chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z College of the Holy Cross
1

<p>hey guys, here's the thing. my school has a mix of really un-motivated kids, but the top 20%ish is uber competitive, like cut throat for class rank. my gpa isn't incredible, but i have challenged myself with the most difficult courses offered, but have aced only a few. i would love to go to HC and pursue premed, and i've been in contact with them lately and received letters/pamphlets and such from them on a normal basis. should i send in my 28 act, or will it hurt me? any thoughts on my chances?</p>

<p>-taken hardest possible course load in high school
-ap calc, ap bio, ap history, 2 years of advanced physics (one with integrated calculus)
-act: 28 (<--send in or no??????)
-34/241 ---> top 15%
-3.55 gpa (not great, i know)
-minority: from south india, first generation
-attended harvard's biomedical seminar for minorities
-had an incredible interview at holy cross, the interviewer said she was incredibly impressed with my "interview skills" and asked if i had ever taken any classes or been to other interviews, i think it went really well and she seemed pleased?
-was invited to "prologue at bates for multicultural students" (overnight)</p>

<p>EC:
-percussion ensemble
-jazz band
-german club
-private drum lessons
-close to 200 hours volunteering at ER in local hospital
-shadowed ortho. surgeon and vet
-worked all summer at ven clinic
-soccer since 4 yrs old
-tennis in spring
-avid film maker, edit films for money and also won second place in german film festival
-science team</p>

<p>*have won other awards as well</p>

<p>i know these stats aren't jaw-dropping whatsoever, but am i in good shape or just not? does the fact that i have taken the hardest classes help, even though i didn't ace them? thanks!</p>

2

<p>I would not send in your score. Given the feeback in the interview, your chances should be very good.</p>

3

<p>xirtran, where did you finally end up? CHC? What was it that attracted you to CHC?</p>

4

<p>hey joedad,</p>

<p>i'm actually still a senior, and i'll be officially applying in a few months. holy cross is definitely one of my top choices, and i can only hope to get into that school! if i do get in, i'll be extremmmmeelly happy! but i will definitely keep you posted on my college search. but so far, what has attracted me to holy cross is:</p>

<p>-incredible premed program (which is what i'm looking for)
-above twice the national med school accept rate, and also has an
early assurance program with tufts med during CHC soph year
-overall, academics are very strong, mention you went to HC during
a job interview, they'll be impressed
-gorgeous campus. even though the surrounding area, Worcester, may
not be a san fran or anything, it is really nice and there's plenty to do.
-very dedicated and hard working staff and faculty
-all my friends who go there LOVE it and rave about how great it is
-great social life; if your son/daughter isn't into the party scene, worcester has a lot to offer
-student body is very nice, and seems open and tolerant
-about the whole jesuit thing; im techincally 'hindu,' but im about the least religious person i know. my friends who go there don't even go to mass, and they aren't excluded whatsoever. of course they do stress that you 'help others out,' but what college doesn't? it seems perfect for anyone</p>

<p>that's all i can cram in right now haha, but if you have any questions let me know. ive been to the campus a bunch of times and done an interview, so let me know if you need anything.</p>

<p>pray for me that i get in!</p>

5

<p>I misread your post date with your membership date. Bon chance, xirtan! Keep on with your honest breezy style of expression. Be yourself. they'll like you, whereever you go...and you'll be a great doc, too.</p>

<p>i was exploring some NE schools to see how the other half lives. My daughter likes the 'beautiful campus' attribute - as well as snow - and HC was ranked in that regard. Thus far, We have been sticking w/ the MW region where car rides and not jet rides would be the normal mode of shuttling.</p>

6

<p>Hi JCD,</p>

<p>Do you have any specific questions about HC? My daughter is a freshman and I attended back in the dark ages of the 1980s. Maybe we can help.</p>

7

<p>thanks, bluesmom. Here a few questions, if you don't mind: </p>

<p>Is there a lot of drinking and partying at HC? </p>

<p>Would someone who does not want to 'party hard' (following the typical 'work hard, party hard' ethic that I keep hearing about at many colleges), be out of place at HC?</p>

<p>How often would you say do discussions amongst the students of intellectual or school related topics go on? Or might such a discussion more likely yield a yawn?</p>

<p>I see that there is no greek life at HC per USNR. Does that mean that the parties go to the dorms? </p>

<p>Is the campus dry?</p>

<p>Are there substance free dorms or floors?</p>

<p>Are the students nice and friendly? If one did not have a boston accent would one still feel at home? </p>

<p>How would you say the HC students overall rate on 'preppiness'? By that I mean, I think, is extra care and priority placed on how well 'put together' one appears to be in terms of clothes makeup and the like.</p>

<p>How far is the non campus Worcester town area from campus? Steps?, Need a car or a bus?</p>

<p>Possibly out of your bailiwick: what opportunites are there for a non music major to pay violin in HC's string ensembles? Pit orchestra opportunities? </p>

<p>thanks for any insight.</p>

8

<p>another couple of questions: How national/regional is the student make up? 'Out of state' pcts can mean that you get a lot of NY'ers.</p>

<p>and, how safe is the campus and worcester?</p>

<p>any question that you can address would be appreciated. I can go after the others through other means too.</p>

