<p>hey thanks for looking at this I really appreciate your time and opinions. I ve actually been really stressed about this whole getting into college thing for a LONG time and wanted to get some advice</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5 unweighted 3.65 weighted
ACT: 25 (retaking)
SAT: 1830 (retaking)
Should get good recs and should write a great essay</p>
<p>ECS
-founded my own business which works with Amazon.com in book sales and distribution
-I love trading stocks and started when I was in grade school
-often talk about starting a business and the importance of academics to kids in underdeveloped communities (having been doing this on a regular basis for 2 years now) through a group that links business leaders to youth.
-berekly model UN
-summer at brown econ class
-taking two college classes at local community college
-work at local store for 10hrs/week
-Vice President (10,11) President (12) of a the teen advisory board which acts as a liaison between teens and the city council</p>
<p>Background:
- I now attend a very prestigious school in a very affluent neighborhood, however I came from a grade school that did not prepare students for this type of a challenging academic atmosphere. It was a fight to be able to go to the high school I do now, but I have always had the dream of attending a great college.
-I went through difficult transitional periods my frosh and soph years but beginning 2nd semester sophomore year have taken the hardest course load and have done extremely well.</p>
<p>Brown---dream school
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
Vassar
Hamilton C
Colgate
USC
Washington University in St. Louis
UCs</p>
<p>Im a hispanic californian and would not need financial aid. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Everything looks good except the test scores. Study hard and bring them up b/c as I'm sure you know, an 1830 isn't gonna cut it at most of your schools.</p>
<p>If your high school is as reputable/prestigious as it seems to be based on your post, your low GPA could be offset fairly well by a high SAT score (2100+).</p>
<p>Given the stats you have now, I'd say all of those schools are reaches, with Brown, Chicago, Wash U, and USC as high-reaches. You need to get some matches and safeties on your list.</p>
<p>What does your grade trend actually look like? What does your GPA look like if you calculate it without your freshman year grades?</p>
<p>Actually, needing financial aid would help your case at top colleges. UrM preference is becoming much more linked to socioeconomic status. URM or not, you'll need to up your SATs for top schools, focus on that.</p>
<p>suze-so would you recommend applying for financial aid even if they prob wont give me anything? I dont really get how that would make any difference.</p>
<p>If I get the SAT or ACT score(s) way up is brown still a reach an insurmountable reach??? I really want to go to Brown. Could I do anything else to improve my chances? Should I apply ED?</p>
<p>Your scores need to go way up to make it realistic. It's hard to tell how smart you are your OP, but you need to ask yourself, Am I really Brown material? If you think you just had a bad day when you took the SAT and you can get 2100+ then by all means apply, but if you think your score is an accurate representation of your abilities, then I wouldn't even bother with Brown.</p>