Chance me, please? (worried rising senior)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Planning on applying to the following universities: University of California, San Diego; University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, University of Virginia, and the University of Washington, Seattle. Any other schools I should look into?

Here are my stats:

GPA: 4.542 (weighted 4.0 scale) and 3.773 (unweighted 4.0 scale)

Rank: 14 of 788 (Top 3%)

ACT: 27 (retaking in June)

AP’s: AP Euro (3), AP Spanish Lang, AP Bio, AP English Lang, AP Gov, AP US History, and AP Micro

Next Year AP’s: AP Psych, AP Stats, AP Calc AB, AP Chem, and AP English Lit
Desired Major: Pre-Med course with major in Bioengineering

EC’s: Clubs: NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Service Club (VP and Co-Pres), Snowball (Teen Staff), Freshman Mentor Program, Student Athletic Academic Leadership Team, Ecology Club, Cultural Diversity, Teen Club of the YMCA, Junior State of America, Mathletes, and attended UIC’s Med Days.

Outside Programs: Healthcare Professional Recruitment and Exposure Program at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine and at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine (received full-tuition scholarship to the NYLF from Northwestern’s HPREP).

Summer Programs: JSA Summer School at the University of Virginia for AP U.S. History (received partia-tuition scholarships) and University of Chicago’s Summer Session as a Neubauer Summer Scholar (full-tuition scholarship for their summer program)

Volunteer: Blood drives, school registration, and DCFS-registered unpaid home daycare assistant

Things about me: I am male, gay, and Mexican-American. I don’t know where I stand financially because I won’t be eligible for free/reduced lunch next year for the first time. I attended a high school that has the following characteristics: 78% Hispanic, 81% of the students are considered low-income, not met state standards in 5 years, lower graduation rate and higher dropout rate when compared to state averages, and the average ACT score is 18.

Thank you. :slight_smile:

2

For the two Illinois schools listed NU is a high reach for you, while U of I is a low-mid reach. Your GPA as it stands is way to low for NU below their usual minimum threshold unless you get a 4.0 in AP/Honors next year. U of I your GPA is a little low but if you get a little better and not worse you probably can get in. For both schools you need a higher ACT preferably 31-33+ if possible. I don’t know what potential programs your applying for but that may affect your odds too (for example if your applying specifically for the Feinberg Medical program at NU based on your outside program thing I kind of doubt your get in that despite you connection just because they reject a lot of ppl with perfect grades). Other than that you have great ECs and stuff-- just need to improve GPA and ACT a bit. Good luck!

3

What do you want to major in? Do you need schools that meet full need and/or give merit scholarships? I know you’re fuzzy on your exact financial situation, but I ask b/c UCs don’t give financial aid to out of state students, so UCSD might not be a sound application choice if you can’t pay.

I’d say you need some more match/safety schools, specifically schools you know will meet your need/give merit aid. I think you’ll be an attractive candidate to a lot of schools, both as a URM and someone performing very strongly relative to their peers/school situation. You can certainly pull up your test scores, but your GPA is solid and your ECs are great. I honestly might even purposely add a reach school or two, especially if they’re known to offer competitive aid to attractive candidates.

4

What is you state of residence?
All of the state universities make me a bit nervous because I don’t think you can afford to attend them. I agree with ^poster that you are an appealing candidate. Solid courses. You need either great merit aid or a full ride scholarship. What was the breakdown in the ACT? Have you tried the SAT?

5

Agreed with @proudterrier. I don’t know what state you are from, but atm, you have listed some high reach schools. You need to include some safeties and match schools in the mix.

6

Check out Howard University in DC. Look at their scholarships for freshman. Also research Truman State, an affordable public school in Missouri.

7

With your current score, they are mostly reaches for you. Some are pretty high reach too.

8

Hey guys, got accepted to UChicago today. Haha BYE.