<p>rlm....................I would suggest that you look at the average GPA for VCU (OMG, I can't believe that you would think this school is a reach for him!!!!) as well as the average SAT's for both JMU and VCU. He said he has taken 5 AP's and that he is a URM with a 3.5. Trust me, I am a native Virginian from one of the most competitive high schools in the state. I will be a senior at William and Mary (might explain both the intelligence and the snob factor), I have a sibling at both MWash and JMU. This guy is soooooooooo into all of the schools on his list. This is easy. I really want this dude to PM me when he gets his decisions next year. He has done an outstanding job. Eagle Scout is a huge, huge hook. It is quite impressive. That aside, he has URM status.</p>
<p>I know all about the new competitiveness of JMU and Virginia Tech, but VCU, the armpit of the state with over 30,000 students, good school yes, but a mega safety for the OP. Look at the common data set for VCU and JMU............you will be overloaded with FACTS. </p>
<p>Oh..........one more thing. I would say that statistics would also prove that Virginia Tech boasts a slightly higher average GPA than JMU and Mary Wash. All three are considered to be second tier schools under the power house's, William and Mary and UVA. Radford, VCU, Longwood, ODU, GMU...........all fall under even Christopher Newport, which by the way is an up and coming school. Great college CNU.</p>
<p>highschooler is the one who claimed that VCU and JMU were a reach, my bad. Regardless, the facts will show that the OP should even try William and Mary or UVA as a reach. Please explain more about your URM status? Are you a first generation college applicant? Both W&M and UVA would like to boost their URM pop, so those two would be considered a reach for him.</p>
<p>"Regardless, the facts will show that the OP should even try William and Mary or UVA as a reach. Please explain more about your URM status? Are you a first generation college applicant?"</p>
<p>Im a AA and my mom recently graduated a couple years ago so I wouldnt be a first generation(I believe she was the first in her immediate family to graduate). I would be the first child from my parents going to college though.</p>
<p>I just recently talked to my mom more about college today and she still thought the SAT was out of 1600 so I had to explain to her that its out of 2400 and she doesnt know what the ACT is so I had to explain her to why I should take that but I think I did a bad job of explaining it.</p>
<p>Also some more background information:
The reason why my mom is so keen on me spending more money on me taking tests is because unlike most people on CC who come from families who make over 100,000$ a year my family doesn't. We probably average around 70,000-80,000$ a year before taxes. So when I told my mom your recommendation for trying William and Mary she said no because it would be hard to afford.
So in terms of financial aid I don't know where I'll stand or if i'll be able to even pay for a school like that if I get accepted.</p>
<p>pedsox,
i do not think that, with 1350-1400/2400 SATs and a 3.5/3.6 gpa that the OP has a fair shot at uva or w&m, having just gone through the app process at both. uva barely considers anyone with a gpa below 3.8 or so unless they are a recruited athlete or a student with special circumstances.
