Hey guys,
I know this school is a huge reach for me, but it’s my dream school.
Even though my SAT is low, I feel I should still send my application.
My SAT is a 1220 ( I know it’s immensely low)
GPA:3.6
School doesn’t have any aps
I do have a lot of extra curriculars, but I’m just wondering what you guys think. Is it really a huge reach? Do I even have a shot?
Thank you for reading.
I kinda have the same problem, my SAT is 1240 and that is worrying me. I don’t think it’s a huge reach. The no APs thing may not be great though. If your essay and recs are really great then you could still have a chance if they are willing to overlook the SAT score.
My school never offered any APs, so it is not my fault. I hope they could understand that. However, the main thing here is how my SAT is low, but I hope you’re right and they overlook it. Good luck, and thank you for the response.
Colleges don’t penalize applicants for not taking courses the HS doesn’t offer. If you don’t get in, it won’t be because you had no APs. When your HS sends your transcript it also sends a school profile describing courses offered, average grades etc. in the school so admissions officers will know that your HS doesn’t offer APs.
I’m always in favor of applying to a couple of reach schools. Good luck.
happy1 is totally right about them not penalizing you for not taking classes your school doesn’t offer! Don’t worry 
You definitely have a shot. I was just accepted EA (which is the same admission % as RD) and I have a 3.54 GPA at a school which doesn’t offer APs. My school did offer honors courses which I took a few of.
I think if you demonstrate some interest to make it clear that Fordham is your dream school and really let your ECs shine they would probably overlook the score. After all, your SAT score just shows one day and one test, but your classes, essay, recs, and ECs will paint a picture of you as a person.
Have either of you taken the ACT? My daughter had a very low SAT, but the ACT was much kinder to her (27).
Many HS’s don’t offer AP’s, it’s no big deal. The only thing it would help you with Fordham if you were accepted and you scored 4 or 5 is you’d receive the transfer credits for that subject and you’d be ahead of the game when it comes time to register for classes for the spring semester of your Freshman year.
Have any kids from your HS been accepted to Fordham in the past? Is Fordham familiar with your school? Have you shown real interest with visiting and contacting your rep expressing interest?
My daughter’s boyfriend at the time attended a very well known Catholic NYC HS that does NOT offer any AP’s, but they accept many boys from there since Fordham is very familiar with the school.
My D applied RD. And we were quite surprised when she was accepted, considering her low SAT, but we think the ACT saved her a bit, along with her GPA and ec’s.
@MomTheChauffer Hello, thank you for the reply. Yes, many students that had attended my school were accepted to Fordham. I have not tried the ACT, and I already sent out my application for RD. So, my fingers are crossed, but I am planning to transfer from another university if I get rejected. This is my dream school, so I am hoping I get in. If you don’t mind me asking, what was your daughter’s GPA?
@cusnew Her HS GPA was a 3.8. Her ACT was a 27 and the SAT was a 1760 (last one taken in 2012, superscored). I know of a few girls from her school that were accepted, one received the Dean’s scholarship and turned it down to attend her dream school elsewhere.
The only AP’s her HS offered were in Chemistry, Calculus, US History and European History. That’s it. She only took European History at the HS she graduated from and took US History at her previous HS (which closed).
She was rejected from U of Miami (her dream school), Northwestern, U Southern California, UCLA
Accepted: SUNY Albany, Manhattan College, College of St. Rose, Flagler College, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Fordham.
Waitlisted: Marist
What are you hoping to major in?
FYI – I attended an Accepted Students reception with my son last week hosted by the President. It was very impressive & the other admitted students seem amazing. Most impressive were the up-to-date numbers given by a VP who is on the AdCom: approx 19550 EA/ED applications (most ever); Mean HS GPA for admitted EA/ED applicants is 3.8/4.0; Mean SAT of EA/ED admits was 1392 (new SAT). Total # of applications received this year is 44,000.
I’m not sure if the EA/ED stats are higher than RD, but I’ve heard that claim (with no evidence to back it up), but if you need to apply EA/ED to be considered for merit scholarships, then I can see how those stats could be higher than RD.
Do you know your class rank?
I’d say you have about a 25-30 percent chance.