Chances - Guidance Counselor said its a semi-reach, what do you think?

Colleges and Universities A-Z American University
1

<p>White, Female, NYC, 2008
Private Catholic School (350 students)
Income: $175,000-$200,000
Test Scores:
PSAT - 186
SAT - 1890 (750 CR, 460 M, 680W, 9 on the essay) - I am retaking the SAT’s in November.
SAT II - U.S. - 680 World - 660, French - 720.
Aps - AP U.S. - 5 — My school only allows Juniors and Seniors to take AP Courses.
This year: AP Euro, AP French Lit, AP French Lang and AP U.S. Government and Politics. I am also thinking of self-studying AP Art History, although, I’m not sure if I will.
Freshman Year Schedule

  1. Environmental Science - B+/A-
  2. English I - A
  3. Math A - C
  4. French II - B
  5. Computer - B +
  6. Art - C-
  7. Music - C+
  8. World History - B-/C+
  9. Religion - A
  10. Gym - A+</p>

<ul>
<li>All the grades are UW</li>
</ul>

<p>Sophomore Year Schedule

  1. Biology - A
  2. Math AB - A
  3. World History II - A+, I also got the history award for being top in my class in history.
  4. French III - A
  5. Art - B+
  6. Music- B+
  7. Religion - A+
  8. Gym - A+
  9. English II - B</p>

<p>Junior Year Schedule

  1. French IV - A+
  2. Chemistry - C-
  3. Math B - B
  4. English - C- / I had an English teacher who absolutely hated me.
  5. AP U.S. History - A
  6. Latin I - B – received magna cum laude on the National Latin Exam.
  7. Religion - A+
  8. Gym - A+ </p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule and grades so far

  1. Latin II - B-
  2. English IV - A
  3. AP European History - A
  4. Mythology - A
  5. Pre-College Math - B
  6. AP Government/Economics - A
  7. Religion - A
  8. AP French Lang/Lit - A+
  • At my school, my course load is considered very demanding. Also, very few students take AP courses due to the requirements such as a 90 average, essay and interview and due to the fact that they are extremely challenging and very few people earn UW A’s.
  • Also, by the time I graduate high school, I will graduate with 7 years of foreign language which exceeds the 5 year requirement, and is rare in my school, must people do 5. </p>

<p>Unweighted: 3.0
Weighted: I am not sure, probably like a 3.4-3.6 I’m not sure.
Rank: 52/90, low rank due to hard schedule and the fact that I slacked off. </p>

<p>EC’s
Varsity Soccer - 9-12, lettered my junior year.
Varsity Softball - 9-12,Captain, lettered as freshman, I pitch and broke my school’s record of most strike outs, most consecutive innings/games pitched and most wins. I am not sure if I am good enough to play division 1 but I am definitely able to play division 2 and 3. I also have been contacted by the softball coach at Skidmore.
Clubs - Gaelic Society 11,12.
French Club 10-12, president
SEEK - 9-12.
Song Contest Lyrics committee - 10-12.
Tutoring - 10, 11, 12 in history and French 2-3x a week.
Italian Society - 12
Coat Drive </p>

<p>Jobs:
Sophmore Year and Junior Year, I was a camp counselor at a camp in CT, for 2 months.
I am a certified lifeguard as well.
I helped coach a youth softball team last spring. </p>

<p>Teacher Recommendations = Excellent, French teacher said one of the best they’ve encountered in their career, AP U.S. teacher said one of the best students as well. </p>

<p>I would like to double major in international relations with a concentration in politics and philosophy. Also, maybe minor in Art History. </p>

<p>I would love to attend American and I’m going to visit it sometime in November, is it too much of a reach?</p>

2

<p>Your stats seem to indicate that your counselor is more or less correct. You do have a shot at AU, but I don't think anybody will be able to say that you are definitely in or definitely out. One thing that definitely favors your chance is your high family income. With all normative judgments aside, I'll just stick to my observation and general sentiment about this. It is a given fact that AU does not have enough financial resources to meet all students needs. In fact, AU's need-based aid is rather incompetent compared to top colleges in the nation. This could mean that the school perhaps prefers students whose family is able to finance four years of education without relying on aid. Therefore, if your family can demonstrate to the school that you will not need any aid, your chance at admission may go up significantly.</p>

3

<p>Take the ACT....you just might do enough better on Math section to maximize your competativeness with a high 20's-30ish ACT. The ACT test seems to be less about higher-level thinking etc and closer to a achievement type test...so some people do much better. You're bright so just refresh with a book or CD for the basic math - don't cram more than that. AU seems to draw a line on their SAT numbers. Let's hope your Nov Math SAT breaks 500. My D did not get accepted for poli sci major with 3.65 cum and 460 SAT in math. But, after 1 year at college (then they can ignore the SAT) she did get into AU with a 3.47 transfer cum...but she also switched her major to communication which is less competative at AU. She couldn't go because she got minimal financial aid. So I don't like to conjecture, but I second the swmass comment above -- not needing financial aid might help you if you're a 'semi-reach' :-)</p>

<p>I highly recommend strategy if you really want AU after your visit. Consider being willing to request admission in your strongest academic areas like languages or history....maybe IR minor (if they have one)...switch later. I do believe IR is the most or almost the most competative major of admission.</p>

<p>When you visit, or contact the admissions counsellor that handles your geographic area - ask if you can meet with the AU softball coach.</p>

<p>Apply to CUA as a backup - it's in DC.</p>

4

<p>My mother wanted to me to apply to CUA, but it is way too conservative for me, and I feel that although it is a fairly decent school, I would be miserable there. I've been focusing on my math, and feel that I will score hopefully around a 550 or so.</p>

5

<p>softballl44...I hear you !
AU and CUA are like heads and tails on the same coin. If you look at the media studies major for CUA, their hallmark is "rhetoric", at AU, I think it's would be - running around with cameras & hooking up audio/video cables.
Visit, and go with your gut, freshman year is challenging enough without being miserable !!! Very different schools, but the city's opportunities are the same.
Good luck!</p>