Chances please? Junior from FL

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>OK, first off, I'm a junior (Class of 2010!) </p>

<p>Well, basically, my qualifications are (as of the end of sophomore year):</p>

<ul>
<li>GPA: weighted- 4.899
unweighted- 3.632
*I know this is really low, but it's been as of sophomore year and I've taken two classes on virtual school (that I got an A in) </li>
</ul>

<p>that haven't been averaged in.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>SAT- Haven't taken it yet, but PSAT in '07: 185 - 91st percentile... I believe 185 is correlative with 1850 on the 2400 SAT... which I think is not as high as it should be, but I will take the PSAT again this coming October...</p></li>
<li><p>I've been taking AP classes since 9th grade.. Scores so far:
World History: 4
Spanish Language: 5
European History: 3 (I know that 3 really brings it down)
I'm taking 4 AP's this year: English Language, Calculus AB, Environmental Science, and U.S. History...</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I'll be taking about 16 AP's by the time I graduate.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Administrative Assistant/Historian for English Honor Society</p></li>
<li><p>President of Book Club (V.P. last year)</p></li>
<li><p>I have an internship for the state representative of my district (this was a big factor for the acceptance of people I knew who went to other Ivies)</p></li>
<li><p>I participated in We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a nationally acclaimed program that basically focuses on the Constitution. We were state champions of Florida in 2007-2008 and represented the state of Florida at the national competition in Washington, D.C. on May 2008. (Center</a> for Civic Education Introduction) </p></li>
<li><p>I am a mentor for the new participants of We the People this year and am in charge of two units (separate teams)</p></li>
<li><p>I also participate heavily in Mock Trial (as a witness last year and an attorney this year and next year as well)</p></li>
<li><p>I have been a delegate from my school in a certain AP subject (World History & European History) the past two years to the AP Prep. Convention in Miami in which several schools from the city participate in with many experts in their fields come in to help prepare for all the AP's. (<strong>Some people have been confused about why I was a rep. with my AP scores. Well first of all, I got a 3 after the convention that year. Also, the classes don't choose reps. based solely on merit; I volunteered, and the point I wanted to make mostly was that I volunteered in the first place</strong>)</p></li>
<li><p>I am Hispanic (which would probably give me a boost for URM) and I therefore am bilingual as well (English being my primary language)</p></li>
<li><p>I am also a member of National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and Social Studies Honor Society.</p></li>
<li><p>I plan on taking 3 SAT II Subject Tests (still undecided about which ones but most likely: Literature, Math II, and U.S. History or French)</p></li>
<li><p>By the way, back to the French, I am currently independently studying French at home (when time permits lol..)</p></li>
<li><p>I will be participating in the Environmental Debate at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden here in Miami, FL.</p></li>
<li><p>I have taken 4 virtual classes the past two years - really just to take those credit courses that just take up time (Personal Fitness, Driver's Ed, Health-Life Management Skills, and Business Systems and Technology) so I can take more academic electives</p></li>
<li><p>I also volunteer at the school library during my lunches every day (Managing the circulation desk, handling monetary fines, organizing the computer catalog) and train new volunteers when necessary</p></li>
<li><p>I voluntarily tutor at least once a month at school after school in different subjects.</p></li>
<li><p>I also skipped a grade, so I'm graduating HS at 16. I don't know if that makes a difference</p></li>
<li><p>I also was (am) in Gifted.. I still am listed as "gifted" technically, but now I'm taking all AP, not gifted anymore...</p></li>
<li><p>I have been in the top 10% of the school (and most likely my class as well) the past two years.</p></li>
<li><p>I am interested in pursuing a career in law with an undergraduate major in Political Science & Gov't</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Please tell me what you think of my overall chances for applying by Fall 2009 and starting Fall 2010... Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Where are you applying to? You'd probably get into about 95% of the schools in the US.</p>

3

<p>I don't have a definitive list of final choices, but, off the top of my head, I'd say:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Princeton University
Princeton, NJ</p></li>
<li><p>Georgetown University
Washington, DC</p></li>
<li><p>Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO</p></li>
<li><p>University of Miami
Miami, FL</p></li>
<li><p>University of Florida
Gainesville, FL</p></li>
<li><p>Yale University
New Haven, CT</p></li>
<li><p>Harvard University
Cambridge, MA</p></li>
<li><p>George Washington University
Washington, DC</p></li>
<li><p>University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL</p></li>
<li><p>University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA</p></li>
<li><p>University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA</p></li>
<li><p>American University
Washington, DC</p></li>
</ul>

<p>My top choices would be, of course, the Ivy Leagues and UF, UM, and UCF are my last resorts.</p>

4

<p>Well, Ivy admissions is quite fickle but you look like a very strong applicant. I'm not that well versed in "IVY" but I know others on here will be able to help you out with that.</p>

<p>You're definitely in at UF, UM and UCF. Those are some pretty good "last resorts" in my opinion.</p>

5

<p>Hey! i'm from florida too! but north florida...</p>

<p>I think with the way you're headed, florida schools are safeties for you. And you have good chances for the other universities. The only thing I can't advise on are HYP because they are so selective, but for a junior, you've given them alot to think about and I'm sure you'll do so much more your junior year. You might have a good chance with UPenn. You are headed in the best direction. Just work on he PSAT and the SATs...you're gpa is good and your ECs are AMAZING!</p>

