Chance me please (Boston College)?

What are my chances at Boston College (Please Answer)???
I’m applying as an engineering major.

Academic Record and Course Rigor:

4.27 W GPA
3.67 UW GPA
Rank: 27 of 319
As many honors classes as I can in core courses since Sophomore Year, and I’ve had 10 Dual Enrollment courses through this whole year, and I will have about the same next year, and both years are combined with honors courses.

Testing (I think this is the biggest killer):

1310 Junior Year SAT, nothing life changing, but still a good score nonetheless, especially considering I didn’t study.
680 Math
630 CR/W
I plan on retaking it in August
I’m considering taking the SAT Math I or II

Extracurriculars (I Think I’m Lacking):

Lead News Anchor of my school’s morning news; 11-12
Outside Hitter/DS in Men’s Volleyball (2 awards and expecting 1 more this season); 10-12
Club Flag Football; QB of league-winning championship team; 10-12
Leader at a local Kids’ Club run by a church that teaches God and character to kids; 11-12
NHS Member (I know it’s application, but judging by other students, I’ll get in); 12
DECA Member (Joining at suggestion of a teacher, who said I will very likely win state competitions); 12
Interact Member (I dropped it for the Lead Anchor gig because I enjoy that more, but I miss it and loved it); 10

Listed CommonApp Awards:

1: 2-Time National HS Poetry Contest Winner, and I was published both times.
2: 1st place winner of innovation in a local robotics competition.
3: One of 24 from my HS class selected to a selective, advanced STEM program.
4: 2-Time President’s Honors List at my local county college; I’m enrolled through Dual Enrollment (3.94 college GPA).
5: Men’s Volleyball Player of the Month for May 2017
(I’m looking into publishing a math theorem over the Summer because I think I discovered a mathematical law, and this would be a great replacement for the VB player of the month. What do you think of this?)

Recommendations:

I’m sure I will get great ones. My counselor loves me, and she thinks I’m going to be very successful one day. My English teacher has suggested to me that she would write them for me. My VB coach plus Dual Enrollment History teacher knows me well. I’m also considering one of my former STEM teachers, specifically the one I showed my math theorem.

You do realize that Boston College and Boston University are two different schools? Which one are you interested in?

I’m interested in both, but I originally entered this in the What are my Chances section. It’s weird because I guess CC reorganized it into the wrong category. So, yeah, this specific question is based off of my chances for BC, and it just got reorganized incorrectly.

So I may sound disgruntled since I was deferred EA and waitlisted and so far haven’t heard anything, so not looking good for me this year. Some other things to consider- are you from a public or private HS? Are you a first generation? Do you have diversity on your side? Are you international? Did your parents attend BC?

I’m only asking because everything plays into the answer. It does sound like you’re a good writer with the poetry award and also enjoying English. Your essays will have to be your hook. As for grades and EC’s, I’d say they wouldn’t make the cut. I’m just being honest since I just went through this painful process. I had a 1430, UW 3.9, W 4.5 and 40/545 rank. I had pretty good ECs, but I’m not the greatest writer, so that may have hurt me although I thought they were good and I had them edited and reviewed by a few teachers.

Long story short, give it a shot but absolutely have a back up plan. I got waitlisted at BC, BU and Emory and got flat out rejected by Northeastern. It’s way more competitive than I thought it was. I thought once I cleared the 1400 SAT mark that I really improved my chances. Not.

Don’t mean to sound too negative, but thought it would help you from a sense of reality, or at least my reality shell shocker.

Good luck. Aim high, but definitely keep in mind a solid back up plan.

Yeah, I was kind of thinking it was a reach, too. I was just asking to see if it was worth even sending in an application. Thanks for being so honest in your answer. I’d prefer someone telling me what is more likely over trying to spare my feelings. Also, I already do have a back up plan. I wasn’t banking on BC.

If you have a backup, apply to BC but understand that it’s a long shot. If you don’t apply and are always going to wonder, then apply.

Kenny and BCBoundMaybe: Did you take the ACT?

Are you aware BC does not currently have an engineering major (unless you are thinking of computer science)?

I didn’t take the ACT.

I’m also not aware that they don’t have an engineering major. I could do physics in place of it, and I will feel fine.

@COSpgsparent I did. I got a 30 on ACT and submitted that and my SAT. I also took 2 subject tests

Which subject tests, and how did you do?

Admitted 33 was average act this year and 1448 sat. Take out athletes Etc it’s probably a bit higher. I’ve heard of several legacies where it was not enough this year . Being a good writer can definitely help. Also engineering school is a year or two away. But coming.

I did math 1 and biology. I can’t remember but I think math got 730 and biology 680. I’m really not sure if they were good or bad. They said they we in the top half of test takers and I assume the bar is high as I’m sure the majority taking these tests are typically strong students. I took them because I was thinking about applying to tufts and Carnegie Mellon. Glad I didn’t apply to them because they were more of a stretch then the schools I got waitlisted

At admitted student day in April, a Chemistry professor mentioned two points . If you are interested in Engineering, BC isn’t for you and if a core curriculum/philosophy isn’t on your list, choose a different school. Otherwise a great school with so much to offer.

I was deferred EA and accepted Reg with a 1470 SAT (took only once) (770 reading/ 700 math), no act. Also, I was a national merit scholar. If that helps at all. Location is also a factor. I came from PA, a more competitive state, so if you’re from like Wyoming or something that will definitely help. Also note that BC’s acceptance rate this year plummeted to 27% and will most likely continue to fall.

the median sat score at for the class of 2022 was a 1450, so I’d try to clear that before becoming cautiously optimistic. Everywhere I applied where I was at the median or only 10 pts above (Gtown and ND), I was rejected.

I’d also look at backups like Fordham, Holy Cross, Loyola Maryland or Loyola Chicago.

Just thought I would drop a note on the nightmare we had with Boston College. My son 3.85 unweighted 4.83 weighted 32 ACT 11 out of 12 on the writing. Rank 26/464 and many activities. This was two years ago and it was tough to get in way before then. I have still been reading because my other son will be going to college in the fall so once in a blue moon I still look at some of the posts on some of the colleges that were such a difficult process, although my second son did not apply to BC. In 2016 when my first son applied to BC he was waitlisted regular decision and it was the year that even when they cleared the waitlist they posted that they decided to hold off on a few students before making a final decision. Well they cleared the waitlist in June and now it was the fourth of July and still nothing. Finally I called them on July 6th and wrote the Dean. He called me back and emailed me that they dismissed him from the waitlist that day. We had to wait that long to tell me he wasn’t getting in. He said to me can I speak to your son and I told him it was not necessary. So really you are all so very qualified but just too many applicants to choose from and I have finally realized that. It was so upsetting for him at the time especially being waitlisted at five schools. I now believe that you end up where you are supposed to be. I think in the end it felt forced everyday waiting to hear from BC and others. I am glad he went to the school that wanted him from the beginning, no hesitation from them. Acceptance came in 30 days before most decisions were even released. That’s when you know they really want you, no games!!