i am also a native virginian who has spent her life going to "snobby" schools. you're not impressing me.</p>
<p>rlm.............uhhhhh, being an African American brother is a "special circumstance". I did in fact say that both UVA and William and Mary would be reach schools for him. The OP discussed taking the ACT as well as retaking the SAT's. It's a no brainer that he needs to increase those scores, but wit his URM status, 5 AP's, and a 3.5/3.6,Eagle Scout, he is quite in the running for the schools on his list. I got into both UVA and William and Mary.........not trying to impress you, don't need to. I know for a fact that you don't go to William and Mary. No Paris Hilton's on our campus. Just beauty and brains.............and what a delightful combination in a female. I fear you would be friendless here.</p>
<p>Rlm...........give Hollins a look. You can take your pony there, I think. After I finish my MBA, look me up, I might be able to give your husband a job.</p>
<p>Oh, BTW William and Mary is not a private school. </p>
<p>Peace Out,
Pedsox..........................Go Red Sox</p>
<p>The OP needs to come back on in May and let us know which schools on his list he was accepted to. </p>
<p>I think RLM will be impressed...............and possibly eating a bit of crow with her sushi? I'm serious, I feel strongly about this OP. I think your going to be surprised.</p>
<p>haha, i don't know where you're getting this "paris hilton" attitude from me. i don't think someone like that would be on a college forum, much less IN college. and you're right, i don't go to william and mary. i was not accepted, along with 75% of other applicants. but, i don't think it would have been the school fo rme. the campus did not seem very friendly when i visited. i'm actually not even going to school in virginia. and i obviously know that william and mary is not a private school...when did i say it was?</p>
<p>hah...hollins. how dumb do you think i am? seriously?</p>
<p>and, did you honestly just say that being african american is a special circumstance? wow.</p>
<p>and, you should consider using less periods to separate parts of your sentences. it's distracting. "..." is sufficient. anything more is an eyesore.</p>
<p>BTW, I know it wasn't you who suggested that W&M was a private school. I think the OP might have mistakenly thought that from reading one of his posts. </p>
<p>I have posted, rather rudely, on the discussions board before with regards to certain URM status issues. Indeed, I feel that the term is used loosely and often offered up as a hook. I personally happen to believe that a brother or a sister has a much harder time in the US defying peer pressure and other issues in order to maintain a decent GPA. Economics aside (and let's face it, AA's statistically are more disadvantaged) our black students have to work harder. This, I truly believe. A 3.5 out of an AA brother is outstanding and trust me, this will stand out quite a bit in the admissions process. William and Mary as well as UVA are trying very hard to give these students the leg up that they need and deserve. It behooves all of us to be surrounded by those who don't come from the same "cookie cutter" environment. The OP at some point, had to branch out away from his peer group and throw it down on his GPA. I am quite impressed. As a freshman, I didn't feel this way. I have come to understand more about the difficulties that AA students face. </p>
<p>You are learning. I am learning (my spelling and grammar and punctuation might always suck, I conceed). You know RLM that we both want to see this dude succeed. His success is our success. He deserves a chance regardless of his low SAT's. He's an outstanding applicant. The adcoms will be able to read between the lines. </p>
<p>I wish him and you all the very best, truly.</p>
<p>No I didn't think W&M is a private school its just that I noticed by going to the collegeboard website that there tuition is higher than most other schools. Since I don't really know how the whole financial aid process works and how much i'll be eligible for me and my parents are bracing for it to not help much. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>"It behooves all of us to be surrounded by those who don't come from the same "cookie cutter" environment"</p>
<p>Yeah when I first came to this website I thought it would be a mix of people from all different economic and academic backgrounds but I realized its mostly kids who come from upper middle class and their GPAs and SAT scores usually being higher than 4.0/2000. Thats totally different from the people I attend school with. Also it kind of lowered my self-confidence a little coming a site populated by high-achievers. Lol.</p>
<p>just getting back on here for the first time in months and months. how are you doing so far in the admissions process? my two schools for you are mary washington and washington college...did you end up applying/gaining acceptance? have you found out yet? where else are you applying?</p>
<p>I didnt apply to Mary Washington or Washington. I was going to apply to Mary Washington but I changed my mind when I sent an email to one of the admissions officer and she sent a very rude email back to me. It was basically </p>
<p>Me: I would look know some information about XXXXXXXX</p>
<p>Response: look it up on the website!</p>
<p>but right now ive been accepted into RMC,Lynchburg, and BW. Im waiting on replies from VCU, ODU, and Loyola Maryland. </p>
<p>The schools im waiting on are my top choices and ill probably go to whichever is the most affordable for me.</p>
<p>that's great that you're finding success! i'm happy to hear it. good luck with the financial aid though...when i was getting my acceptances, it all seemed great, until i got those light fin aid packages and had to turn down several dream schools. oh well.</p>
<p>yeah thats the only thing im worried about. my backup is community college and i dont mind going as long as i can work out things with my parents.</p>