<p>One thing I can comment on is Florida's College Trap. They offer so many scholarships to us to keep us in florida, that sometimes it is so hard to refuse. So far, If I get national merit finalist standing, I've got almost full scholarships to florida schools, minus UF. You have a good chance of the same, even better, so think about that. But I would definetely leave state for ivies. =D</p>

6

<p>Do a search on the board for the weighted GPA that UF uses for evaluation. It includes only core courses, weights for honors/AP/DE. Not sure what weighting system your school uses to get a 3.6 to a 4.8, but your unweighted GPA is a little low, and if you take out your non-core courses it may in fact be lower on the UF scale. You will have a good number of AP classes, but if you are bilingual and hispanic your 5 in Spanish language is not so impressive. Your PSAT doesn't matter and you need an SAT/ACT to begin the real chances comments. It's October and you need to start getting some tests taken.</p>

7

<p>that was harsh.</p>

8

<p>actually your PSAT does matter if you end up attending florida colleges like UF (who is boosting up its national merit scholarships because of their low number of National merit scholars last year when they lowered it ). Usf offers $48,000, FSU offers $24,000, and UCF-full tuition.</p>

9

<p>Where in FL?</p>

<p>Also, does UF take bright futures?</p>

10

<p>Every school in Florida will take Bright Futures. Even Miami will redeem Bright Futures for a certain amount of money towards their tuition.</p>

11

<p>If your SAT scores end up being >2200:</p>

<p>Princeton University: Reach (for anyone) but you have a good chance
Georgetown University: Match
Washington University in St. Louis: High Match - Low Reach
University of Miami: High Safety
University of Florida: Safety
Yale University: Reach (for anyone) but you have a good chance - my guess is your debate background will be favored here but I don't know for sure
Harvard University: Reach (for anyone) but you have a good chance
George Washington University: Low Match
University of Central Florida: Safety
University of Virginia: High Match because you're an out-of-state applicant
University of Pennsylvania: High Match - Low Reach
American University: High Safety</p>

<p>Your courseload is especially strong - taking 16 AP classes blows my mind. 3.6 UW is not too bad - as long as freshman year or something else negligible is bringing it down (colleges rarely consider freshman year in looking at your transcript). I see a lot of dedication in your ECs and achievement in certain areas as well, which is good. Since you aren't a senior, all I can say is you're on the right track. Keep up those ECs - remember depth, not breadth, is most important - and study hard for your standardized tests. Also remember junior year counts the most because senior year grades aren't taken into consideration that much, unless you show a significant drop in grades. If you really want to go the extra mile, start working on your college application essays. That would be awesome.</p>

12

<p>dont worry too much bout that psat score; i got a 185 soph year too....then i got national merit and a respectable SAT score, so yeah =] its not a very strong indicator of ur SAT score, IMO</p>

13

<p>Thank you soo much!! :)... my PSAT scores for 2008 should be coming in this week so I'll post them... Any further comments related to those would be GREATLY appreciated... Thanks again! :)</p>

14

<p>Looks like you have in place the core of a very strong profile. You should be fine with your SATs. I got a 181 on the PSAT my junior year and ended up with a 32 ACT which is 99th percentile. (I never ended up taking the SAT) I would recommend taking the SAT in January and the ACT in February to get a head start. (You may be better at the ACT, I'd try it) Trust me, you don't want to be worrying about your scores at the same time you're trying to fill out college apps like I did. Being a URM will help, and it looks like you're taking a very rigorous courseload. Can't really beat 16 APs.</p>

<p>Anyway, just get those standardized tests over with early and you'll be set. If you get 2000+ on the SAT or 30+ on the ACT you'll be a competitive applicant anywhere. But if I were you, I'd aim higher than that. Given the rigorous curriculum you will be taking you'll probably be capable of scoring quite a bit higher.</p>

15

<p>Fall of your junior year is WAY too early for a chance thread, man. You don't know what could happen.</p>

16

<p>Thanks to those who commented :)... oh one note though... there must have been a typo.. I'll be taking 13 by the time i graduate...</p>

17

<p>Gotta see some passion - you certainly have a work ethic! but the GPA and PSAT seem a bit low. Since you are graduating early, it might seem (to the admissions office) that you have spread yourself out quite far by being involved in a wide range of activities. They need to see some sort of passion, some sort of focus among your array of ECs.</p>

18

<p>Your PSAT score really isn't any indicator of what you'll get on the actual SAT, I got a 1040 on mine junior year and i got a 1330 on my SAT.</p>

<p>Assuming you get >=1850 I think UF, UM and UCF you are definitely in. George Washington you would also make, but the others really depend on your SAT scores.</p>

<p>Enroll in a really good SAT class, get some books, make sure you do the right preparation, because if you really nail it you can make most of these schools because you've got the minority status and you've got the EC's!</p>

<p>Good lucK!</p>

19

<p>OK So I just got my PSAT scores...</p>

<p><strong>Big difference from last year</strong></p>

<p>212/240
148/160</p>

<p>In other words, in SAT terms, I would've gotten a **2120<a href="total">/B</a> or a **1480<a href="CR/MA">/B</a></p>

<p>Individual Sections:
CR:680
MA:800
WS:640</p>

<p>Comments disregarding 07's PSAT and taking into consideration these would be greatly appreciated... Thanks! :)</p>

20

<p>about the post all the way at the top: *13 AP's</p>