I was only able to take each standardized test once due to extracurricular conflicts/inability to get a fee waiver. I also wrote about being gay in my personal essay if that helps my chances any.
Ethnicity: African-American
Graduation date: June 2018
Rank: 69 out of 472
Weighted total GPA: 3.58
ACT: 24 (English: 27, Math: 22, Reading: 24, Science: 22)
SAT: 1190 (Math 590 Reading 600)
-Choir (4 years, held office as a senior)
-Dance (4 years, held office as a senior)
-National Honor Society (1 year, as of now I have 40 community service hrs)
-Theatre (1 year in class, was in 2 school musicals)
-Student Council (2 years)
-Key Club (1 year, gained 12 service hrs)
-GSA (1 year)
-Poetry Club (2 years)
I know some of these are total reach schools, but it can’t hurt to try right?
I can only comment on USC and SMU - USC seems very unlikely and SMU fairly unlikely (I would guess Northwestern very unlikely as well, but have not had kids with admissions experience with them).
Have you applied to any academic safeties? Since you mention hopes for a fee waiver, I’m assuming you need financial safeties as well? I do not believe you are in the range for merit scholarships at any of these schools. If not, please cast a wider net with your applications ASAP.
From what I understand, sexual orientation is not a “hook” and will not help your chances any.
Unfortunately, your GPA and test scores are far below the lower quartile of students accepted to USC and Northwestern, which makes your chances very low. Barnard is also a reach, with their average freshman earning a 3.9 unweighted GPA. SMU might be a little bit of a reach, too. You, however, do have a shot a Gulf Western and TCU.
Yes, I’ve applied to several other safeties, but I wanted to know my chances for some of the bigger reaches that I applied to, namely TCU. Thank you!
It does hurt your wallet and chances for other schools that you have a better chance by wasting your time and effort to apply to those out if reach schools.
I applied to several other schools as well as these for free and I wanted to know if I had a chance at these. I’ve been accepted to a few safeties but I wanted to try for the reach schools. Thank you for your input though 