Hey guys. I’m a junior in a medium sized (1400 student) high school in rural MD. I want to major in Biology or Biochem with a minor in Political Science. I was wondering if you would chance me for the colleges listed above. UVa is my top choice right now. My super reach is Duke. Here’s my stats:
GPA: My school told me it is 4.15
Class Rank: 6th at the end of the semester NOTE My school has no honors classes, only AP and academic classes.
APs: US Gov (5), Calc AB (pending), English Lang (pending), Bio (pending)
Junior year course load:
AP English Lang
AP Bio
AP Calc AB
World History
Human Body Systems
Art (required to graduate)
Anatomy and Physiology
Senior year course load
AP Calc BC
AP Lit
AP Physics 1
Spanish 4
Medical Interventions
Biomedical Innovations
Personal Finance (required)
Test scores:
SAT: 1990 single sitting, 2090 superscored
PSAT: 1360, 206 NMSQT Index (but probably won’t get NMS since I’m in MD)
Plan to take SAT 2s for Bio and Math II at the end of the year
EC’s
Swimming: High School, Winter Club Team, Summer Club Team; I won the regional meet for high school in the 100 back and am a YMCA National Qualifier
Rowing: Rowing Crew in the spring
It’s Academic: I went on TV and am captain of the club (also known as Quiz Bowl)
Eagle Scout
NHS member
Order of the Arrow member
Cross Country in 10th and 11th grade
Carson Scholar for 6 years
Altar Server with my Catholic Church
Sorry for the long post. I would consider swimming for a small school if I was given the opportunity. I do not want to go to a school up north (past central NY). I don’t want to go out west either. Thanks for your time!!!
Based on the Naviance scattergram results of SAT vs. GPA for our private, college preparatory day school, I estimate your chances as follows:
Duke – forget it
UVA – very low
UNC – low
Wake Forest – moderate (I don’t think WF superscores the SAT: http://blog.prepscholar.com/which-colleges-superscore-the-sat)
Georgia Tech – moderate
UMD-College Park – very good (I don’t think UMD – College Park superscores the SAT either, based on the above link)
A couple of thoughts:
First, you might also think of liberal arts schools which can give you a good education in the majors/minor that you list. Sewanee: The University of the South is one that comes to mind; it sends lots of graduates to medical and law schools. Furman University, Davidson College, Rhodes College and Centre College are also schools that you might look at.
Second: If you were really interested in continuing your swimming at the collegiate level, it might make more sense to look at these types of schools (LACs).
Third, your ECs seem to be a little top-heavy with athletics and academic honors; but, except for the Eagle Scout status, there seems to be very little service or leadership component to them (unless I am missing something). I think that admissions officers look more for depth and less for breadth in ECs; so perhaps you can focus on your existing ECs and demonstrate more involvement with them.
A lot of these schools you’re applying to our top out of state schools, which honestly makes the process a whole lot more difficult. Schools like UVA, UNC, and Georgia Tech all have a limited amount of seats for out of state applicants, so the applicant pool is much more competitive. In order to get into those schools, you really have to stand out, but since you’re a junior you still have a lot of time.
In order to maximize your chances, I would improve that SAT score to at least a 2200, spend the summer prepping, maybe take a class, and preferably get that score in 1 sitting as some schools don’t superscore. (UVA does though)
As for your GPA, I can’t really say much because I don’t know your schools grading scale or UW GPA, but seeing as your class rank is 6th, id assume its fine, just continue to maintain that rank 6.
From what I’ve seen from my school, you should have a decent shot at Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, UVA, UNC, and Duke are a little bit of a stretch. However, UMD is a great school with a great culture and you should not have any problem getting into there.
Thanks for the responses! @gandalf78 I forgot to mention that I was Senior Patrol Leader for Scouts last year and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader for Scouts this year, which is the equivalent of President and Vice President respectively. Both are elected leadership positions.
I’m going to study for and take the ACT in June so hopefully I’ll be in the 34 range with extensive prep since all my AP classes will be over with.
Not sure how rigorous your courses are, but the fact that you’re number 6 does help your case. I can’t speak for other universities, but for Carolina you need to improve your SAT 2100+ since you’re an OSS applicant. OSS is extremely competitive here and I do feel like that you are on the same level as other future applicants. Honestly, it all comes down to the essay.
@greeneggsandsam9 opps thought it was 2000. 2090 is ideal for instate and competitive for oss. However if you have the ability to improve then why not? Make sure u write a hell of essay
