<p>I'm a current high school senior and right now I'm waiting anxiously to hear back from the 11 schools I applied to. I'm really not sure what to expect when I start getting letters in a few weeks, and I would really appreciate some predictions! Thanks.</p>
<p>About me:</p>
<p>Hometown: Newton MA
My school: Very rigorous, the vast majority of students end up at 4-year colleges
My classes: 3 honors and 4 AP courses (including senior year)
GPA: 3.54 on a 4.0 scale, 4.22 on a weighted 5.0 scale
SAT: 2320 (CR: 800, M: 760, W: 760)
Subject tests: Math II-760, Biology-740, Lit-680, Chem-680</p>
<p>Awards:
Nation Merit Letter of Commendation
Journalism Education Association certificate for Excellence in Newswriting</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Editor-in-Chief of student-run newspaper
Secretary/Treasurer of Model U.N.
2 years working on a student-run political blog
Run for student senate
4 years working as a research assistant at a hospital
I'm self-taught on guitar and I've been playing for 6+ years</p>
<p>Volunteer work:
2-week community service trip to Nicaragua
Charity walk for Lupus research
Tutoring middle school students</p>
<p>My essay: I worked for a very long time on it, but I still have nagging doubts (which I suppose may be normal).</p>
<p>Also: I was the first person in my family to be born in the United States, both of my parents are South African immigrants. I'm not sure if this this helps or not...</p>
<p>My list:</p>
<p>Boston College
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Harvard University
Middlebury College
Princeton University
Swarthmore College
Tufts University
University of Chicago
Washington University in St. Louis
Williams College</p>
<p>I'd love to hear what anyone imagines my chances at any of these schools would be, and what I should expect in April. Thank you everyone!</p>
<p>I would say that your gpa is a little low for some of your schools, but taking into consideration that you go to a competitive school- some of the colleges on your list will see that. Some universities like harvard, however, will believe that you should maintain excellence even if you go to a competitive school(which harvard is)
Your course rigor is also lacking but your awards are impressive</p>
<p>Boston College- mid/high match
Bowdoin College-match
Brandeis University-match
Harvard University-reach
Middlebury College- reach
Princeton University-reach
Swarthmore College-lower reach
Tufts University- lower reach
University of Chicago-reach
Washington University in St. Louis-lower reach
Williams College- still a reach</p>
<p>I do believe that you should have applied to some less selective schools. there is nothing wrong with confidence, but sometimes overconfidence can translate to pure and utter stupidity and cockiness. I don’t believe that any of these schools are/could be a safety school for you which concerns me.</p>
<p>Also, I forgot to congratulate you. your sat scores are phenomenal. But again, what worries me is that colleges might see that your SAT scores are high but your GPA isn’t the greatest which could mean that you are lazy(Not saying that you are; it’s what college admissions call the low GPA/ high sat deadly combo)
your extracurriculars are average.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help! I recognize that my GPA leaves something to be desired, but I should mention that I have have managed to take progressively more challenging courses and do better grade-wise in these courses since the end of my sophomore year. I can see how colleges could reach the “lazy” conclusion (which would be incorrect) but I’m hoping that this upward trend in my grades/classes counteracts that.</p>
<p>To Blackrose101: I’m still very much undecided in regards to a major, but I like English, History and Politics and I may be moving in that direction, although it’s hard to say for sure.</p>
<p>Your GPA and (apparent) course rigor may also be a little suspect for the top-tier schools on your list. I agree with Jazmine, you are too top-heavy and need a “true” safety school, unless you did not list all the schools you applied to. A very high SAT score will not offset a lower GPA at most of these selective schools, imo. Since you live in Newton, I presume that you will not be needing financial aid- is that the case? Have you not gotten an acceptance/deferral/rejection anywhere yet?</p>
<p>are any of the schools you picked known to be great in any of the depts?</p>
<p>The reason I am asking is because if one of those schools is not really well known, or a top school for what you want to major in it might be a “tad” bit easier getting in with that GPA of yours.</p>
<p>You need a match school.
It seems to me as if the ones you picked are all reach schools. Yes that is great and you might get into one or two, you should always apply to schools with caution. So one more match school is what you need IMO.</p>