Chances for Average Student

<p>I go to an average public HS in CA (I'm in the top 10% out of about 400).</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 unweighted, about 4.1 or 4.15ish weighted (my transcripts just say the unweighted).</p>

<p>ACT: 30 w/ a 34 in english and a 30 in math (I took them again this month, hoping for a higher score).
SAT: 730V, 640M, 660 W
SAT II:
Lit 700
US History 650
(debating retaking them next month)</p>

<p>11th grade classes:
AP US History A/A
AP Bio A/A
Math Analysis (precalc) A/B
Honors English A/A
Anatomy & Physiology A/A
Spanish 3 A/B
French 1 A/A</p>

<p>12 grade:
AP Calculus AB
AP English lit
AP Poli Sci/AP gov't
AP Chemistry
AP environmental sci
TA for precalc</p>

<p>Had AP world as a sophmore.</p>

<p>Recs: junior year anatomy and APUSH teachers. My school is public and has very little teacher-student interaction, but these teachers liked me so they should be good. I'm also going to have my riding coach write me one that should be excellent.</p>

<p>My ECs are a little odd. I'm VP of a student-founded community service organization unique to our school. I like it because we get to be in charge of everything and get to do whatever we want (setting up sports programs for kids, drives for the homeless, beach/creek cleanups, reading/yardwork for elderly). I do about 2/4 hrs week with that. I also volunteer for nonprofit horse organizations.</p>

<p>My main EC is riding. It's a 24/7 thing. I work riding horses for $$ or free training during my summers and whenever I have time during the school year. I have two horses I compete and have done so throughout all of HS in eventing, dressage, and jumpers. I'm decent at it, but don't have the money to be as competitive on a national level as some kids.
I'm also active in Pony Club and have a national 'B' rating. Through this program my rating enables me to teach my peers/younger kids and also test them at their ratings, so it's a fair amount of leadership.
I realize this doesn't make a lot of sense to people who don't ride, and that's part of my problem.</p>

<p>I co-founded and am editor in chief of an online magazine for junior equestrians.</p>

<p>My essays should be pretty decent.
I have no idea what I want to do, so I'll probably apply undeclared.</p>

<p>So, what are my chances?
Schools:
Cornell ED (gigantic reach, but it's my dream school)
UCSD
UCB (another big reach, but it's a UC so why not)
Boston University
UCD
UCSB
Cal Poly SLO (it's local and I'm basically guaranteed admission)
Anywhere else you'd reccomend? My school basically doesn't have a guidance counselor (or any other sort).</p>

<p>bump! I'm a white female and I won't be requesting financial aid if that makes a difference.</p>

<p>UCSB or UCI should be within reach for you, though where you choose should depend on your major.</p>

<p>Thanks, although I'm definitely not applying to irvine.
Anybody else??</p>

<p>wow the average kid is getting and better these days....</p>

<p>doh forgot /sarcasm...</p>

<p>while im at it. ill try my hands on shoo in...</p>

<p>bu- safety-good match
most uc's- good match-very slight reach (unless berkely is up there then thats a reach)
yeah a cornell is reach</p>

<p>Thanks! Yea berkeley is up there, I know I don't stand a great chance but I'm already filling out the UC app so why not. I'm really hoping to get into UCSD.</p>

<p>I appreciate any help, like I said, I go to a shoddy public school and the only way you can get an appointment with a counselor is by being truant.</p>

<p>I didn't mean to sound all annoying and self-depricating if that's what you're getting at. Just seemed like the right title when you categorize things around here.</p>

<p>Yeah, if this is "average", I'm f***ed.</p>

<p>Okay, first of all, you're not average. I know you don't mean to be, but when someone like you calls themselves average it makes truly average students feel very much less then and they're already nervous! Secondly, with your riding you should look into being recruited for some schools. Also, I know a girl, another equestrian, who is a sophmore at Cal State Poly and loves their program in, equestrian sciences I think it's called. You may or may not have any interest in this. But your grades and your program are strong and I think your standardized scores aren't bad. If you could raise those a little you would be in even better shape. Good luck!</p>

<p>Within my school I consider myself a very good student, but on here... you get my gist.</p>

<p>I know I should raise my scores, I haven't gotten my results back from my ACT retakes yet. I'll see what they are. I don't test very well.</p>

<p>I know a lot of the cal states have teams & equine majors, but I don't want to major in anything equine related and I think the only cal state that would recruit me is fresno? I don't really want to go there.</p>

<p>Thanks a ton, though.</p>

<p>Chances for UCSD or cornell anybody?</p>

<p>**** you, i hope you don't get into any of the schools you want. Since when do Ivy seeking students seem average</p>

<p>^^^i can see why your name is SCHISM_manifesto haha. for viewers, most of the average students are the typical UCB/Stanford/UPENN/YALE (ivy league etc...) preppy students that need to see how they stand. well that about sums it up, good luck with your pretty average college search!</p>