Chance me!!!! - BU USC USD

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, I'm currently a senior attending a public high school in San Francisco, CA. I am a Canadian citizen so attending college up north would be way cheaper, but I'm focusing more on privates in the US. I am hoping to get a sense of where I lie in the eyes of the admissions board for the colleges I'm applying to. I'm primarily focusing on business schools that have good undergraduate programs, specifically in marketing, and schools with solid reputation and job placement post-grad. </p>

<p>These are my colleges I am applying to in order of preference (not difficulty):</p>

<p>1) Cornell (yes, a longshot for me)
2) University of Texas @ Austin
3) University of Southern California
4) University of British Columbia
5) Boston University
6) University of Richmond (VA)
7) University of San Diego </p>

<p>8) and a few undecided safety schools..</p>

<p>Numbers:
Unweighted GPA (9-12): 3.49
Weighted GPA (9-12): ~3.7?
9th grade GPA: 3.5
10th grade GPA: 3.5uw / 3.7w
11th grade GPA: 3.5uw / 3.8w</p>

<p>Class Rank: - (I'm assuming top 25%)</p>

<p>AP Tests: 5 Biology, 3 English, 4 European History</p>

<p>SAT I: 1910
SAT II: 670 Biology (e), 730 Math I</p>

<p>Senior year courses: AP Government, AP Macroeconomics, AP English, Honors Physics, Yearbook, Calculus, Literature/Film</p>

<p>Strengths +:
- I lost my father to cancer during my sophomore year of high school. Since then I've become heavily involved in the cancer community both regionally and nationally
- I started a nonprofit organization in 2009 that has raised $20,000 for cancer research programs and initiatives. The campaign has attracted international media attention, from Korea to India, and has been recognized by local leaders such as Senator Barbara Boxer of California and Lt. Governor (former San Francisco Mayor) Gavin Newsom
- I launched cancer awareness/education campaigns all across the West and Midwest (OR, CA, NV, UT)
- Founded the “Stand up to Cancer (<a href="http://www.su2c.org)%C2%94%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.su2c.org)”&lt;/a> club at my high school. It has amassed over 300 members and the club has raised money through various fundraising events and activities.
- Invited as a guest speaker for the American Cancer Society annual convention (spoke about past efforts, addressed concerns to important figures in the cancer community)
- Admitted into Johns Hopkins University “Center for Talented Youth” for distinction in mathematics
- I feel that I have the ability to write a strong and solid essay
- Strong counselor/teacher recommendation letters</p>

<p>Weaknesses -:
- Very mediocre GPA and SAT scores, nothing special
- After my father's declining health and eventual passing, my focus placed on academics dropped during my soph/junior year
- My widowed mother makes ~$30,000 and am financially limited; relying on need-aid to propel me through college. However I also have savings of roughly $20k and $10k support from grandparents. </p>

<p>I feel my core strengths include my dedicated efforts outside of the classroom, while also taking my academic career seriously, and my main weaknesses are pretty evident. </p>

<p>If you could also suggest any safety schools for me, that would be great. </p>

<p>Thanks so much,
Chris</p>

2

<p>You and I are a lot alike. Your test scores are a little bit higher than mine, but my gpa is higher. I’d say you are competitive at BU, Richmond, and USD (all great schools, but not so much BU). Not sure about that British Columbia college, though.</p>

<p>I too am looking into business schools with a primary focus on finance, and I think with scores that are on the lower side, essays become the real deal breaker. I think we relate in a lot of ways, man, and I wish you all the best. </p>

<p>I invite you to look into my post: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1215724-chance-senior-business-schools-27-act.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1215724-chance-senior-business-schools-27-act.html&lt;/a&gt; . Since I am also relying on a great deal of aid, I am very familiar with the schools that do and do not meet individual needs. My brother goes to USD for about 8,000 a year (very manageable if you ask me), getting only 15k merit and the rest fin aid. He loves it, and its rank of 36 makes it a very respectable business school, top 5 for california and arguably on the west coast. USC is also a very good school, though my brother claims everybody is full of themselves at that school, haha. My neighbor had a strong GPA, above average standardized test scores, and also had a life story that would draw an admissions reader in; however, she barely received any financial aid/merit, and is now paying 27,000 a year for an art major/ business minor… I suggest you do what you feel is right, but make sure you weigh all your options.

  1. Cornell (yes, a longshot for me)- reach
  2. University of Texas @ Austin- reach with little aid
  3. University of Southern California- reach with little aid
  4. University of British Columbia- ?
  5. Boston University- good chance, not a ton of aid
  6. University of Richmond (VA)- good chance, may have good aid
  7. University of San Diego- in, probably has great aid</p>
3

<p>Your ECs are sufficient, in fact great. If it is possible, attend sat again and improve your sat scores. If you can manage around 2100 or atleast 2000+ in your next sat sitting, if you plan to, that will be great.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the chance SoCalStudent! I feel that I may need more safeties to add to my list. Anyone have recommendations?</p>

5

<p>bumppppppp</p>

6

<p>I think all the schools that you have listed are gonna be hard to get into, with the exception of Richmond and Sand Diego. Raise that SAT to 2000 minimum, and you will have a decent shot at BU. You need to get above a 2200 to have a shot at the rest I think. </p>

<p>Chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1215251-chances-nyu-cas-early-decision.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1215251-chances-nyu-cas-early-decision.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;