<p>being a miracle baby is not a hook… 1580 does not show that you have “lots of raw potential”… Stop trolling.</p>
<p>Get your GPA up to a 3.0+ and you’ll be matches at all of them – those schools are all regarded as relatively easy to get into compared to the Northeast Elite LACs, Ivies, and Research Universities. </p>
<p>@nirvana1995 @preamble1776 if only time was on my side to do that. I’m in the middle of junior year, and even if I get straight A’s from here on, my maximum GPA is a 3.0. That’s why I’m seriously considering just banking on my SAT scores and my essay. Thank you, though!</p>
<p>@leavingNYC Thanks, I just chanced you!</p>
<p>@Spirral how would being born three months early not be a hook? and why did College Board send me mail encouraging me to take AP Classes? You’re an idiot, plain and simple</p>
<p>I hope you do realize that collegeboard sends out those emails to ALL students with collegeboard account you know… More AP class enrollment = More money for CB plain and simple.</p>
<p>Ask your guidance counselor if your so called “miracle baby” status is indeed a hook. Ask any college admission counselors/advisors and they will laugh at your face.</p>
<p>@Spirral it was physical mail, not email. They sent it to me because of my race (African-American) and the fact that so few students of my own race actually take APs. And yes, my guidance counselor does indeed say that it can work to my advantage. Who asked you to chance me anyways? For all I know, you’re probably one of those robots who doesn’t know how to relax or have fun outside of school. You can leave now, because you are nothing more than an ignorant, rude and cretinous buffoon.</p>
<p>@Ibad96</p>
<p>Alright, maybe I was bit too harsh. I apologize. However, let’s be realistic here though. Why do you think being a miracle baby is a hook for you? It DID NOT play any role on your progression. In addition, by posting a chance thread on CC, you basically asked everyone, including me, to chance you. Furthermore, by using your logic I can say that UPenn wants me because they sent me a physical mail telling me to apply there. When in reality they sent it because physical mail is a great method of advertisement to attract more applicants, as well as potential future candidates who are competitive enough to stand a chance against other competitive applicants during the admission process. CollegeBoard’s mail =/= That you have “lots of raw potential” It’s just another way for CB to attract more applicants. You are right about few students from your race taking AP classes compared to other students from different ethnic backgrounds. Do you know why though? I have couple of reasons. 1) They don’t like challenging courses(Others do as well, however, I tend to find lot more students from your race refraining themselves from taking AP courses due to their challenging courses/workloads that they don’t want to deal it.) I AM NOT TRYING TO BE A RACIST OVER HERE. I apologize if I am portraying myself as one 2) Their schools don’t offer AP courses(Which shouldn’t discourage them from taking AP exam since it is VERY possible for one to get 4/5 on his/her exam by studying the material through AP course book.) </p>
<p>I apologize for my rudeness and insensitive comments. Good Luck! Make sure you maintain/get highest grades from all your classes since your GPA/SAT is really low, and your URM status will not really help you if you don’t even stand a chance against other students with URM status.</p>
<p>@Spirral about your first point: being a miracle baby did not help me in my development, but being a premee did. I was in a transitional kindergarten class, and every year since, from first grade to junior year, I’ve had to have in-class support. It always lists two teachers for my core subjects on my schedule. Having in-class support has certainly shaped myself, my difficulties and my successes in my schooling career. </p>
<p>Mail: schools like Fordham, Quinnipiac and Hofstra (the latter two of which were already on my list) sent me emails AND physical mail telling me to take some internet quizzes for their respective schools, yet Monmouth sent me mail that contained an information booklet, a letter, and visit dates. But guess which school out of those four that my parents are telling me to shoot for <em>rolls eyes</em> -_-</p>
<p>AP: you’re not sounding like a racist! It’s true that African Americans don’t really challenge themselves in school if they have the opportunity. However, I am planning on taking maybe AP Psychology and AP Lang for next year. AP Euro was also a prospect, but after hearing some discouraging comments about it being a lot of reading and writing five-page outlines EVERY week, I’ve sorta suspended those plans and am leaning towards not taking a history course altogether next year.</p>
<p>I accept/appreciate your apology and admit that I overreacted as well. No hard feelings :)</p>
<p>P.S. That 1580 is my PSAT score. I don’t take the real SAT until May!</p>
<p>re: mail - it means nothing. Just that you hit a certain threshold that a logarithm at a company is set for. The colleges don’t even know the brochures were sent - they contract this out. However, if the brochures spark an interest, go online and fill out their questionnaire on “join the mailing list” or “request info”. Then the college will have your name as a prospective student and the mail you’ll get will come from its offices. They’ll open an electronic folder about you.</p>
