Hello, I am a junior at the best high school in North Carolina. Students at my school are extremely competitive. Anyways, here is my breakdown:
-Weighted GPA: 4.45 (will mostly go up to above a 4.5 by the end of the year)
-Unweighted GPA: 3.7 (will hopefully go up by end of this year)
-SAT: 650 math, 640 reading, 590 writing (I know, it’s not outstanding, but I have never studied for SAT and I will take a class/study hard to get above 2000-2100 for next time)
-Yet to take ACT, will hopefully get above 30 with studying
-Captain of state championship winning Varsity swim/dive team
-MVP of state championship winning dive team freshman year
-3 years of cross country at my school (will dive/run senior year as well)
-Ambassador for my school
-Part of organ donation awareness club
-NHS member (can’t be an officer this year, will run for president next year)
-Started my own club this year, which I am the president of. Club raises money for cancer research and volunteers at hospitals
-BETA club (only underclassmen can join)
-I volunteer often for my club, AP Env. Science class, NHS, and used to for BETA club
-Very difficult course load, half of my classes are AP’s and I take a lot of honors. This explains my low UW GPA
-White male
-Can get a lot of recommendation letters because I usually get to know my teachers very well and become friends with them
-Excellent essay writer
College choices:
UNC-CH (in state)
UVa (OOS)
Cornell (reach school, will apply early action)
Texas (OOS)
Basically, if I get into UNC, I will go there; so I’m mainly focused on getting into UNC. I will chance you back if you chance me. Thanks!
You have a good chance at UNC if you get that SAT up. Start studying, get books, hit up the CC SAT/ACT prep board to get tips. You have a lot of time to get that score up. UT Austin and UVA are matches too (get the writing score up to fit in UVA’s percentiles)
Cornell’s a reach atm.
If you’re really interested in UNC, apply there EA so you get a decision back early. Common Data says they don’t consider level of interest though.
If you get your SAT scores up you’ll be looking good for UNC. UT may be a bit of a low reach/high match, but only due to their OOS acceptance rate. UVA will be a match, and I think Cornell will be a reach.
Your extracurricular activities are pretty good. Maybe you can try focus more on the activities related to your major, so you can have something to write about in your essay. If you are going to study an engineering major, definitely get your SAT math higher. Get your GPA higher than 3.8 if possible. According to your estimated score, UNC will be a match. UT and UVa are matches. and Cornell will be a reach.
I know about Cornell more than any of these so, I can chance you for that.
Your extracurriculars are pretty good but, keep in mind that a lot of the students that apply to Cornell have equal or less but nationally awarded ec’s.
Also, your SAT scores are sent regardless of whether or not you choose to send them to the college. I believe it is an average but, I’m not sure. (Not the same case with the SAT Subject Tests though)
I’m also pretty sure that schools sort of push colleges to look at weighted GPA’s. (At lease my school does.)
And although colleges say that they don’t pay attention to race, they can’t take all of one race or another so, you have a bit of an advantage there.
Overall, I think you are in the running but, your SAT’s need a little bit of improvement. (as you stated earlier)
I think the ACT’s are your best bet. (that’s just me though)
Good luck!
If I were you, I’d take the SAT again and the ACT. Get some prep books and possibly take a prep course. Be dedicated and study hard. You really want good test scores for those schools. The E.Cs look good, just continue to be involved. Make sure you have a rigorous senior year schedule and work hard. Also remember essays will help you too when you apply. Start thinking now about which teachers/staff you might go to for your recommendations.
Take your ACT before retaking the SAT. Based on your SAT score if you get an ACT of about 28 or higher you should retake the ACT instead due to some people being better at each test. You don’t really know which suits you better until you take both! Regardless of this I would say UT-should get in Cornell- aim for 2050/31 to be competitive UVA- aim for a 29/1950 to be competitive UNC- as a instate you have an advantage and I would say if you get about a 1800 or a 28 you should be a strong candidate. Overall you are very well rounded and your grades are good with a tough course load. The one thing I would do is continue with tough courses, and make sure you study hard for standardized tests. I would recommend a tutor it brought my SAT from a 1770-1950 and 27/29. Good luck in your search!
Get your scores up. With a record number of applicants every year for the last 10 years the bar gets set higher and higher. My son (caucasian) got in with SAT of 2100 (640 math, 700 writing, 760 reading), 3.97 unweighted GPA, 4.82 weighted GPA, 5 AP classes at time of application with two 4’s and one 5 on AP exams. 2 sport athlete, good essays, just OK extracurriculars and community service. He’s also at a “top” NC high school in the top 3% of his class. His weakest link was a 28 on the ACT but UNC says they consider the higher of the SAT or ACT in their decision.
By comparison his buddy at a nearby high school (and I think down the road from the one you say is the “best”) got denied with a 3.9 unweighted, 4.75 weighted, top 5%, 2 sport athlete, 28 ACT but 1820 SAT. Of course, I have no idea about his essays or letters of recommendation, but I have to say the biggest difference in the two of them was their SAT scores.