, I do know that the numbers in the actual ‘study’ weren’t too far off (each race was separated by 100+ points I think). Its unfortunate if its true. However it may not be… Who knows?</p>
<p>But if it is, one can conclude (unfortunately) that merit is in no way the sole factor in ivy admissions. Its a part. But its not the whole.</p>
<p>Sorry for de-railing the post OP. Regardless, I think you have great chances and good luck wherever you go!</p>
<p>No problem ccjunior1, that’s a really eye-opening study. I hope it’s not true since it wouldn’t be fair to a lot of hard working students!</p>
<p>Found it:</p>
<p>“A 2009 study revealed that Asian-American applicants need a score of 1550 out of 1600 on the SAT exam to compete with white applicants scoring 1410 and African-American applicants scoring only 1100, according to Bloomberg.”</p>
<p>[TheDartmouth.com:</a> Race poses challenges to admissions](<a href=“http://thedartmouth.com/2012/02/13/news/discrimination]TheDartmouth.com:”>http://thedartmouth.com/2012/02/13/news/discrimination)</p>
<p>Looks pretty legit… As unfortunate as it is.</p>
<p>Free bump!</p>
<p>Haha thank you for that. Bump</p>
<p>UVA is a great school and you seem to have all the requirements to get in! I would highly recommend the school… My sister attended and loved the school as a whole it has great vibes and great reviews! You should deff consider the school. My cousin attends BU and enjoys the school as well but it is up north, I think if I was in your position those two would be the two main ones I’d consider! They both seem like match schools for you! Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks! UVA is in state for me, so it’s a definite contender.</p>