Chances - Early Action

<p>White Male
GPA - 3.93 weighted
Class Rank - 40 out of 331 (approx. top 12%)
SAT - 1950
ACT - 29
SATIIs - 570 and 590 (I know, those hurt, retaking in Nov)
Classes - All honors since sophomore year (forced to take a couple level 2 classes at my first school freshman year), and took AP English last year and got a 4 on the exam. I am taking AP Government and Politics, AP Statistics, and AP Economics this year.
Activities:

  • Concert Band for three years (1st seat for one), Upper level Symphony Band (I auditioned to get in) - Alto Sax
  • Jazz Band for 3 years - Alto Sax
  • Varsity Ski Team - Freshman year before I switched schools
  • Ski team for a mountain in Vermont through VARA for 3 years
  • History National Honors Society for 2 years
  • Worked at a beach club all summer - 40 hrs/week
  • Work at lawn company throughout year when needed
  • Sufficient Community Service including soup kitchens, fundraiser for my music program, and volunteering through rec department.
    Other: Is BC need blind? I just assume they are, but I’m not applying for need based financial aid. Also, I am instate. Don;t think that makes too much of a difference, but an admissions officer said close to 1/4 of students are from MA</p>

<p>Right now I am considering this a “fit” school if I had to group it into a category. GPA and rank could rise by end of 1st semester because I think I am doing quite well right now, but I do not want to jinx anything. On the fence about calling it a fit, though, because they are getting more competitive. But just let me know what you think - Thanks!</p>

<p>PS - Any other Qs let me know.</p>

<p>Dear gheffty93 : Your profile is one that just pushes those of us who provide advice on Boston College admissions to question the type of research incoming freshman are doing to determine a “fit” school. Let’s explain why as follows.</p>

<p>[a] Your ACT score of 29 is the bottom quartile of the accepted class, much less the EA class.
** Your SAT I is third quartile while your SAT IIs which should be in your stronger subjects have not cracked the 600 score level.
[c] Nearly 85% of BC’s admitted freshman class are in the Top 10% of the High School class based on GPA.</p>

<p>Based on these three basic elements, your profile misses for a “fit” as I would define it; BC is more in the slight stretch to pure stretch category for you. Basically a stretch school is one that would be 2 or more ACT points to the midpoint (31.5) or 100 or more SAT points to the midpoint (2020) - that is where you are at this point.</p>

<p>Academically, you are presenting some of the AP-Lites aside from AP English. History (Euro/US), science (Bio/Chem/Physics), calculus (AB/BC), and foreign language AP course work is all missing and likely offered in some flavor by your High School.</p>

<p>My view is that Boston College is a stretch school for your profile.</p>

<p>Wow, the stats I get through naviance must be a little off. It said that I was in the middle 50th for all my scores. Also, couldnt fit AP french in schedule at all so I had to pick up AP stats and AP econ just to fit tefular french iv in. Wouldnt exactly call gov a lightweight either, harder than ap english imo. Also, I said fit because I figured it could go either way and wasnt a huge longshot, but like you said its all in how you interperet it.</p>

<p>Gheffty93:</p>

<p>BC, like most other schools, publishes a factbook each year. This year’s is at:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/publications/factbook/pdf/10_11/10-11_fact_book.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/publications/factbook/pdf/10_11/10-11_fact_book.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>On page 31 you’ll see the middle 50% range of SAT scores for the admitted freshman.
Here’s last years:



Critical
Class   Reading   Writing   Math     Composite</p>

<hr>

<p>2014    610-700   630-720   640-730  1910-2125


</p>

<p>Your 1950 score sits at an uncomfortable point in that middle 50% range. </p>

<p>If you spend time reading through the many BC “accepted” threads in this forum, you’ll see applicants with academic profiles similar to yours do get accepted. But you’ll also see many with far stronger profiles get rejected. </p>

<p>Unless there is something elsewhere in your application that is quite strong, I would agree with scottj’s feedback.</p>

<p>I also think the fact that you are a “local” may put you at more of a disadvantage than if you were from an underrepresented state.</p>