Chances for URM

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Chances for URM </p>

<hr>

<p>Hey CC! I am an African American male senior at Trenton Central High School who is hoping to study history and political science in college. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for colleges. If you could, I would like if you reply if you could divide the schools in reach, match and safety lists. Below are my credentials. (I just pasted my activity sheet.) I was accepted to the NJ Governor's School of Public Issues. I didn't go. </p>

<p>I go to Trenton Central HIgh School where average combined SAT score is like a 700. 60% Dropout Rate. </p>

<p>SAT: 700V, 470M </p>

<p>Recommendations: Princeton University Preparatory Program, Two Teachers I know really well. They are really good. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.0 (By 2nd semester should be like a 3.4) </p>

<p>PRINCETON MODEL CONGRESS, 2002-2005 </p>

<p>*Senator, 2001
Bill: Abolishing the Electoral College: Failed by a Way of a Tie, 13-13-2 </p>

<p>*Representative, 2002
Bill: Apology for Slavery: Passed Committee, Passed Full Session 41-37, and Signed By President; Full Session Honorable Mention Award </p>

<p>*Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 2003 </p>

<p>*Attorney General, Won a Gavel</p>

<p>STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, September 2002-Present </p>

<ul>
<li>Freshman and Sophomore Senator, 2002-2003 </li>
<li>SGA Junior Class President, 2003-2004 </li>
<li>School Management Team, 2002-2004 </li>
<li>Vice President of SGA at Trenton Central High School, 2004 </li>
<li>Student Representative, Trenton Board of Education, 2004-2005 </li>
</ul>

<p>STUDENT, COLLEGEBOUND AT COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, Summer 2000-Summer 2001
Description: The Pre-College Program, titled Collegebound at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), is designed to prepare students, in grades nine through twelve, from Abbott schools and high distressed municipalities in New Jersey for gaining college enrollment and completing academic programs which lead to career fields in science and technology. </p>

<p>STUDENT, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY PROGRAM, nitiative, administered through the Teacher Preparation Program, and designed to prepare high potential, low-income students from Trenton, Ewing and Princeton High Schools for viable candidacy for admission into and success within highly selective colleges and universities. </p>

<p>INTERN, ASSEMBLYMAN WALTER GUSCORIA, 1/ 2003- 7/2004
Description: Duties included aiding the Assemblyman, constituent services, letter writing, mail opening, State House errands and filing </p>

<p>YOUTH COORIDATOR AND INTERN, TRENTON DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE,
Description: Coordinated Youth Efforts, Outreach to Trenton Public Schools, Canvassing Neighborhoods, Aiding City Chairman </p>

<p>INTERN, EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES, 12/2003-Present
Description: Research on Trenton Central High School & City of Trenton, Student Interviewer for Documentary, Video Development </p>

<p>I work as an policy intern at a public policy insitute in Trenton, NJ. I am also on the Trenton Board of Education.</p>

<p>Now the bad part! I have like a 80.00 GPA. I think that is like a 3.0.</p>

<p>I have applied to:</p>

<p>Northeastern
Brandies (Had interview with alumni interviewer who used to work at the public policy institute I work at.)
Trinity U in Texas
Trinity College in CT
Howard
Hampton
Case Western
Rutgers
Bucknell
Tulane
Colgate
Drew</p>

<p>That is all. Tell me what you think about my chances. I am kind of nervous b/c of my grades. Additional college suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for answering. If you reading this Northstarmom, I just want to say hello.</p>

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<p>Hello, UrbanSocrates. You have applied to a nice and an appropriate group of schools. Good mixture of stretch, match and safeties. The one thing that I suggest that you make sure of is that you applied to some schools that you know you'll get in and can afford. Typically in-state public universities are the ones where students know that they can afford, so I am wondering if you should apply to more New Jersey public colleges than Rutgers.</p>

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<p>wherever i see posts like this, i am comforted. it's really harsh seeing 1500s flying around :)</p>

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<p>I think your activities show passion and dedication, something that can help you greatly in the admissions process. Your achievement at a school with an average 700 SAT, and 60% drop out rate demonstrate that you are a motivated person. Keep working on the GPA to strenghten your chances. I agree with Northstarmom, your list of schools is well balanced. In cosidering another state school, how about TCNJ? It has a great reputation in NJ. I know they are the most selective of the NJ publics, but they consider a lot more than just scores, and you show potential. How did you like it when you did your summer program there?</p>

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<p>Thanks Northstarmom. I was thinking of applying to a couple more instate schools. Thanks for bringing that up.</p>

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<p>Northeastern- foundation
Brandies- foundation
Trinity College in CT- foundation
Howard- foundation
Hampton- foundation
Case Western- not sure... I don't really know that much about this school
Rutgers- foundation
Bucknell- foundation
Tulane-foundation
Colgate- 50/50 because of your gpa.
Drew- foundation</p>

