Chances? with Low SATs, Low GPA, yet medium expectations

<p>Colleges:<br>
Boston University.<br>
East Carolina.<br>
Emmanuel College. University of Maryland (College park).<br>
University of Massachusetts (Boston) and (Amherst)<br>
Northeastern University.<br>
West Chester University. (PA).<br>
Marist university
Syracuse university
Hofstra university
Monmouth university
James Madison university
And please note if its possible for aid at any of these schools (I'm trying to decide what school I should apply ED or EA) (don't know the difference.)</p>

<p>Current Junior, will most likely be majoring in biology, pre-med </p>

<p>White, southeastern PA resident + first generation college student.<br>
GPA: 88% (out of 100)<br>
Class rank: top 50% (very competitive private catholic school).<br>
SAT: 1850 (CR-640) (M-560) (W-650)__this is based of of a practice test in a prep book (haven't taken an official SAT yet.)<br>
E.C.'s:<br>
Football: 9th-Freshman (team captain), 10th-V.<br>
Basketball:9th-JV, 10th-V,
intramural-11th (planning to play 12th).
Tennis- 10th-V, (will play 11th-V & 12th-V)(hoping to be captain senior year).<br>
World Affairs Club:9th, 10th, 11th, (12th) (secretary-11th) (VP-12th).<br>
Will be starting my own club next year (a student investors/money management club) will be the president of this club. </p>

<p>Jobs: I work for my fathers' business (a boat dealership and ship store)<br>
I also invest (1/2 of every dollar I make at that job) and have been relatively successful in the stocks I have chosen. (Not really sure this is considered a job) Hobbies: sailing, boating, wake boarding, surfing, and golf. (Not sure if this has any significance in my application.).<br>
I am planning on improving my SAT score quite a bit (via prep classes and prep books) and hoping to move it up to 1950-2000<br>
Don't worry about being harsh I understand some of these schools may currently be reaches, and also please offer suggestions for me (northeastern region, no further south than Maryland no further west than western PA.)</p>

<p>If you don’t feel like chancing perhaps answer one of my (Questions.) All feedback is appreciated!</p>

<p>Bump10char</p>

<p>You should be fine for West Chester. Or the other state universities on your list.</p>

<p>Many of those are big music schools (WCU, UMass Amherst, JMU, Hofstra, Boston), you planning on marching?</p>

<p>ED is binding, meaning you will attend the school if admitted. EA is not, it just gives you an early answer. A few thoughts. One, if you need aid, ED is likely a bad choice for you because whatever they give is what you’re stick with- aside from outside scholarships of course- and you can’t compare. If your stats, by which I mean grades and SAT scores and subject tests if required, are as good as they will get, EA would be a nice option IMHO because as the mom of a senior now, waiting until January for EA seems like forever to her. She would go nuts waiting until April 1. If you think your senior year course load and grades will show increased rigor and success, then do RD. Obviously you can do some of each as well.
The only school I’m very familiar with is JMU, where I would think you will be fine even if the SAT is 1850. You might look in the parents forums where there are threads for 3.3-3.6 students, since some of your schools are also schools their kids are applying to right now. You could get input and likely suggestions there. My D is looking at Delaware which might be an idea for you too.
As to the investing, while it may not be an actual EC in the strict sense, it could make a good essay topic for you. That said, you might want to pull the applications ( or the common app and school supplements if they exist) for these schola. It will give you an idea of what they ask for and you can ponder essay topics to some degree, though obviously they could change.
Good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks! And no I’ve never really gotten into music, although I do live near WCU and hear their marching band often in the fall. </p>

<p>Thank you! Im planning on improving my GPA a lot. (had an awful freshman year.) So i’ll stick with RD unless i’m feeling confident with a school and their aid requirements. And that’s a great idea for an essay, I never really thought of that. Thanks so much!!</p>

<p>I would say that at this point, BU, Northeastern, and UMD are all slight reaches.</p>

<p>Thanks, I thought so too but at least a slight reach is possibly “reachable” (I hope.)</p>

<p>Bump10char</p>

<p>Bumping again. By the way I got a 1900 in my latest practice SAT (+50 in writing) not official yet (taking the January 26th test.) but I think I’m definitely improving my score, hopefully that helps my chances.</p>