<p>Profile:
- NJ resident
- URM male (African American; born in NJ to Nigerian parents)
- Rising Senior
- GPA: 2.8
- SAT (June '14, first and only sitting): 660 CR, 550 Math, 790 Writing; 2000/2400, 1210/1600
- EC's: cofounder & co-administrator of Facebook tribute page in honor of schoolmate who deceased in January 2013. I also co-organized his candlelight vigil. I am a member of the Young Democrats Club at my school, and I have campaigned for mayoral candidates in my town. I am also a member of the Support Our Troops Club, Helping Hands Club, and Gifts of Gold Club.
- Essays and LoR's: my essay will touch on a traumatic occurrence in my sophomore year that had severely affected my academic, social, and personal life. The essay would explain how it has humbled me, made me a better person, and taught me to appreciate the little things in life. My GC would briefly mention this in her LoR. I also plan on getting LoR's from my junior year English and PreCalculus teachers as well.</p>
<p>I plan on becoming one of the first applicants for the UMass Amherst Class of 2019. What do you think will happen? Will I be accepted, rejected, or wait listed? If I am wait listed, will I be accepted or rejected off the wait list? Keep in mind that I'd also leave myself open to Spring 2016 admission.</p>
<p>Look I did the chances thing for my son and it really doesn’t mean a thing. Apply and see. Here is what I see as someone who really knows nothing: GPA is low, lower than UMass would like. At the parent orientation they said that the average GPA for the actual class of 2018 was 3.8 (I don’t know if that is weighted or unweighted although I think it’s probably weighted) and that the average SAT score was over 1200. They also said they received over 35,000 applications. Sat’s are just OK because your writing is not considered by UMass and that’s your best section. Maybe that sophomore experience will be accepted and maybe it won’t-its a crapshoot. EC’s are kind of lacking as well. But they sure do like the out of state money so that is in your favor. Verdict: Either outright rejected or wait listed. If wait listed then just keep your fingers crossed-it will depend on the strength of the regular application pool. If wait listed then make sure you send in your first half of senior year and do really well. My son was wait listed and he did really well first half of senior year, plus we are from out of state as well. </p>
<p>@bucky0926 ah. I see. I forgot to mention that I’ll be full pay. I also will have taken AP European History by the end of my high school career.</p>
<p>My best advice to you is to get that first half of senior year tops in terms of grades. Also make sure your essay is perfect. You also didn’t say what major you are interested in. If undeclared then that might help you as the tougher majors will obviously expect more upfront. </p>
<p>ISOM is very difficult to get into at UMass. But once again I have to stress that all this chancing is really just a guess. I say if you can afford the application then go for it. There was a female last year that got into Harvard and she was expecting just to go to UMass. Also you have an opportunity to raise you SAT score as you have only taken it once. If you could get your math score up it would help you greatly. And you have a whole summer in which to do it.</p>
<p>@bucky0926 I don’t feel that I need to retake the SAT to be honest. Plus, if I’m wait listed, then I can also put myself in the running for Spring 2016 admission, which I would plan to do :)</p>
<p>Your total of 2000 is really great and it’s impressive that you got it the first time out of the gate. The problem is that UMass only looks at the 1210 which is just so so when coupled with a 2.8. If you could raise it to 1300 or over then you would stand out as someone whose sophomore year really did take a toll. With that higher SAT you could then present yourself as someone who clearly has the potential to do better but had an incident that held you back-very acceptable as we are all human. The problem is that you will have the kids who are out there not only with similar situations but who also got their 4.0’s, was president of this club and that club, and took 8 AP courses in which they got all 5’s. I know I’m exaggerating but you know what I mean. And do you mean you would put yourself out there for Spring 2015 admission? Regular decision (Spring 2015) is not a given and is not easier despite what you might have heard. Look everything is your decision-you are approaching adulthood and you have to live with the results. If you are happy with your application then submit it and see. In any case, I wish you only good luck and hope you get in. </p>
<p>Well, according to the College Board, UMass’ 25th percentile for SAT scores is 1110 (540 CR + 570 M), and the 75th percentile is 1310 (640 CR + 670 M). So I’m right in the middle of the middle 50%. I think I’ll be fine in that regard, to be honest. And I’ll be a college freshman in 2015-16, so being wait listed would give me an option of keeping myself in the running for either Fall 2015 or Spring 2016. That’s an option I would definitely jump on. Although I would hope being the first applicant would give me some sort of a boost. Thank you for the well wishes, and best of luck to your son as he begins his college career in this wonderful institution :)</p>
<p>Just so we are clear, you are applying to be accepted either late 2014 (ea) or spring 2015 (regular decision) for fall 2015. Being wait listed from Dec/Jan decision to March/April decision does not keep you in the running for spring 2016 admission.</p>
<p>@bucky0926 well, I looked at the Waitlist FAQs…it said that you could either join the waitlist for Fall 20xx, be admitted for the spring semester in January 20xx, express interest in both, or say that you are not interested in either. So for example, if I am waitlisted, then I could either join the waitlist for Fall 2015, be admitted for the spring semester in January 2016, express interest in both, or express interest in neither. I’d definitely choose the third option the only downside is that those if I am admitted for spring 2016, then I wouldn’t be admitted into my prospective major.</p>
<p>You know what I bad. In my first post to you I said outright rejected or wait listed. "What I should have written was rejected or deferred. And that was why I made mention to how strong the applicant pool was for regular decision. But you could wind up wait listed in which case since you are willing to wait for Spring 2016 you would be set. At this point I feel invested to see what will happen,so please follow up as you learn your fate. And I think the college board averages are from a number of years ago. Like I said I was at parents orientation and they mentioned that the average was over 1200 (although they didn’t say how much over). Again, good luck.</p>
<p>@bucky0926 definitely, in fact, in my personal statement, I’d promise to attend UMass if accepted. Thank you for your care, and I will follow up with you! :)</p>
<p>Ok according to your list: UMass-reach, Northeastern-super reach, syracuse-reach, quinnipac-in, hofstra-in. Don’t know rider, stetson, unc or bently to make a decision. Again I’m just a parent but that is what my gut tells me. Thanks for keeping me posted. I loved reading your story. </p>
<p>@bucky0926 thank you for giving me your analysis!! I’ll keep you posted on any and all admissions decisions that come in, as well as my final decision!! Thanks for taking the time to read my story, it means a lot :)</p>
the only downside is that those if I am admitted for spring 2016, then I wouldn’t be admitted into my prospective major.</p>