Chances?

<p>know you guys have probably seen a million of these but I’m trying to see where I might fit in with my application.</p>

<p>I go to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA). It’s a school that takes only gifted juniors and seniors from all over the state of Louisiana to live in college-style dorms and attend a high school with an accelerated curriculum taught by professors with at least a terminal degree. Academia is tough here so there is a strict admission process that every applicant has to go through.</p>

<p>With that being said, I should mention that the harder classes have lowered my GPA to about a 3.4. My ACT score was a 31 overall, with a 28 in English, 35 in Math, 33 in Reading, and a 29 in Science.</p>

<p>In 9th grade I placed 5th in state for varsity wrestling. I received Varsity Letters for both Wrestling and Cross Country. The application doesn’t really care for what we did our freshman year, so I just put that part in the resume.</p>

<p>I helped create a Lacrosse team and am the co-captain. I play rugby. I am a teacher’s assistant for our school’s Kajukenfu Budo Kai Kon Kenpo Karate instructor and I hold a blue belt in that same art.</p>

<p>I was a dorm council representative last year for my dorm’s hall. NHS for 3 years. Students Promoting International Culture Exchange (SPICE Club).</p>

<p>I’ve been apart of two 3 act plays having lead parts each over 2 hours long.</p>

<p>I’ve been volunteering for the past 10 years at my church where I was the youth group President for a few years.</p>

<p>I was in AFJROTC for two years before going to the LSMSA. I was an officer with the rank of cadet captain, and I was put in command of Male Logistics.</p>

<p>I hope I’d have a pretty good chance, what do you guys (and girls) think?</p>

<p>Looking really good.</p>

<p>-B</p>

<p>Assuming your CFA is fine and no medical issues....sounds like a shoe in to me...</p>

<p>Dang, you sound like you have it made! (Not that I'm negating all the hard work you must have done to accomplish all of that.)</p>

<p>I know admissions looks at academics closely, but how closely do they look at SAT scores? I haven't take my ACT because NY school doesn't offer it until April, and I'm retaking my SAT's in Jan. 27th (earliest test possible) but my December SAT scores were Math=650 Verbal=620 and Writing=570 :( Compared to what I've read so far those aren't that great... However, I'm 16 out of my class of about 400 and my unweighted GPA is 3.82, and the other categories I've got a lot of things in, but are my SAT scores remotely competitive?</p>

<p>Your math and verbal scores are on the low end of the median for entering cadets (600-699 is the 50th percentile). As far as writing is concerned, it would be nice for your composite score if you could bump it up a bit, but my liasion officer and admissions counselor both said they don't really even look at it. But you look good otherwise, and there's always more time to retake the SAT. I would suggest getting an SAT prep book and just reviewing it. They have some helpful tactics in there that will give you a different mindset going into the test. :) As far as your other stats, I have to leave that up to cadets/parents who have a little more experience than I do. Good luck! :)</p>

<p>I've heard that class rank weighs more heavily into their decision than SAT/GPA.</p>

<p>Haha, yea I've given in purchased a review book, and will probably sign up to take it even a third time. So hopefully things will turn out better. Thanks for the advice. :)</p>

<p>ZMAN07,</p>

<p>I highly doubt that. Class rank I believe they don't look at much because there are so many different types of schools. A rank of 30/400 in one school may be better than 10/400 in another based on how competative that certain high school is, and the class size.</p>

<p>I think GPA is slightly more important that SAT's but there's no way of actually knowing.</p>

<p>As the self-appointed chief SAT/ACT prep advocate in this forum, I think you will find that the test scores count more than GPA or class rank. However, class rank may count for more than you realize. I understand that there is actually a national database comparing class quality at most of the high schools in the US. Also, admissions people are not stupid. They can easily read between the lines to know if your grades and class rank really reflect quality academic preparation. The important thing is to be high enough on all scales that you don't automatically get thrown out for being non-competitive. Then real human beings will evaluate you on a whole-person basis.</p>

<p>Don't forget to take challenging classes your senior year. If you take the easy road by filling your schedule with fluff, they will notice.</p>