Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston University
1

<p>I’m really rather worried about my chances of getting into any good college, to be honest with you, because while my grades are high now, I was an absolute slacker during my freshman year. I have turned things around immensely since then, and BU seems to be perfect for me, but it is a fairly good school so I’m not sure if they will be fond of my application specs or not.</p>

<p>Academia

  • GPA: 3.35, and my school doesn’t weight. :confused:
  • SAT: 660 CR, 550 M, 730 W – I can do far better, but I was very ill that day, so I am retaking the test this fall.
  • Great recs so far; school has not yet begun for the year, so I only have one for certain that I know of, but if those that teachers gave me for different applications last year are of any indication, I should be absolutely set there.
  • 90+ on 7/9 Regents exams, including two 98s, a 99, and a 100.
  • My school does not offer AP courses, but they do offer college credit courses through Syracuse University, SUNY Albany, and the local community colleges. I have scored (without a curve) 90 or better as an average in every course. Currently, I have four AP equivalent courses under my belt, am taking another five this year, and my cumulative would-be college GPA thus far is 3.75.
  • Dedicated to band. And although our band program is not huge, by “dedicated,” I mean that I help out with every fundraiser, practice, am a section leader, will be Band Co-President this year, and so on.
  • Four honours courses: chemistry, and four years of being in an English class above my grade level (that is, they aren’t labeled as “honours”, but when I was in 9th grade they put me into 10th grade English, 10th they put me into 11th, 11th grade they put me into college English and this year should be a 200-level English).
  • Six years of language! I have taken Spanish every year, and although it doesn’t fit into my schedule for senior year, I am taking it as an independent study sort of option this year in addition to French I my sophomore year and French II this year. That has to count for something, right?
  • I will have AWESOME essays. They’re already written and, if I may toot my own flute, pretty spifftacular.
  • Uh, my guidance counselor doesn’t like me much because I’m not in Key Club, so she will -not- give me a good letter. Just to put that out there.
  • My GPA went from a 78 at the end of my freshman year to an 89 by the end of this year’s summer semester. I hope that makes me look decent.</p>

<p>ECs
Art Club, 2006-2007
Concert Band, 2005-2009
>>Flute section leader, 2007-2009
Creative Writing Club, 2008-2009
Drama Club [stage crew], 2006-7 and 2009
Foreign Language Club [president], 2007-2009
Fulton County Music Education Association (FCMEA) All-County Symphonic Band, 2007-2009
Jazz Band, 2008-2009
Key Club, 2006
Marching Band, 2005-2009
“Masterminds’” academic team, 2007-2009
>>Junior Varsity Co-Captain, 2007-2008
>>Varsity Co-Captain, 2008-2009
Media Center Club, 2005-2006
New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Competition, 2007-2009
Pep Band, 2005-2009
Saratoga Springs Youth Wind Ensemble, 2008-2009
Science Olympiad, 2005, 2008-9
>>Team member, September-October 2005
>>Coach/advisor, 2008-9
Students of the World Pen Pal Program, 2007-2009
The Leader Herald “Teen Vox” Editorial [journalist], 2007-2009</p>

<p>My volunteer experience is somewhat bald; it mostly has to do with band fundraising and helping my best friend with her church festivals.</p>

<p>Eeep? Thanks a ton, guys. If there is anything else you need to know (as if I’m not long-winded enough), please ask.</p>

2

<p>Oh -- sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I just discovered the chances one. :[</p>

3

<p>Okay, judging by the enthusiastic response, I am going to go out on a limb and say that my chances aren't great. But according to PR, the incoming high school GPA is a median of 3.5, the use of the word "median" signaling that yes, some are higher, but some are also below that standard. And I am not too much lower, and my SATs are higher than the average (or, in the case of math, right in the median). My essays are pretty darn good, but they can be reviewed, and my next SAT score will be higher when I am not about to spew chyme from my gastric cavity. And anyway, somebody has to be in the lower half, right?</p>

<p>It's okay to be optimistic, I have found. Is it not?</p>

4

<p>Your math is significantly below the median, and BU couldn't care less about your writing score. Admissions is pretty much all test scores and GPA.</p>

<p>Boston</a> University Admissions - Class of 2012</p>

5

<p>What's your GPA of soph junior and senior year? I've heard many schools don't pay particularly heavy attention to freshman grades. I mean they do, but if you didn't do quite so hot then, but got on the ball for the rest of high school, they'll be forgiving... IDK about BU however...</p>

6

<p>BU is rather a reach school. I was 78-9 at the end of junior year, 89 at the end of sophomore year, 88.3 at the end of junior year, and I don't know what it is at current, but I had a 96 this past summer semester to add to my senior GPA.</p>