<p>Dear JTaylor12 : First, it is unclear whether your application is destined for CSOM (business) or CAS (arts and sciences). In either case, your board scores are a major initial hurdle. With an ACT middle 50% range of 30-33, your 27 might well be below the bottom quartile. While I have yet to validate this next data point, I have heard that the Boston College middle 50% range was statistically huge this year (Class of 2015) with the range from 1950 to 2220. Your 1860 is roughly 100 points below the 25th percentile level.</p>
<p>Second, on the academics front, an A- GPA (3.7) will not be a selling point against those board scores. While weighted to a 4.0, three advanced placement exams (mentioned later in this thread) will not stand out compared to the competition. Your courses were language, literature, and environmental science (a so-called AP Lite course). You are missing Calculus AB/BC, Core Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and History (American, European, World). In short, it is likely that your coursework is short of the most difficult offered at your High School and that will be seen with a very critical eye by the admissions team at Boston College. This might well be a more significant issue than your test scores.</p>
<p>Reading your extra curriculars left many gaps in time over the academic year. While an active participant in wrestling, that would still leave the Fall and Spring seasons without any sports engagements. The clubs are difficult to evaluate (since you did not name them), however the idea that you are starting a new club feels like you are focusing on a very small point of your profile when in fact there any many much larger gaps. We noted that music and the arts are also missing from your profile. The volunteerism is “nice” but not overwhelming. Are there any honor societies that can be mentioned?</p>
<p>This review might sound tough and unfair. Perhaps it is, but so is the college admissions process and you will be competing against 30,000 others for a spot at Boston College. Approximately 7,000 will be accepted and approximate 2,250 will eventually enroll. To be accepted, you need to identify the aspect of your application that makes you one of the top 7,000. Based on this brief profile, that point has not come shining through as yet.</p>
<p>To be safe, you should also plan to spend some time with your guidance counselor to review your other potential applications and your fit for those institutions. You need to make sure that you have several “expected and match” schools. At this time, Boston College appears to be a huge stretch school for you.</p>