<p>I am a current junior in high school and I am very nervous about my chances. I am open to suggestions about colleges, and just want some over all insight. </p>
<p>I am Arab, first generation.
GPA- 3.4
I'm top 20%, my class population is also almost 1100
ACT- 28, but I'm retaking it
Course rigor- hard, I have taken all honors the past three years. I took AP GOV (3), and AP MICRO last year and this year I am taking AP USH, and AP Language and Composition. I am enrolled in APES, AP MACRO, AP Psychology, AP EURO, and AP Stats next year.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars- I am in a leadership position on the debate team and have placed at 10+ tournaments and winning top speaker in state, I am in a leadership position on MUN and am most likely going to be president of the team next year (crossing my fingers) on MUN I have gotten almost 5 awards, I am part of student council, I participated in Relay for life and my school has raised the most money the past 3 years in the nation, I am a UNICEF volunteer, I also volunteer at a local hospital, I have organized charity events leading to massive fundraising for nonforprofits through my school.</p>
<p>I am White , income <60 with a family of 9, my older sibling is already enrolled in college, I think I'm a pretty personable character </p>
<p>Other things- I want to go in foreign policy or political communications and I am very attracted to schools with the "build your own" major programs</p>
<p>I need some help expanding my horizon for school, I want to go to bard college or American University</p>
<p>I suggest MDC or FIU.</p>
<p>Bard: Reach with no test scores
American: High reach with GPA and a 28</p>
<p>Confused - are you white or Arab or both?
EC awards is weak, but volunteering kind of makes up for it. GPA is low, so are tests, so you definitely should aim higher there.
First generation, as in first gen for college? That’s a good hook that might give you some leverage.
I would recommend also looking into Georgetown - they also have an impressive poly-sci program (really, any college close to DC does).</p>
<p>my gpa is going to go up to like a 3.6 by the end of the year, and i just retook the act and am shooting for a 29-30, and is there any way i could boost my ECs because i thought they were pretty solid</p>
<p>A 29-30 on ACT may be a bit on the low side. </p>
<p>When you say you won top speaker at state for Forensics, what does that mean? I do Forensics, but I don’t think we have that award (or we just call it differently.) Winning local tournaments, however, dont’ really add anything to your application.
As for MUN, it’s kind of the same question - are your awards on a regional, state, or national level?
It’s probably too late to add new ECs to boost, so just really focus on dedicating time on your current ECs and show your passion.
As I said, you volunteeering/community service is very good so that should help.</p>
<p>Well i got top speaker at nationals for debate, and all MUN tournaments were also national. i did receive president for MUN this year. and how high do i need my act for Bard because its my top choice</p>
<p>Bard is test-optional, so they don’t actually care that much about your ACT scores.</p>
<p>Wow, top speaker at nationals? Now that’s impressive. I rescind what I said earlier about you needing to beef up on ECs.</p>
<p>also i thought american was easier to get into than bard? and will applying to the IDP program at bard increase my chances</p>
<p>I don’t think its possible to raise your gpa .2 in the 2nd semester of junior year.</p>
<p>bump, any other opinions</p>