Chances Here

Colleges and Universities A-Z Denison University
1

<p>I've been reading a lot here for a while now, but I've only just registered, and I figured I'd start posting...</p>

<p>I'm a high school junior right now and I'm just wondering what my chances at some of the Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest are. I underachieved quite a bit in high school, but I'm hoping that my essays and test scores will make up for that somewhat.</p>

<p>GPA- 2.96
ACT- 30
SAT- 1980</p>

<p>The schools I'm looking at right now are:</p>

<p>Antioch College (thinking this might end up being too radical for me, as liberal as I am, though we'll see)</p>

<p>College of Wooster (don't exactly know how good my chances at a decent financial aid package or even at admission are here, but I really like the school and I'm planning on visiting in April)</p>

<p>Oberlin and Reed (I realize that Reed is in the Pacific NW, and that both of these are almost certainly out of my league, although it never hurts to dream, right?)</p>

<p>Kalamazoo, Macalester, Denison and Kenyon (don't know too much about these schools, except for that they are very good, although again, they may be a little bit out of my league)</p>

<p>Safety right now looks like U of D Mercy, (close ties with my high school)
and Financial Safety looks like Michigan State or Grand Valley State, which I hear is very underrated.</p>

<p>I realize this is a very long topic, and to any of you who are still reading, thank you! I guess I'm just looking for people's thoughts on any of these schools...</p>

<p>Thanks a lot in advance.</p>

2

<p>All the schools you are looking at are fine schools, but your chances would be different at each of those schools. Your test scores are good, but your GPA is low. Is there an upward trend over the years you have been in high school? Are you in an urban school? You say your school has close ties to U of D Mercy ... are you in a parochial school? Share a bit about yourself, such as your background, interests, ECs, etc. What has contributed to your underachieving? Are you first generation in U.S.? First generation in college? What kind of courseload are you taking? Any kind of insight into your situation will help us to help you! For example, there is a huge difference between the LACs you name & MSU --- my daughter wouldn't even think of applying to MSU, due to its size. So what is it that is important to YOU when you think about colleges? List whatever kind of info you think might be relevant & we'll give advice.</p>

3

<p>caringgiscreepy, did you consider one of the residential colleges within MSU? I hear what you're saying about the 'scary' aspect of such a large U, but the res colleges break this down (classes, faculty offices w/in dorm). There are several res programs, but really 3 res college programs: James Madison (social sciences/pre-law), Lyman Briggs (science) and liberal arts (RCAH), the last of which is opening this fall.</p>

<p>These colleges are like LAC's within the large univ. and Madison and Briggs are known to be demanding (though not Honors Colleges, per se -- though you can be an honors student w/in them); Madison, for example, produces like 30% of MSU's Phi Beta Kappas while enrolling about 2.5% of all undergrads -- one reviewer described Madison as: "Ivy League with Big 10 sports."</p>

4

<p>Kelsmom, just to give you a little bit more information, I go to a Jesuit high school in Detroit that's about a mile away from UDM, and we always send between 7-15 guys there each year who seem to use it as their safety school, many with worse stats than mine.</p>

<p>I'm not the first in my family to go to college, but both of my parents are educated and understand the value of a liberal arts degree. My mom started out at Webster in St. Louis before transferring to UDM because of money, and my dad got a scholarship to Harvard. Money is a pretty large problem, right now my parents are going through a divorce, and that could be another thing which has contributed to my low grades. My school does however have a very rigorous college prep curriculum, and I would say there basically wasn't a trend in my grades throughout freshman and sophomore years, as they were very up and down, but there was a large upswing in my grades the first semester of this year, which I plan on continuing this semester.</p>

<p>I'm just a member of one true extracurricular, Christian Service Team, but I am also very involved in my Church Youth Group, and in the Student Senate, although I don't exactly have an official position.</p>

<p>Quincy and Kelsmom, I listed MSU knowing that some of the residential colleges were very good, and again knowing that a lot of our students go there and that it would definetly be an option financially.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if that gives you more information, hopefully it does, but if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.</p>

5

<p>For the money it charges, I have difficulty understanding how UDM attracts students. Way back when (I mean, like, 1950) it was a viable alternative to Notre Dame, but no longer. </p>

<p>Have you thought about Alma or Albion? If you were accepted at MSU (average GPA is now 3.55) I would jump at it.</p>

<p>Your GPA would be considered low for all the schools you've listed, but your ACT is good, and I would believe that a UD High grad would get accepted at in-state schools (private and public) with a slightly lower than average GPA, but yours is still pretty low.</p>

<p>By the way, I'm a UDM alum.</p>

6

<p>caringgiscreepy, your school has a very good reputation in MI. I would suggest focusing on MI schools where you can either afford the expense with financial aid or have a realistic chance of getting a scholarship. Albion, Alma, Hope, Aquinas are good private school choices. MSU's residential colleges are good, as long as you don't mind the huge campus. Lots of kids at my D's co-ed Catholic high school like Grand Valley, and they also like OU (good aid, I hear). Many area kids like Wayne State. They all live on-campus, and they love it. Good aid there, too. I know that UDM will make their school affordable to kids from your school, so it's a good bet for a safety.</p>

<p>There is no harm in trying to get into a couple "reach" schools. Macalester, Kenyon, and Reed are probably a bit reach-y, though, given their national reputations --- they simply get so many outstanding applicants that your chances with your GPA are rough. K'zoo is another tough one to get into, but the fact that it's in MI and knows your school is helpful. Denison is a good reach, but I would suggest you get to be friendly with the admissions person for MI. Wooster is a really nice idea --- visit & see if you like it. If you do, establish a relationship with your admissions rep. That's one of those schools that really looks at the total student. </p>

<p>Make sure you are challenging yourself in your course selection, and work really hard to keep those grades up from now on. Get to know your guidance counselor & a couple teachers really well, so your recommendations will be excellent. Find something you enjoy doing & do it, to add to your ECs --- you might look into Summer in the City (<a href="http://www.summerinthecitydetroit.org)%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.summerinthecitydetroit.org)&lt;/a>. It is a really neat program. At the very least, think about getting a summer job. Visit schools over the summer & into the fall. Make sure you meet with admissions staff when you visit.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>^MSUDad, I believe Michigan State's 2006-07 freshman class toped 3.6 in average GPA.</p>

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<p>^^^ Even so, he still has a chance at MSU, although I do know someone who was not accepted due to gpa a couple years ago. OP's high school is well-regarded, and an upward trend might do the trick. The caution, as always, is to realize that a rejection could happen ... so always have a real safety ready (one you actually would be okay going to, if need be).</p>

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<p>And yes, Grand Valley is up and coming. Lots of resources, great facilities.</p>