<p>Hi, I am an average student with good test scores, Some schools im considering are: U of I at Urbana-Champaign (im in illinois), Rice, UNC at Chapel Hill, USC, Emory, Carnegie Mellon, and Johns Hopkins. I would ideally like to goto USC, UNC or Rice, im pretty sure i'd be in at U of I, but that really is my last choice out of the bunch. anyways
GPA: Weighted 3.75
Unweighted: 3.4ish
Class Rank 180/750 (will go up a little bit)
Challenging Courses taken: AP Euro, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP U.S. Gov, AP Comparative Gov, AP Calc AB, AP Stats, AP logic and rhetoric, AP U.S. History, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, Honors English (3 yrs), Honors Global Studies, and this year im taking Environmental Science Honors because AP Physics was full, altho i may take the ap test. I have also independently taken the AP Computer Science AB test and recieved a 5.
Test Scores:
SAT - 760 Math, 760 Verbal - 1520 total
ACT - 35
I also am a national merit semifinalist, and will most likely be advancing to finalist (my psat was 220), and if im lucky i'll recieve an award.
The EC's i have are:
Chess Team 9-12
Math Team 10, 12
Amnest International 10, 12
Scholastic Bowl 10
The State chess team I was part of also recieved an award from the governor for outsanding service etc. for volunteer work done.
Volunteering:
40 hours landscaping a facility for the severely mentally disabled.
I am also retaking the SAT with the writing section so I can qualify for National Merit Finalist standing, altho I expect there to be no significant change in score.
Anyways what are my chances given my average GPA, but good test scores? I go to a very competitive high school, and altho my grades arent amazing, I took challenging courses, and my rank suffered because of this. Anyways My first choice would probably be USC because they offer half scholarships to National Merit Scholar finalists, followed by Rice or UNC, then Emory, Carnegie Mellon, or Johns Hopkins, then U of I, which i am doing onsite at in about a month.</p>
<p>You need to talk with your GC to see if your school keeps scattergrams on admissions to the various universities by GPA/SAT. That will give you a better idea if they are willling to cut you some slack in the GPA/Class Rank department.</p>
<p>I think that UNC is a longshot because you are out of state. Rice and JHU are both pretty grade-oriented. USC, CMU and Emory are a better better, I think U of I is ok. I don't want to discourage you from applying anywhere, because it is hard to predict when your GPA/SAT's are out of whack. But you might another likely admit or strong match in the list. Case would be a possibility, as would Brandeis, U of R, RPI.</p>