<p>I have absolutely no idea where I stand. I've tried asking my high school counselors, but they're more concerned with getting everyone in my class INTO college rather than into a GOOD college, which is understandable since many people at my school can't afford to go to college/won't even try applying, but overall it's a good school (ranked about 400 in the country). I've posted before, and I got a few good answers, but I'd like to get some more opinions (I hope you don't mind). I'm hoping that with my GPA and SAT I can get into some of the schools I like, but am I hoping to high? Should I move down a couple tiers? What colleges can I likely get into (I'm losing sleep over fear of not getting accepted into any top 20 college)?</p>
<p>UPenn
WashU in St. L
Wake Forest
UMich
Rice
Northwestern
Emory
Dartmouth
Stanford</p>
<p>SAT I:
Math: 800 Crit Read: 690 Writ: 680 (1490/2170)
SAT II:
Chemistry: 800, Physics: 790, Math 2: 790, US Hist: 650</p>
<p>APs:
Chemistry - 5
World History -3
Comp Sci AB - 4
Calculus AB - 5
Physics B - 5
Physics C Mech - 4
Physics C E and M - 5
English Language - 3
US History - 3
Government (this year)
Biology (this year)
Calculus BC (this year)
English Literature (this year)</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars/Awards:
Beta Club (10-12)
Math/Science Bowl (10-12)
Quiz Bowl (10-11)
drums for about 4 years
Tutored various subjects (10-12)
NYLF M (National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine) 2 week summer program
GHA (Governor's Honors Academy) 3 week summer program
3rd place in a statewide Physics competition
ACS Chemistry exam winner
National Latin Exam - 2nd place 9th grade, 1st place 10th grade
roughly 75+ hours of volunteer work and shadowing at a free clinic in my area</p>
<p>Your school is not considered "good" if most of the kids are not going on to 4 year colleges. Where you get your number 400 rating puzzles me, unless you are wrong about the college bound rate. In this area alone, most of the public schools get over 95%, or even 99% into 4 year colleges. The school in the midwest where my kids used to go has an 85% college bound rate and it does not make the ratings anywhere close to 400, nor does the best public school in that area.</p>
<p>Also top high schools are interested in getting kids into good colleges. Your counselor would have the information as to what schools kids are accepted from your school in past year with your numbers. Where have the top kids been going to college from your high school? Where did val and sal go last year? Were they the only ones going to a highly selective college? </p>
<p>You seem to have a good list for reaches, as many kids do. Start looking for schools that you can enjoy that are not so selective. That is the real work in college search. Anyone can pick the plum choices without much research. It's looking for the hidden ones that requires thought and work.</p>
<p>It's not most that aren't getting into college, just more than we'd like. And the rank comes from Newsweek. The val last year got into Princeton, the sal got in but didn't go to Penn. About 7 got into ivies total, and the top 15 got into the top 20 colleges. What are some colleges that I should be able to get in? I'll start researching some more too.</p>
<p>You've answered your own question. You say the top 15 got into top 20 colleges, and 7 got into Ivies. Since you are ranked 13, you'd expect to be a strong applicant to top 20 schools, but not to the very top (Stanford).</p>
<p>I agree that you need some matches and safeties. All the schools you've listed are very selective and reaches for most people. Your strengths appear to be in math and science. You could look into the more "tech" schools such as RPI, Case Western, Purdue, Rose-Hulman, Colorado School of the Mines. </p>
<p>Do you have any geographic/weather preferences? What do you want to study? Big school or small school? Big city or small town? I would worry less about rankings and tiers and more about finding a school where you fit in and you will enjoy your time there.</p>
<p>I don't have a lot of preferences, just a relatively small, but well known school that has a strong premed/science program is good. Anyone have some more chances for me? Will Emory be a good bet for me (above 50%)?</p>
<p>I would try and boost the SAT a little bit is possible for the more reachy schools on the list...Try to get in the 700s across the board. To hedge the bet I would add a few more places- Tufts, Vandy, Middlebury, Colgate to name a few.</p>
<p>I'm taking the SATs once again on October 4th. I think that I can get at least 700 on each subject, and I'll be aiming to get above a 2250. How much would getting a 2230 (to be safe) help me? Also, do I have a good chance at getting into Emory with my stats so far? I know it's just speculation, but it would help.</p>
<p>I would recommend finding at least 2 schools you are pretty sure you can get into and 2 safety schools that you believe you can be happy at. You don't want to choose all reach schools. Most of the schools you listed are getting and more & more apps every yr and therefore admission rates are going down.</p>
<p>What do you want to study? Will that help you narrow your choices</p>
<p>I want to study Physics or Biochemistry to eventually become a doctor. As for safeties, I've already been accepted to an instate college through on-site applications, but someone in a previous topic mentioned that UMich and Wake Forest would be close enough to safeties for me. Are they safeties or more like matches/low matches? I'd be happy at Case Western for a college that I can probably get in, but I'm still looking for more of these.</p>