9

<p>joecollegedad:</p>

<p>My son attends Worcester Polytech and we toured HC with my other son - so maybe I can answer a couple of questions about Worcester. Worcester is not a great city - I think it grows on some college kids who get off campus and appreciate its ethnic diversity in foods etc, but it is not a place you're going to be thrilled with upon first (or second - LOL) inspection. </p>

<p>It has all the basic things you need though - a Target, Staples, some hotels, what not.</p>

<p>From HC I think you would actually need a car to get anyplace decent. I believe Worcester has public buses, but I am not sure students ride them. I'm sure HC's campus is relatively safe - they probably have an active security force. (I know WPI's isn't fooling around - they carry guns and are referred to as Police!) </p>

<p>HC's campus is pretty in a Jesuity/LAC kind of way. It is on a very steep hill. </p>

<p>Son #1 is a musician (non-major), and so looking at those opportunties at LACs is important. While I can not comment on HC specifically, not many LACs without music theater majors put on many musicals (for pit). He also attended a Jesuit HS and did really well there, so we would have been fine with a Jesuit college.</p>

<p>We eventually ruled out HC because we felt his odds of merit aid there were poor - they don't give out much.</p>

<p>I also have a friend who teaches at HC and she loves it. She refers to it as a "boutique college." Ha.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

10

<p>JCD,</p>

<p>I think a large part of the student body comes from MA, NY, CT and the surrounding area. My D's roommate is from the midwest and several others from her area attend. I don't think a Boston accent is a requirement (lol), or a NY one either. </p>

<p>One of the things that impressed D was the friendliness of EVERYONE on campus. D has already found a nice group of friends and is happy with professors, RA, upperclassmen, etc. Most kids looked preppy to me - Abercrombie, Hollister, but I don't know how much pressure there is to dress alike. Saw all types of clothes while we were there....</p>

<p>HC does have a rep as a work hard, play hard school. During orientation, the head of campus police stressed over and over again how they have really cracked down on underage drinking, so I don't think much underage partying happens in the dorms (but that may be the naive parent in me). Not like the keggers of my day! D was not a drinker when she went off to school, and hopefully that hasn't changed. She is so happy at HC that she does not want to come home for a weekend. HC is supposed to start running weekend buses to Boston and Providence so students can visit for the day. D is looking forward to that.</p>

<p>I believe that there is a substance free dorm. HC also has another dorm that houses freshmen that enroll in the First Year Program. I believe this may encourage intellectual discussion. I thought the FYP sounded interesting but D thought she had enough on her plate (Bio/pre-med).</p>

<p>HC was safe in my day. D still feels safe, but is smart enough to be careful, especially at night. </p>

<p>HC is built on a hill, so you walk hills or climb lots of stairs to go anyplace. I don't know that there are any nearby bus stops anymore. D and friends took a taxi to the mall one afternoon. Freshmen are not allowed to have cars.</p>

<p>Can't answer anything about music program, as D is not involved.</p>

<p>All in all, D loves HC. During a recent call she said definitely thinks she chose the right school.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post, but hope it helps. If you have the opportunity, take your D to see HC. They "strongly recommend" an interview. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

11

<p>hey guys!</p>

<p>all this info is really helpful, but could any one of you please chance me? it would really help! thanks!</p>

12

<p>My D has fallen in love with HC. HC was not in her top ten until her visit.</p>

13

<p>I think HC has one of the most attractive campuses I have seen. The only downside is the hills but it makes for scenic views of the area.</p>

14

<p>Xirtan,</p>

<p>I don't feel comfortable even guessing how admissions works. My D had a slightly higher gpa. She did NOT send SAT or ACT scores, since she is a perfectionist and was not happy with either score. She also felt that she had a terrific interview. I know HC has always stressed the importance of an interview. I wish you much luck!</p>

<p>Prepparent,</p>

<p>My D had NO interest in HC, especially since it is my alma mater. She had visited a few times when she was younger, but when we took the New England tour of colleges, she realized what a gem HC is. It shot right to the top 2 or 3 on her list. I sure was surprised! Never thought she would consider going where mom went.</p>

15

<p>xirtan, As the saying goes, 'think open'.</p>

<p>go for it. show your effervescent personality -tho always with a bit of humorous self deprecation ( it IS a catholic college, after all). read the website thoroughly, drink up what the spirit of HC is, and what kind of student they are looking for, and express it in a great essay.</p>

16

<p>I agree with JCD - go for it. It looks like you have a lot to offer, and I'm sure that the powers that be at Holy Cross will see that. Best of luck to you.</p>

17

<p>Agree with everyone else--go for it; you sound like a great candidate. As far as submitting your ACT, my advice would be yes, submit. HC doesn't release data for their mean ACTs, but your 28 is certainly very solidly in the range of students that they admit. Non-submitters tend to be significantly below the college means (and adcoms know this), and that's definitely not your profile, so give them as full a picture of who you are as possible. Good luck!</p>

18

<p>hey guys, thanks for all of the responses!!
my only question, to marathon, is this:
i'm still iffy about sending in my act because if another kid has similar, or higher, stats than i do, would my act score offset my chances of getting in?
thanks!</p>