<p>GPA: Currently 3.87 UW, should be able to raise to a 3.9 UW. School does not weight.
Rank: I know I'm in the top 15% right now, but since my school doesn't weight GPA's, it will be hard to raise in the rankings. I will hopefully be in the top 10% but I'm really not sure at the time.
Hook: URM (Hispanic)
ACT: I took it as a sophomore w/o studying and got a 30 composite. With studying and practice, it should be a 33+ by the time I apply.
SAT Subject tests: 790 on US History as a sophomore. I will be taking Chemistry this year as a junior with hopefully around the same result. May also take Math II.
I am high income. (somewhere between 150,000-200,000)
If it matters, my high school sends virtually zero students to top schools. Very few leave the state. (Utah)
AP's: Sophomore: US History- 5, Environmental Science (self-study)- 5, Human Geography (self-study)- 5</p>
<p>Junior year schedule:
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP Chemistry Lab
AP Psychology
Spanish 3
Honors English 11
Art
Self-studying AP Comp. Gov, AP Micro and Macro Economics
My schedule is one of the hardest at my school, if not the hardest. </p>
<p>Senior estimated schedule:
AP English Lit
AP Stats
AP Physics C Mechanics or Calc-based Physics 1 & 2 at nearby University
Calculus 2 and 3 at University</p>
<p>EC:
Varsity Tennis- will MOST LIKELY be Captain this year
Founder/Pres. of Book Club
Eagle Scout
An Editor of the school newspaper
Officer in Spanish club
Member of Math and Science Club (will most likely be an officer my senior year)
200+ hours of community service
100+ hours of volunteering and tutoring at nearby Elementary school
Honor Society</p>
<p>Awards:
Currently AP Scholar, will earn National AP Scholar Award by the time I apply
Again, Eagle Scout</p>
<p>I will have great teacher and counselor recommendations.</p>
<p>It’s tough to chance without a ACT/SAT score, but your stats are impressive for a rising junior. Colleges will take into account your courseload, and your counselor will likely explain in their letter that the difficulty of classes may have affected your rank. The rigor of your schedule is impressive, but you do not need to self-study all those APs…you might use your time more wisely by dedicating time to an EC you are passionate about or getting perfect grades in your non-self study classes. Your EC’s look good, try to develop them more, but your ACT needs to be better to put you in Dartmouth range. Raising your ACT will definitely put you in Dartmouth’s range, especially since you are a URM. Don’t you only get AP Scholar after you graduate?
Anyway, your chances so far, in my opinion would be:
Hamilton, Vanderbilt-matches
Dartmouth-slight reach (if you get that ACT 33+ and keep up the good work you should be in good shape)</p>
<p>-Don’t stress out yet, you’re only a junior, and you’re doing great so far…keep up the good work :)</p>
<p>Before I say anything I just want to say that the college admission process is completely random.
My friend got into Hamilton (as well as a few other top liberal arts colleges) with an SAT score of 1610 and a 3.3 average in high school. She also only had two EC’s and had a hard time finding recs.
I also know someone who was rejected from Hamilton and he had a 3.8 and a SAT score that I think was around 2150. He had great EC’s, letters of rec, and an amazing college essay.
However, the first one did not get into any Ivies but the second one got into Vanderbilt, Brown and NYU, and was waitlisted for Columbia and Northwestern. So it’s really hard to say.</p>
<p>Your stats are really great though and I don’t see why you wouldn’t get in!
I do agree with Runi though, try to pursue an EC that you are very passionate about. And you’ve got tons of time so keep up what you’re doing and make sure you ace the ACT!</p>
<p>Try Brigham Young or U of U. You fit into their profile, I think. You’re an in-state student anyway. If not, there’s Arizona (Pac-12 school) — given your lower-than-norm class rank. Being an URM helps but with keen competition, who knows?</p>
<p>I am assuming that you submit your current ACT socres, which could be a tad too low for fighting into Vandy and the likes.</p>
<p>But you can try Vandy, you should try re-taking tests if you find it helpful, you might be able to go there by class load rigor, ECs and your ‘uniqueness’ as a trying and striving Utah student.</p>
<p>@runi27- You get the AP Scholar award a few months after you get your AP scores, sometime in September I believe. Thanks for the chance. Though I can’t help but stress out! :-)</p>
<p>@rOadto3B- Thanks! I sincerely hope you are right. </p>
<p>@sokafkeque- Thanks, though the story about the second kid kind of scares me. :-/ At least he got into other top schools. </p>
<p>@ Optomistic4Ivy- Yes, I believe so too. I am so, so glad I am an URM. </p>
<p>@ seniorxcbro- Thanks. Those are just my top 3; I’m also applying to Carnegie, UVermont, Cornell, and maybe a few others. If all goes wrong, I should at least get into UVermont. </p>
<p>@ruennsheng- Thanks, but there’s no way I’m staying in Utah nor anywhere in the southwest
I’m definitely going somewhere back east. And no, I am not submitting my current ACT scores. I was only a sophomore who didn’t study. I expect to improve to at least a 33, well into the acceptable range for all schools.</p>
<p>“@puggly123 - You were from the East? Wow.”</p>
<p>I don’t get what you’re saying. No, I’m actually from California. I’ve been back east a few times; my sister went to Princeton and Harvard and we’ve also been there a couple times just to tour. I just really hate the southwest and love it in New York, Pennsylvania, etc. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll look into it.
Anymore suggestions?</p>
<p>Yes, but what do you mean by “no ACT/SAT scores”? I have taken the ACT (30- no studying) and one SAT II (USH-790) and plan on taking at least one more SAT II and improving my ACT score to at least a 33.</p>
<p>Are you planning on majoring in sciences? Cause that’s the impression I’m getting. If so, Dartmouth might be slightly more of a reach because alooottt of Dartmouth applicants include the sciences as a potential major.</p>
<p>As for Hamilton, I’d say you have an excellent shot of getting in! And Vanderbilt? It’s a direct match!</p>
<p>You’ll probably get into Hamilton, I’ve seen people get in with much worse stats.
Vandy, probably a low reach but you could make it.
Dartmouth: chances are alright, but it does help tremendously that you’re a URM from an underrepresented area.</p>
<p>May I suggest Saint Joseph’s University? They’ve a rigorous honors program and they’re in Philadelphia.</p>
<p>But stats-wise, you can make it to Hamilton, and you have a shot at Dartmouth. Though you may need to let admissions know why you’re interested in Physics and Literature, combined. Sounds unique to me! :)</p>
