Hi! I’m a high school junior at a public school near Cleveland, Ohio. I’m looking at WashU, Northwestern, Georgetown, Penn, NYU, UMaryland, UPitt, and American. I take IB!
Major: Political Science/Journalism
GPA: 3.88 UW, 4.4 W
SAT: 1440 (taking again)
AP Scores: 5 (APUSH)
IB Scores: 7 (predicted) French
SAT II: 740 (US History), taking World History + Literature in June
Junior Year Schedule: HL English, HL World History, HL Economics, SL French, SL Math, TOK, Newspaper Production
Senior Year Schedule: HL English II, HL Asia History, HL Economics II, SL Enviro, SL Math II, Newspaper Production
Awards
- Lelyveld Award for Social Justice
- Best Review by Ohio Scholastic Media Association
ECs
- Executive Managing Editor at The Shakerite (prestigious school newspaper), started Lifestyle section and edited it, worked there for 4 years, gone to two major journalism conferences, wrote 40+ articles ranging from politics to technology to school policy
- Programming Vice President of youth group region (elected by region, manage huge events for Jewish teens)
- Vice President of Class of 2018 Student Council
- Member of Student Group on Race Relations
- Communications Director of Shaker Heights Democrats Club
- Editor in Chief of teen Israel-US connection magazine, ic.news
- Co-President of Israeli Culture Club
Work/Internship
- Team Member at ice cream shop
- Jewish theatre camp counselor
- Participant in Jewish social justice refugee resettlement program in Seattle
My SAT is just ok (I hope it goes up to a 1500ish), and my GPA isn’t terrible, but I just wanted to get a sense of what chances I have at the schools I stated above. I heard IB can help, and ED can too. For some schools, I have a lot of journalism experience, and for others, I want to show my Jewish social justice/political activist experience. What do you think? Thanks so much!
SAT should be ~1500 to make most of your schools a low reach. You can emphasize the political activism in your Common App essay. Try not to emphasize the religion-a lot of campuses these days are encountering a rise in anti-Semitism and most schools tend to be more sympathetic to Palestine. WashU does have an active Jewish community so that would be a good fit. I would also advise you to ED to one of the schools.
It appears that you live in Shaker Heights. No interest in Case Western?
Also 740 is a little low for the SAT Subject score. If you can take the USH test I would advise it. It’s more memorization of facts. At least you should have the 3 Subject tests for Georgetown, but try to get around ~750.
NYU and Pitt are matches. Maryland and American could be safeties. With your current standardized test scores, Northwestern (assuming Medill) and Penn are really high reaches. Remember that those 2 schools have a lower than 10 percent acceptance rate.
IMO, Pitt and American are definitely safeties. UMD and NYU OOS are probably low matches. Obviously the others are very difficult, even if you raise your score significantly.
American and Pitt are safeties, and you’re guaranteed admission to American if you apply early. Northwestern and UPenn is a massive reach, if you apply early you have a much higher chance, however. Since you seem to be interested in writing, your essays should turn out good.
Chance back?: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1985653-chances-so-far-at-umich-some-other-schools-will-chance-back.html#latest
Thanks all! Just took the SAT again so hoping for 1500ish 
will keep this updated
If you would be happy at (and can afford) NYU, Pitt, Maryland, or American, you have a pretty good list. You’re ahead in the game.
Penn, Northwestern, Georgetown and WUSTL are reaches and difficult to gauge. If you develop a favorite, and that favorite is Penn, Northwestern or WUSTL, you might consider applying ED. All of them have ED admit rates in the 20s%. Georgetown EA does not appear to give much, if any, advantage.
@Hamurtle For Case, I don’t want to be that close to home. Which is harder for Northwestern - Weinberg or Medill? I’m very interested, possibly ED, and want to know. Thanks!
I applied to NYU and WASHU, had much higher scores and a much higher gpa than you, 12 APs, about 350 volunteer hours and several community awards and was rejected from WASHU but wait-listed for NYU. Not trying to discourage, but many applicants will have what you have and more, you have to set yourself apart.
Weinberg would probably be harder since that is Arts and Sciences. Personally I think you have a better chance for ED at WashU. This year I saw some kids get in with an 32 ACT composite and your current SAT score concords pretty closely. Of course getting a 1500 would be advisable.
Hello - I got into Medill at Northwestern in the regular round. Check out my profile and you’ll see that we have some similarities in journalism ECs. Personally, I think the 740 on the subject test is fine. The SAT is a little low. I recommend engaging in even more journalism activities this summer - maybe intern for a local newspaper or start your own online one. Otherwise, if you show your interest in journalism through your Common Application and essays, than I think Medill is attainable
Maybe try to talk about how you use your political activism to bridge divides. My advice is not to try not to emphasize religion in your essays as it is a risk.