<p>Note: I am just going off of your stats, and your "urm" status. There are so many other factors, including the essay.</p>

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<p>Yeah sdma89! I didnt think I would have so much foundations. My essays are pretty good. I posted them on CC and had very good responses from the critical people on CC! LOL, anyway keep them coming.</p>

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<p>Colgate- Reach
Howard-Safety
Hampton-Safety
Rutgers-Safety
Northeastern- Match
Tulane- Match
I am unsure about some of the other schools on your list. Your accomplishments are impressive and should definitely benefit you. Also, the success you've achieved at a downtrodden high school should be a plus to admissions officers. Good luck.</p>

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<p>bumpititiy</p>

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<p>you're fine at all of them, but unlike someone else, i dont think tulane is a safety for you. i think, at best, tulane is a match. it's really more like a reach. colgate is a reach, and northeastern is a match. everything else is a safety</p>

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<p>i say apply to princeton...hey you never know..my cousin who is african-american got in with an 1160, 3.4 trust me they need minorities</p>

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<p>lol... they need??... that seems like an interesting premise actually for a movie. has there been a movie with such plot? a guy lying about his race to get in a college of his choice</p>

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<p>You should be OK. I was wondering what your list would be as I was reading through your credentials, and I was pleased that it is such an appropriate one. You wouldn't want to go to Princeton or anyplace like that, it would be wayyyy too much of a struggle.</p>

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<p>and also, IMO princeton isn't a great place to be if you're black. us black folks there are few & far between. i visited, and i strongly disliked princeton. a bit too boring for my personal taste. </p>

<p>...but with an 1170, despite the good recs, i think princeton is a bit of a stretch.</p>

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<p>Readytoleavehs, I'm somewhat surprised to hear that your cousin was admitted to Princton with those stats. I would have thought that they were somewhat low by Princton standards, even for a URM. My D (also a URM) graduated with a 4.1 and a 1300 SAT, and we wouldn't have dared dream that Princeton was within her reach. In anycase, she seems to have found her match in Bryn Mawr. Her stats and scores were right around their median for admission. Out of curiousity, how is your cousin doing at Princeton?</p>

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<p>Poetsheart, I know a black student who made National Merit and who decided to go to Bryn Mawr. The student also had excellent grades and an excellent curriculum and knew she could go virtually anywhere in the country She chose Bryn Mawr because she so loved the school. I know that Bryn Mawr can be an excellent choice for top students.</p>

<p>Just FYI: your D would have had a chance at Princeton and probably any other school in the country except Cal Tech and perhaps Cooper Union, which are very numbers driven and would have expected around a 750 or higher math, 800 SAT II math.</p>

<p>I know black students who have gotten into places like Stanford and Harvard recently with scores of 1250-1300. These were students whose high schools weren't that good, but who had great grades and ECs.</p>

<p>A student with a 650 m or 650 v is scoring in the 98th percentile for black students. By comparison,white students with such scores are in the 80th through 90th percentile. The stats are on the college board's site in the counselor's section that breaks down scores by gender and race.</p>

<p>The below comes from a Washington Post article published fall, 2003. You can get the whole article by buying it for a couple of bucks from the Post's on-line services:</p>

<p>"The competition is particularly ferocious for blacks and Hispanics with SAT scores that put them on par with the most talented white students. According to the College Board, only 1,877 black students (about 1.5 percent of blacks who take the tests) scored higher than 1300 out of a possible 1600 on the SAT in 2003. Only 72 scored higher than 1500. </p>

<p>Among the overall student population, 148,024 (about 10 percent of test takers) scored higher than 1300, and 13,897 earned scores higher than 1500. </p>

<p>"Most of these students don't realize that they are being fought over," said Joy St. John, an Amherst admissions officer who specializes in minority outreach, gazing over a room of 70 or so black, Hispanic, Asian and American Indian students whose SAT scores ranged from the low 1100s to above 1500. "</p>

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<p>Exactly my point, Northstarmom. My cousin is actually excelling at Princeton University, although she didn't do very well on her SAT's and her GPA wasn't so great she really had a lot of promise and the admissions officers could see that. She also doesn't feel uncomfortable there at all, maybe its just her I don't know, but she's doing great. I'm not saying that you should get your hopes up for schools like Princeton, but yes they do need minorities and they're willing to do a lot for them. I'm just saying to keep it in your thoughts.</p>

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<p>u cun dew it, just write great essays</p>

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<p>Yeah. My essays are pretty good. However, Northstarmom what do you think about black colleges. I applied to Howard and Hampton. If you could comment on those two school I would really appreciate. Anyone else can chip in if they desire.</p>

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<p>Given your interests, I think that Howard, Southern, Florida A&JM and Morehouse would be excellent places for you to apply. All are in capital cities, which plays to your political strengths. You also would probably qualify for merit aid and special honors programs, too.</p>