Chance me on a "Holistic Evaluation" like the best universities "utilize"

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Every college swears by this maxim for admitting students.</p>

<p>How accurate/truthful is it?</p>

<p>How much do the tests/grades matter versus the essays?</p>

<p>I want to attend a top university...many of which reject students with 800 SATIIs and such qualifications...that I don't have</p>

<p>However, I can write the hell out of an essay</p>

<p>It actually makes me more optimistic to see students with 800s repeatedly get rejected. I would be nervous if I did have a perfect score. </p>

<p>Theres a lot more than numbers to my academic record...</p>

<p>Me...</p>

<p>ACT: 33</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.5
Weighted: 4.4
Part of the holistic thing is that I didn't realize i wanted to go to a top university until halfway through sophmore year and I really turned it up
Last year I had all IB courses, (6.0 A...higher than AP level). Basically the harder my classes got over the years the better my grades got.</p>

<p>Class Rank: 79/500
...improved 90 places junior year</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
A lot...like everyone else
baseball is the most important varsity captain
then photography club president
NHS
about 5 more less serious but I enjoy them</p>

<p>Extra Credit:
i'm mexican and doing engineering...not common</p>

<p>As previously mentioned can write the hell out of my essays</p>

<p>Awards: AP scholar with distinction
Science fair wins
Various other things, nothing earthshaking</p>

<p>How high should I be aiming? Also should I include an essay about what sparked my upward trend</p>

2

<p>I’d say with that 33 ACT score you’ll most likely get into most of the top tier engineering schools. Only thing that prevents you from getting into some would be your GPA and Class Rank, but an upward trend will help.</p>

<p>I’d say apply to wherever you want to go too , you can only get rejected. Being Mexican helps tons too , particularly in engineering (my future major too! unfortunately I’m the norm). Make sure you also apply to some good engineering schools that you are sure you’ll get into , so you will have good backups.</p>