Hi I am a junior in high school. College applications are just around the corner and my dream school is Boston College. I go to a Catholic private school in Florida. My school has quite a good relationship with Boston College. For example, one year BC admitted 15 students from my school. I would like to apply early decision. I would like to major in finance at the CSOM, which is more competitive than Arts/Science. I would love input on my chances?
Gender: Female
GPA: 3.95 (unweighted)
ACT: (going to superscore but still testing so it is not set it stone) currently have a 27… (my only weak spot)
Extracurriculars: 500 service hours; National Honors Society; Rho Kappa (Social Studies Honors Society); Lacrosse (9,10) due to an injury; JCL (Latin club) (10-12); Medical Professionals Club (10-12); Service Project for the fires in Tennessee
Summer Activities: A camp for 1 week where I take care of those with special needs (have done this for 3 years); doing a BC summer program this summer for 3 weeks (They say on the website that this does not increase chances for admission but my friend went there last year for a summer program and they said it does increase their chances)
Teacher Recommendations: Going to be my Latin teacher whom I will have had for four years in total throughout high school; The Vice Principal who will be my Psychology AP teacher senior year whom I have a good relationship with
Additional Recommendations: The Principal (good relationship)
Ethnicity: Asian
Essay: Will be about being adopted from China by a single mother (the whole thing will not be about it but it will be the foundation)
Senior Course Load: AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Psychology, Religion Honors (required), AP Latin
Additional Notes:
I was debating whether to take AP Psychology or AP Physics senior year. I understand Physics is a core science. However, I really wanted to treat myself and take AP Psychology because it seems interesting and I know the teacher very well. This means I will have 3 years of a science (biology honors, chemistry honors, 1/2 credit of marine biology honors (summer school for credits), 1/2 credit of physics honors (summer school for credits)
Do you think having 3 years of a science will hurt my application even though I do not want to major in science?
I will have 4 years of Latin including AP
I am trying to start a stock market club next year
Yes, with a good ACT BC would be a match but your low ACT would put it into the reach category. Holistic means that they consider many factors, one of which is ACT/SAT scores.
Also this is the third thread you have started on CC with the same question. You started two threads today. The responses have all been the same. The 27 ACT is a problem that will make admission to BC difficult, but not impossible. That is the definition of a reach school.
@ngiord13:
The BC factbook shows the middle 50% SAT range for last year’s admitted students were 1930 - 2150. They don’t have reports for ACT scores. I’m sure they’ll switch to the 1400 scale when this year’s factbook is published.
You can take whatever favorite ACT to SAT converter you want to use, but an ACT of 27 falls into the 1810 to 1830 range. That is deep is the lower 25th percentile for admitted students. It is not where you want to be.
Does BC admit students with an ACT of 27? Sure, but not routinely and the odds are not in your favor.
The good news is you have 5 months to significantly lift your odds (e.g. lift your ACT score). Sign up tomorrow for an ACT prep class, and then do practice tests every night and weekend. After you take the ACT again in two months, if you don’t like your score, do it again and retake the ACT in October.
I wrote the above paragraph in full sincerity. I have seen students do exactly that, and they were amazed at the doors that opened for them. It all boils down to how badly you want to go to BC. (I happen to think it’s worth it.)
The mean ACT this year was a 33 with a 50th percentile range of 32-34, so you really need to get that ACT up. CSOM is the most competitive school to get into at BC as well. BC does not have early decision, only early action. Early action is also harder to get into than regular decision, so I would suggest applying RD instead.
When test scores puts an applicant well below the 25th percentile of accepted students, it means the odds are heavily against them. Anyone accepted with such a low score usually has something very strong that stands out working for them.
And of those with low test scores and something very strong to offer, how the adcoms decide to select a few is a decision that only the adcoms will know when they’re at the table reviewing the applications.
Keep your tutoring going. I’ve seen students work relentlessly on practice tests trying to improve their scores. (And I emphasize relentlessly.) The harder they tried, the luckier they got.
I agree w/ @TomSrOfBoston - you’ve posted your stats a few times now asking for the same feedback - please read all the thoughtful responses you’ve received to your various threads. Ask your single parent to read the responses too. Good luck.
