Chances for Lehigh, Bucknell, Nova...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

SAT Scores:

Test 1 : 650M 570CR 570W (1790) I went into this first test with no prep, and got a tutor going into the second and third.
Test 2: 680M 540CR 630W (1850)
Test 3: 800M 560CR 610W (1970)
Superscore: 800M 570CR 630W (2000)

I’m taking the SAT once again in October, and spending the summer to really focus on critical reading and change up my strategy since I’ve only gone down after getting a tutor. With a summer of studying, I’d hope for a 630 in CR and 670 in writing. This would bring my combined super score to 2100.

GPA:
91.88 (weighted)
My school doesn’t show us class rank, or show GPA on 4.0 scale so I’m not sure what the correct conversion is

AP’s: Statistics (Junior year, almost definite I got a 5), Government and U.S. Politics (next year), Environmental Science (next year). Also considering self studying for Psych exam and Calc AB exam. Taking normal Calc next year.

Other notable courses junior year (FWIW): Pre Calc Honors, English III Honors.

EC’s: NHS, FBLA, 4 years of lacrosse, ~100 hrs. community service, and going to join a crap ton of clubs beginning of next year because I’m definitely lacking here.

Legacy: Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, Cousin all went to Lehigh

Let’s say I bring up my score to a 2100, do you think Lehigh, Bucknell, and Villanova are reaches or doable? I know my SAT would be in good shape at 2100, but will my GPA and EC’s hurt me? Can schools also see how long you were involved in clubs, for example, would joining a lot of clubs beginning of next year mean nothing on my app?

2

Your scores look on par with Lehigh and Bucknell and somewhat above Nova. Your legacy status to Lehigh will really help. I don’t know if I’d recommend sitting the SAT for a fourth time. A 2000 is nothing to sneeze at. Your GPA is probably around a 3.8-3.9 which is pretty good but not fantastic.

Ruling:

Lehigh-Match
Bucknell-Match
Nova- Low match-high safety.

P.S.- Dont join a ton of clubs just for the heck of it. It will only hurt you.

3

@codemachine Does taking the SAT 4 times look bad to schools? I don’t see how it could hurt to take it again and try to get that reading score up. I know a 2000 isn’t bad, but I’m below 25th percentile at most schools I’m looking at in reading. And you really think I shouldn’t join any clubs next year? It seems like I’m ways behind everyone else, joining clubs senior year would just look bad?

4

I’m not sure if it looks “bad”, per se, but it doesn’t look fantastic. From what I understand, colleges only see the highest score, but they see how many times you took it as well. If you feel you could really get a 2100+ this fourth time, then by all means go for it. I’m just saying you could probably get into those schools with what you have.

Well, join them if you want to have fun your senior year or whatever. If there is one thing in this world I can’t stand, it’s people joining clubs just so they can say they did something in high school. Do things you love and that will showcase your interests in your application, not what you think colleges want to see. It will make you a happier person and show on your application. 4 years of a varsity sport is good, FBLA is nice, and community service is fantastic. But joining a billion clubs your senior year just makes you look, no offense, like a try-hard. And there’s nothing worse than a try-hard to adcoms.

Hope this helps.

5

@codemachine I’d like to take Math 2, but I wasn’t sure if taking it in November would be too late for January 1st common app deadline. If taking 4 tests looks bad though I guess I could take that in October instead of Reasoning test

6

Are you applying to any of these Early Action/Decision? Your chances would be boosted that way.What majors are you looking at? Math 2 and Physics/Chem are probably the best for engineering majors.

7

@codemachine I wasn’t going to do early decision/action due to the deadline since I wanted to take another test. Right now I’m mostly looking at business majors such as statistics or accounting and possibly computer science.

8

If I were you, I’d really look at Lehigh’s CSB program. All the big firms recruit right from it: http://www.lehigh.edu/engineering/academics/undergraduate/majors/compscibus.html

I feel if you could talk up your legacy status, you could get into Lehigh early decision, if you like it.