<p>Rather than Pace, look at Baruch, CCNY, Brooklyn, Hunter, etc, plus SUNY Old Westbury (a match for you and right next to NYC), SUNY Farmingdale (safety), SUNY new Paltz (reach for you.) Pace is not better than the CUNY’s I listed, and is many times more expensive.</p>
<p>Study hard for the SAT. Hitting 1600-1700 would open a lot of doors for you.</p>
<p>Definitely take AP language, it’ll help a lot for college. In addition, AP Euro is a lot of work but it’s also considered more rigorous than AP psych by college admission offices (most colleges don’t give credit for AP Psych). However, unless you’re pretty sure you can get a B or more in AP Euro, taking AP Psych would be okay for the colleges you’re considering.</p>
<p>Fordham is out of reach but if your parents want to apply, well…
If they like Catholic colleges in the northeast, look into Salve Regina, Manhattanville, Canisius, Cazenovia, St Bonaventure, Siena.</p>
<p>If you can get your weighted GPA to a 3.0 and your SAT score to 1600-1700, your odds are better at Quinnipiac and Hofstra. If your score is 1500-1600 and your GPA under 3.0, they become reaches but not impossible.</p>
<p>Monmouth University- Match
Quinnipiac- Low Reach
Hofstra- Low Reach/High Match
Pace- High Match
Bentley University- Reach/Low Reach
Gannon University- Match</p>
<p>@Ibad96
</p>
<p>Hm… I had to do that EVERY day at my school… lol</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 concerning the SUNY’s…New Paltz definitely entices me. I’ve put it on my list now as my sixth choice. Bentley and Gannon move up, and Pace goes down to seventh.</p>
<p>About Fordham…it’s not that they like Catholic colleges, it’s that they STILL want me to apply to the top schools despite the fact that I have ZERO chance of acceptance at any of them. My dad even says that he’ll be ashamed if I go to Monmouth, even though it may be the best fit for me. They’re prestige hunters. Thanks for the advice/chance!</p>
<p>@patriot420 thanks for the chance!</p>
<p>I would try to incorporate your life story in there and account for the problems you faced. Colleges will keep this in mind. I have friends who went to Monmouth and Gannon and you’ll fit right in. Just make sure to work on that SAT!</p>
<p>@DrWama I’ll be sure to use that in my essay. Thanks for chancing me! Do you live in NJ?</p>
<p>*<strong><em>important *</em></strong></p>
<p>Anyone who chances me on this thread may also chance me for:
- SUNY New Paltz
- University of Scranton</p>
<p>They’re all high match if you can get the SAT score you prospected and explain everything in your essay really well. I recommend getting help with the essay to do your best. Your SAT and GPA is within the average range of the schools, so you should do well. With a legitimate and heartfelt excuse, you should be able to get in easily. Good luck!</p>
<p>@Woandering thanks for the chance! I’m definitely starting my essay ASAP when August rolls around!</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about those schools, so I’ll give a general overview of your student profile.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>GPA:
Unfortunately, your GPA is a bit low for most schools. In further bad news, GPA carries the most weight in any college application. At least you have some upward trend, and I’m hoping you’re taking challenging classes.</p></li>
<li><p>Test Score:
As far as scores go, I can’t say much, because I don’t know the averages to these schools.</p></li>
<li><p>ECs:
These look good, but I’m hoping you have contributed as a leader also, and don’t forget about your volunteer work.</p></li>
<li><p>Essays:
These will probably be your biggest life-saver. Be sure to explain everything that affected your grades or scores. And your diverse background should help. As far as this miracle baby story of yours, if this has affected your current life, it’ll help, otherwise it was something out of your hands and shows your PARENTS’ hardships. So not too sure about it.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@AsianAlly not always true about the GPA. Sometimes high SAT scores can cancel out a “weak” GPA. My schedule is: Pre-Calculus, English 3, Spanish 2, USH2 and Chemistry 1. It may not look THAT challenging to you, but my school is very challenging and competitive. Even those regular level classes give me fits sometimes, especially Pre-Calc and USH2. </p>
<p>About the SAT scores: basically if I get a 1600+, then I’ll be a shoo-in at most, if not all of these schools.</p>
<p>EC’s: Idk if you’ll agree with this one, but I think that setting up a Facebook page and candlelight vigil in honor of a deceased schoolmate counts as BOTH leadership and volunteer work.</p>
<p>Essays: I’m going to write a background story on the Common App that explains my basic life story so far. It’ll include my miracle baby story as well as the unfortunate circumstances that have affected my GPA up till this point.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>P.S. two-horse race between Quinnipiac and Monmouth right now.</p>
<p>I’d go with Quinnipiac unless Monmouth offers better financial aid. :)</p>