Chances at TCU & SMU?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Gender: Female
Race: White
State: Texas
High school: Public, somewhat competitive</p>

<p>GPA: 3.59 unweighted, school doesn't tell us our weighted GPA
Rank: 37/290
SAT (first attempt, retaking): M:560, CR:560, W:650
ACT: 25 Composite, 26 English, 25 Math & Reading, 24 Science
AP: haven't gotten scores back yet</p>

<p>9th grade classes & ECs:
Pre-AP English I
Pre-AP Biology I
Algebra I
World Geography
Spanish II
Yearbook Staff (head photographer)
Volunteer Organization (trustee)
National Junior Honor Society
Piano (National Piano Guild)</p>

<p>10th grade classes & ECs:
Pre-AP English II
Chemistry
Geometry
Pre-AP World History
Spanish III
Volunteer Organization
Piano Lessons (National Piano Guild)</p>

<p>11th grade classes & ECs:
AP English III
Physics
Algebra II
AP US History
AP European History
Newspaper Staff
Journalism Team
Volunteer Organization (in-school)
Volunteer Organization (outside of school, Manager)
Piano Lessons (National Piano Guild)
Future Career and Community Leaders of America</p>

<p>12th grade classes & ECs:
AP English IV
AP Environmental Science
Pre-Cal
AP Economics
Dual Credit Government
Newspaper Staff (editor-in-chief)
Yearbook Staff (section editor)
Journalism Team (captain)
Volunteer Organization (in-school)
Volunteer Organization (outside of school, Manager)
Piano Lessons (National Piano Guild)
Future Career and Community Leaders of America
National Honor Society (maybe, there's some confusion with the sponsors at my school)</p>

<p>AWARDS & HONORS:
9th grade:
President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence
Chosen for National Junior Honor Society</p>

<p>11th grade:
Various journalism awards at the state, regional, district, and local levels
Temple Sweetheart (volunteer award)
Chosen as All-American Scholar
Washington Journalism and Media Conference: National Youth Press Correspondent nominee
National Student Leadership Conference: program nominee
National Young Leaders Conference: program nominee
People to People: leadership program nominee
United States Achievement Academy: English Award
Chosen as a published author in the Creative Communications essay and poetry contests
National Society of High School Scholars</p>

<p>What are my chances at Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University?</p>

2

<p>NSHSS is not really something to include on your apps, seeing as it requires an entrance fee and is effectively a lottery system for a scholarship. Colleges don’t care about that because it did not require merit to join.</p>

<p>Your SAT scores are on the lower end of TCU’s spectrum and barely/don’t make it into SMU’s range - you will really want to bring those up. You do, however, have some pretty good awards/ECs in the journalism category. Are you planning on going into that field?</p>

3

<p>I plan on majoring in Marketing.</p>

<p>I am definitely retaking the SAT in October. I got the 1770 without studying prior to the test. I’m studying pretty rigorously this summer, so I should be able to bring my scores up quite a bit. I’m not too worried about that.</p>

4

<p>“I got the 1770 without studying prior to the test. I’m studying pretty rigorously this summer, so I should be able to bring my scores up quite a bit. I’m not too worried about that.”</p>

<p>Not to scare you or anything, but you should be worried. Most students who retake a year later improve by little (only 10 to 50 points) if any, even with a prep course. Did you take a practice test and see a sizeable improvement? I’d aim for at least a 1900 or higher if you want to be a solid candidate for both schools.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

5

<p>The first practice test I took toward the beginning of summer showed a 20-point improvement. I haven’t taken one since then, but plan to next weekend.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

6

<p>Bump and thanks in advance!</p>

7

<p>Anyone else want to throw in their opinions? I would really appreciate it.</p>

8

<p>Bump? I’m kind of getting nervous about applying.</p>