<p>Hi everyone! I am a current high school senior who is seeking advice concerning EA admission to ND.
Here are my credentials..</p>
<p>SAT 690W 720M 710CR
ACT 35 composite
GPA 4.36 on a 4.0 scale</p>
<p>I have been dancing competitively at a studio for 13 years. I am the captain of the dance team at school, treasurer of National Honor Society, treasurer of St. Vincent DePaul (a faith-based service organization), officer of Math Club, member of Ambassadors, Student Admission Representatives, Pep Club, and Senior Service Committee.</p>
<p>What are my chances of being admitted early? Also, would I have a chance at Ivy League schools?</p>
<p>How is your gpa 4.36 on a 4.0 scale?? What is your unweighted gpa (that is what the schools will use). How many AP’s and honors? Is your school public or private?</p>
<p>I’m sorry, my mistake…I suppose it would be a 4.5 scale with regards to weighted classes. Unweighted my GPA is a 4.0. I am currently taking 4 AP classes (Calculus BC, Calc-Based Physics, Psychology, and English) and Honors Spanish IV. I took AP Chemistry last year. I go to a private Catholic high school.</p>
<p>Your ACT and GPA are fine. SAT is so so but your ACT should carry you there. </p>
<p>If you look around the forum, you’ll find that good numbers are where the top schools start from. So while low numbers can get you rejected, good numbers won’t get you in. After that, they look to see what you will bring to them. The phrase that rings true for me is: Schools look for well rounded student body. They achieve this, not by admitting lots of well rounded students, but by admitting well lopsided students.</p>
<p>So work on what makes you special. What do you bring that no one else does? Unfortunately, math club, pep club, NHS etc. don’t count.</p>
<p>^^you obviously dont know how competitive nd is and how competitive ea at nd is. She has barely any ECs and a 4.36 gpa which shows mostly regular classes while nd looks strongly for honors and plenty of APs that were offered and she doesnt even have a class rank to back up the gpa.</p>
<p>^^She is at a private school, which might have a stronger profile than many publics. I don’t know for certain, but at my son’s school, a 3.3 is equal to probably a 3.7/3.8 at a public (maybe more); they basically don’t give 4.0’s…I’m not exagerating…they haven’t had a 4.0 in three years. Also, because her school is private, they might not rank. </p>
<p>I thought her stats looked great, but not truly unique EC’s, unless you count her dance. How many hours per week does she put into this??? Possibly a lot.</p>
<p>I agree the dancing could be a huge commitment. Also, ND wants 85% of its class to be Catholic. Coming from a Catholic HS could be a big plus. It is hard to say how the controversy over Obama speaking will impact applications, but if it drives the number of Catholic applicants down it may make admission easier for those who do apply.</p>
<p>My EC’s may look lacking; however, I spend 25 hours dancing during the week. (It’s a HUGE time commitment)
As for class rank, I am ranked 4th out of 250 students. #2 & #3 took study halls last year which boosted their GPAs enough to rank higher than me.<br>
collegebound>>> I have taken nearly every AP class avaliable at my high school. Also, I have taken all Honors courses avaliable. It’s unfortunate that you cannot seem to be more supportive, but thank you for your advice anyway.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your advice! It really is a big help :)</p>
<p>As is the age old line, they’ll see if you’re taking the most challenging curriculum offered at your school. Your SAT is so-so, I agree but I also agree on the fact that your ACT should carry you through. What major would you be applying for or have you not decided yet? (:</p>
<p>these broad terms are not helping, you should have stated that before. How many AP classes and honors? and study halls dont boost gpas, nice excuse. how does weighing classes work?</p>
<p>1.) Your EC’s are not lacking. You have an EC that you are clearly very good at, that is a huge time commitment, and in which you have shown leadership. You may not be well-rounded, but every college presentation we attended had colleges talking about how much they value students who have long-term, intense areas of interest, being “well-pointed.” You’ve certainly got that going for you.</p>
<p>2.) If ND looks at composite ACT’s, your score is phenomenal. Many colleges, while they will take the best individual scores from different sittings of the SAT, won’t do that for the ACT. What is your best single sitting ACT score? You might not even have to bother with sending your SAT I.</p>
<p>3.) You are ranked 4th of 250. Not too shabby!</p>
<p>4.) If your school doesn’t offer a vast array of AP’s, colleges don’t expect you to take classes that aren’t there. Your GC will be able to comment that you were taking the most rigorous curriculum available to you.</p>
<p>I’m interested in medicine (specifically pediatrics) and so I’d like to major in either pre-professional studies or biology. </p>
<p>I have only taken the ACT once and my composite score was a 35. I don’t think I’ll take it again. </p>
<p>& unfortunately taking a study hall at my school helps to boost your GPA.
A study hall does not count as a class so in calculating one’s GPA one would divide their total by a less number of classes than someone taking a regular class rather than a study hall. Does this make sense? It’s a little confusing.</p>
<p>For example,
*AP and Honors courses have the weighted grade of 4.5 for an A
Physics- A (4.5)
Calculus-A (4.5)
English-A (4.5)
Spanish-A (4.5)
Theology-A (4)
Drawing III-A (4)</p>
<p>This student would have a 4.3 GPA</p>
<p>Physics- A (4.5)
Calculus-A (4.5)
English-A (4.5)
Spanish-A (4.5)
Theology-A (4)
Study Hall-no grade</p>
<p>The above student would have a 4.4 GPA even though they are taking a study hall rather than an elective.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone for your advice! College admissions can be so intimidating!</p>
<p>I don’t really know much about ND, but you definitely have a chance at the ivies. Your ACT is amazing and your class rank is well within the expected range for top schools. Admissions officers are looking for both well-rounded and well-lopsided students, so your commitment to dance will definitely help. Just to reiterate what everyone else has said, ignore collegebound.</p>
College admissions can be so intimidating!</p>