Chances at UVA, UPenn, Bucknell???

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>It would be great if anyone could give me an idea on where I stand in terms of the three schools I stated in the title(UVA, UPenn, Bucknell. I believe my real weakness is my SAT scores. However, do you believe there is a chance those could get overlooked?</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1870 (600 CR, 600 W, 670 M)
SAT II: 660 US History, 720 Math II
GPA (out of 100): 92.7 - So about a 3.9 or 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): We don't rank, but I'm in the top quartile.
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Econ Macro (Taking this year), AP Econ Micro (Taking this year), Enviro (4), US History (4), AP Calc AB (Taking this year), AP Stats (Taking this year),
Senior Year Course Load: AP AB Calculus, AP Stats, AP Micro, AP Macro, Advanced (honors) Physics, Sculpture
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Nothing super impressive, but here goes:
-Character Award at school(Given to two students per semester)
-Headmaster's Award (4 Years in a row) (Achieving all grades above an 90) </p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-Started Event Management Company as a sophomore and had a net revenue of about $9800 a year and hired eight employees
-Admissions Ambassador for School
-President of Automobile Club and Multi Cultural Student Alliance
-Varsity Soccer Team (11/12th Grade)
-Outside of School Premier Club Soccer Team (#12 in VA/Captain since 11th grade)
-President of prestigious Cultural Organization outside of school(Help lead cultural events, fundraisers, etc)
Summer Activities: Internship in Tokyo, Japan at a steel & wire manufacturing company for two weeks.
Essays: All are rock solid. Have shown to multiple english teachers, college advisors, college professors(through Parent's contacts) and all have given very positive feedback.
Teacher Recommendation: Both will be very good. Have very good relationships with both teachers.
Counselor Rec: Solid
Additional Rec: Getting a recommendation from President of the company I interned for. He is also the president of the alumni association at a very prestigious Ivy League school.</p>

2

<p>I assume you are OOS for UVA. If so, I think both UVA and Penn border on high reaches (less than 10%) given your across the board middling test scores (for those schools) and rank if just top 25% (and not top 10%). Both those schools take 90-plus percent in the ytop 10 and you have to be really special to get into that last 10% (ie athlete, URM who almost made it, really high test scores etc). I suspect you will have better luck with Bucknell and that despite scores/rank being below their medians your interesting experiences will give you a decent chance (say 50/50).</p>

3

<p>Ya I agree with the above comment. Good non numbers things, but the sat may hurt tou</p>

4

<p>Correction *you</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys, I am actually instate for UVA. Does that affect my chances at all? Please let me know.</p>

6

<p>You wouldn’t get in from our HS.</p>

<p>But from outside NOVA you might have a chance.</p>

7

<p>UPenn is a very high reach with those SAT scores, unfortunately. If you can somehow get to 2100+ you have a shot. Bucknell and UVA in-state are more reasonable, although I agree that you have your best shot probably at Bucknell</p>

8

<p>I’d still say UVA is a mid to high reach even in state. Bucknell possibly, UPenn is a VERY high reach. As you know, mostly because of your SAT score.</p>

9

<p>Interesting. I’m very curious to see responses to this because I ponder how much standardized testing plays a role in college admissions. Especially if the student has solid grades and stellar extra-curriculars. Bump.</p>

10

<p>It makes it extra interesting since there has been much debate around “holistic admissions” recently</p>

11

<p>Is your event management business still going on? That sounds pretty legit.</p>

12

<p>Yes it is still going on. I started it as a sophomore initially making only $150 per event I managed. Now I have two management contracts which both make me about $9800 per year after taxes.</p>

13

<p>How would this candidate for other instate schools such as Virginia Tech and William & Mary?</p>

14

<ol>
<li>Your ECs are very good but not great to compensate poor SAT scores</li>
<li>Your GPA again is not outstanding that it will compensate either.</li>
<li>Less than 2000 SAT score is not competetive at these schools.
Reality is your application is judged against others.</li>
</ol>

15

<p>So as a consensus, should I be expecting a wait list or rejectance from UVA?</p>

16

<p>Also in terms of class rank, I just found out I am 14 in my class of 81 kids</p>

17

<p>might look at colgate and holy cross.</p>

18

<p>Good chance at UVirginia. Less so at Bucknell and even less at Penn. To the other poster re Tech and W&M. Easy in at Tech, reach at W&M.</p>

19

<p>Thanks a bunch to everyone who has replied so far. I’m a bit confused though. Some posts say UVA seems to be a reach, another says it seems to be attainable. Which is more true?</p>

20

<p>Your SAT scores will hurt you for sure. Suggest looking into top SAT optional colleges:</p>

<p>Test-Optional School Among US News’ Top Liberal Arts Colleges</p>

<p>Middlebury College (VT)
Bowdoin College (ME)
Hamilton College (NY)
Bates College (ME)
Colby College (ME)
Colorado College (CO)
College of the Holy Cross (MA)</p>