Chances at American?

<p>Hey I’m a high school junior looking to get into AU. It’s one of my top three choices and I’d really love to get in for International Studies. Here’s everything:</p>

<p>SAT: 1870
CR: 730
Math: 530 (I know, REALLY low trying to get it up)
Writing: 610
Current GPA: 3.69 (want to get to at least a 3.8)
AP Psychology
AP Language and Literature
Honors Biology
Honors Literature
Honors US History II
<em>Will take AP Macro and AP Lit again senior year</em>
4 years of Spanish</p>

<p>EC’s:
NHS member
Yearbook Staff
Habitat for Humanity
Student Council Club
Make-A-Wish club
Freshman basketball
Stats for varsity/JV girls basketball
Library Volunteer
Special Olympics Volunteer
St. Bernard’s Camp Volunteer Counselor
3 Presidential Service awards
In the process of completing my gold award for girl scouts (also completed the silver & bronze ones) </p>

<p>What are my chances? I really want to get in, visited the campus and it’s wonderful especially the location in DC!</p>

<p>Honestly I’ve seen people with stats all across the board get in. I can’t stress enough how important demonstrating interest is. Email your admissions counselor once in a while during the next year, go to interested student seminars, log on to the Internet chats, etc. the more interest you show the more you can gain an advantage. Make your writing strong and think about applying test optional! You have to submit your app earlier than the RD notification deadline but if your scores aren’t where you want them to be, AU will never have to know!</p>

<p>This year, I applied through the test-optional program. I have about the same SAT score and GPA and extra C’s similar to yours. I got into American and got wait listed by U. richmond, Syracuse, and Bentley and rejected to Santa Clara. </p>

<p>I’m not saying you’re guaranteed to get into AU if you apply test optional but it will definitely help. I didn’t get any scholarships but i did get a lot of aid. </p>

<p>Au really likes students who are engaged in the community and have that drive and want to make a difference in the world. They like students who are genuinely passionate so if this is you, make sure you show it in your essay, because they will notice it!!! </p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

<p>So are my scores that low where test-optional would help me? And are you sure that it won’t affect my chances of getting in? We went to a tour awhile ago and they said it wouldn’t but I’m wondering if that’s true or not.</p>

<p>I had around the same ECs as you did but I did have a little better scores on the SATs (1970) but otherwise I am pretty much the same as you are give or take a few things. I got into American with 41000 in merit money which to be honest I was surprised by but happily surprised</p>

<p>I had four friends apply test optional and they were all admitted, 1 was ED and 3 were RD and all were offered decent financial aid including one RD got a scholarship.</p>

<p>Ok thanks guys I might end up doing that if I don’t improve my scores in may</p>

<p>Another suggestion is that because test scores usually can get more merit money, try taking the ACT. I know that it’s a very Midwest thing, but the ACT is the thing to do out by me and the kids who struggled with the ACT found they did significantly better on the SAT and I haVe heard it works both ways. Both options are good options and I wish you the very best of luck!</p>

<p>Yeah I am taking the ACT on April 14th, hopefully i’ll get a good score!</p>

<p>Hi, I got into AU this year with a 2.99(weighted) GPA and a 32 on my ACTs. I went to a private school which may be notorious for grade deflation, but still was on the lower end in terms of GPA. I took 7 APs total and 5 honors classes and they tended to be my best grades. Spanish brought me down a lot and I just didn’t care freshman and sophomore year. Anyway, I digress… </p>

<p>The point is, I believe that rigor of your course load in terms of courses available to you is important as well as expressing interest in the school. I visited and talked to someone in the admissions office briefly while I was there. Your GPA is above their average as far as I remember so you are basically on the opposite side of the spectrum from my credentials. I hope this gives you a little perspective as to the wide variety of students they let in to the school.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>You really don’t need a bunch of strangers giving you “chances” for AU, when AU actually PUBLISHES your chances, at every GPA and SAT/ACT level for every school:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.american.edu/provost/oira/upload/Fall2011_ADRB.pdf[/url]”>http://www.american.edu/provost/oira/upload/Fall2011_ADRB.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;