Sorry to break the bad news… ACT 27 will be hard to compensate with other stuff on your application, especially you are ASIAN… not a 1st gen URM. Have you tried the SAT? I know kids do well in SAT and poorly with ACT (time pressure). Maybe pickup a collegeboard real SAT (esp. practice test 5 through 8) and test that out. You still have some time to move the test scores. JMHO
I agree with everyone before me. Your ACT score is quite low in comparison with the average BC admit. Time hasn’t run out though, and you can definitely boost your chances with an EA or ED application. This probably won’t be enough, however, so I definitely recommend pulling up your ACT score. I’ll be joining the class of 2021 next fall and the majority of people I’ve spoken to have had ACT scores that are 30+; testing is quite competitive.
If you take it again and study and practice, you have a chance of pulling up your ACT score and increasing your chances of admission to BC.
Best of luck!
Is the 28 superscored? If not, what is the super score? Still really need to try to get it up higher, but at least you’re moving in the right direction!
I agree with @edgeook8, if you can pull up the ACT with either a superscore or by taking it again, you will definitely help your chances quite a bit. Doing a summer program there will certainly help you, as will EA/ED as I said before.
Since your high school has a good relationship with BC, your school’s Naviance will have good information for you. Check and see what the average and lowest scores were for those who were accepted to BC. Keep in mind that the business school at BC generally requires higher scores and more math proficiency.
Correct me if I’m wrong: BC doesn’t have ED and EA is (slightly?) more challenging than RD, I believe, as it tends to be a more competitive applicant pool. With a 28, as I said, it’ll probably be an uphill battle. I was wondering, though, what your super score is? My single sittings were both 28s that superscored to a 30. Don’t think I would have passed muster with a 28. With your GPA, I would imagine that you should be able to pull a 30+ with intense preparation (I regret not preparing more in hindsight, though I was still fortunately accepted). Also, how are your scores distributed? From what I read, math and English are weighed higher at many schools (not sure if at BC) as they are more predictive of freshman performance. Particularly for you, a strong math score will be essential. Your ECs, while strong, do not necessarily stand out, nor do they scream “business,” so try to find a thread that unites them.
I don’t do chances, but that 27/28 is more than a "weak spot’ for CSOM, unless you can play football or hockey.
What is your math subscore? (B-schools love AP Calc and high math scores.)
AP Psych won’t be a plus or a minus. Make sure that you somehow ace the supplemental essay.
Do not apply EA, which is can be more competitive. Take the time to raise the ACT or consider taking the SAT. Pickup a prep book on Amazon and take a practice test at home. Perhaps Collegeboard is more to your liking? (My son did extremely well on the SAT, but bombed the ACT. My daughter was the opposite.)
OP if you can get a 29, show demostrated interest, and write moving essays pretaining to your life story/adoption. Then you are in the running. However it would still be a Reach. Have you tried the SAT? You have some time to make an adequate switch.
As many others have said before me, it will be a mid to high reach for CSOM- have you considered MCAS? Also someone recommended applying EA, but I definitely would not recommend that because it is harder to get in. One final question- I know that some high schools have their GPAs out of 4.0, but if your school grades out off a 100 scale what is that because the 4.0 scale is pretty vague to use for high school applicants since a 3.5 is a 90 and a 4.0 is a 95+. Most high schools use a 100 scale and as far as I can remember all accepted from my school (a competitive high school) into CSOM were 95+ aka putting them at a 4.0. I know that colleges use the 4.0 scale in their stats but they unless you’re a transfer which you are not, posting a GPA out of 4.0 is a little too vague to give specifics.
@edgeook8 Yes! The BC business and leadership program was very interesting. I learned an immense amount about finance, marketing, and business! My math teacher from junior year (precalculus) wrote a recommendation letter. My AP Macroeconomics teacher has the highest passing rate in the world. Even though he is a senior year teacher, would it be bad to ask him for a letter of rec? At open house he told my mother I ask good critical thinking questions and that I am smart. He also told the Vice Principal that I was brilliant and that I will get a 5 on the exam with no problem. Even though I would have him for a couple months, would it be a bad move to ask? It is relevant to finance major.
