Chances Please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston College
1

<p>I know this is also annoying but I REALLY want to go to BC</p>

<p>High School: Private
No ranking system
GPA: 3.48 (unweighted) (I attended another private school freshmen year and received mostly A’s and B’s so those are being reported also but not factoring into my GPA)
SAT’s: 1850 (working on)
ACT: 27 (working on)
SAT II Math I: 650
SAT II Math II: 660</p>

<p>Took advanced level French and college level Statistics, and will be taking AB Calculus next year, but for the most part my school doesn’t offer APs.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>*Volunteer at Gilda’s Club (place for those affected by Cancer)
*On the Gilda’s Club Teen Ambassador Board (small student group spreading awareness about organization)
*Summer Service Trips to Australia, Fiji, Costa Rica, and Belize
*Human Rights Club
*Admissions Ambassador for school
*Voting Member (1 of 4 seniors elected to admissions committee to be a part of application readings/vote on admitting students)
*Untucked (1 of 15 students accepted into group to organize benefit concert at school every year)
*4 years of Varsity Field Hockey
*accepted into NSHSS</p>

2

<p>Your EC’s look nice, but all your other stats fit more with a school one notch down than BC. What I mean is, you want your GPA to be around 3.7+, a 2100/30 on the SAT, and 700’s for subject tests. Work on getting those up</p>

3

<p>Ok, so, first let’s look at the positives. You have excellent extracurriculars. If you emphasize those in your app, especially demonstrating a desire to do service, you will already have a leg up. </p>

<p>Now onto the more negative aspects. Sadly, your GPA and SATs are not yet in line for BC’s standards. I don’t know if you’re a junior or senior. </p>

<p>Here are just some tips I can think of:</p>

<p>1) If you are a junior, work your butt off trying to get that GPA up to a 3.6. If you are a senior, don’t worry as much about the numerical GPA…just focus on getting really good grades first semester. Keep your grades up and try to show an upward trend.
2) This goes without saying, but take the HARDEST POSSIBLE CLASSES. Don’t kill yourself, but make sure you show BC that you really are dedicated to challenging yourself. You want to find the balance between a hard a courseload and one that you can do well in. If that means taking the hardest possible courseload at your school, then awesome! If not, just play to your strengths.
3) Write a great essay…something about your extracurriculars. Maybe an essay about your service experience in a foreign country.
4) Your SAT scores need to go up (or your ACT). In my opinion, drop the SAT altogether and go with the ACT. Don’t stretch yourself. If you can get a 32+ on the ACT, you are really upping your chances for BC by a LOT (almost ensuring your spot). However, your goal should be 30+.
5) Apply RD…you’ll have better chances that way. </p>

<p>Also, I want to give you my admissions theory at BC…do not take it as fact. Before I say this, I want everyone to know I ADORE BC. I am a proud member of the Class of 2014 and I chose BC over UChicago, Tufts, and Pomona. I love BC so much. However, it is not the same calibur as Ivies, Chicago, or top LACs in regard to admissions difficulty. If you have an above average app all around or one rockstar part of your app, you have good chances. </p>

<p>That being said, your ECs are “rockstar” quality, especially for a Jesuit school like BC. However you need to get your academics up to par so their decision is an easy one. </p>

<p>For example, my transcript was by no means perfect. I had a 3.6 UW GPA, average ECs (tennis team, math team, some volunteering), and my essay was good but not superb. However, I had really good test scores (2320 SAT, 790 Math II, 720 Lit). Also, I took the hardest possible courseload at my school (more APs than anyone else in my grade). </p>

<p>You just need to stand out. Focus on your grades and SATs and you will be fine. Keep it up :).</p>