Changing a match into a safety?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I recently was chanced a "match" for UW-Madison. There really aren't any schools that I want to go to nearly as much. I was wondering what I could do to change my chances from "match" to "low-match, or even safety."</p>

<p>I'm a white female from Wisconsin.</p>

<p>Grades:
4.00 UW GPA/ 4.4 W GPA (although I'm not quite sure how to do this exactly)
My school doesn't weight and allows ties when they rank, so I'm 1 out of 300.</p>

<p>I've done 4 AP class so far (5, 5, 5, 4) and did one semester this semester.
I'm going to do about 4 more next year.</p>

<p>Credit Breakdown:
English: 4 (1 AP)
Science: 3
Math: 4 (1 AP)
Social Studies: 7.5 (6 APs)
Foreign Language: 5 (all Spanish)
And then various electives.</p>

<p>ACT:
30 ACT (with a slightly lower SAT score).
I've been studying and am now averaging a 32-33 ACT.</p>

<p>ECs:
Freshman:
Culinary Club</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Spanish Club
Key Club</p>

<p>Junior:
Political Debate
Mock Trial
DECA (State and International Career Development Conference qualifier)</p>

<p>Senior:
Same as junior year. </p>

<p>Other:
I've already asked for my letters of recommendation. Both of the teachers can write me great letters.
One of these teachers I will have had for 6 semester and have done ECs with him.
Also, I was thinking about asking my guidance counselor for a letter, I have had many meetings with him throughout high school (none for trouble though ;) )</p>

<p>I just started my essays too. I'm a fairly decent writer.</p>

<p>How can I improve my chances? Can I add another club (I was thinking Social Studies Academic Team), ACT scores, more AP classes?</p>

<p>Will chance back. Please post link.</p>

2

<p>bump 10 char.</p>

3

<p>If you actually scored 32 then it will become a safety.</p>

4

<p>You’re the valedictorian of your Wisconsin high school who has an ACT in the top 35% of all enrolled students. You’re not getting rejected.</p>

5

<p>My school doesn’t do “valedictorian.” Does that make a difference?</p>

6

<p>** She’s tied for first with other students.
And it doesn’t matter anyway, you’re only awarded valedictorian at the end of senior year AFTER college acceptances/rejections.</p>

7

<p>i think its a low match as of now. i would give you a 70% chance of getting in. i think if you bump your act to a 32 its a safety. either way, i think you will get in</p>

8

<p>Honestly, I think you have a pretty good chance as is. But there are definitely things you could do to raise your chances higher.</p>

<p>Grades - Amazing, can’t really raise them!</p>

<p>ACT - Good. The university website states that 27-30 is the average score for admitted students, so raising it to a 32-33 would be really great.</p>

<p>ECs - The participation is good, but there is a lack of leadership in the clubs. Perhaps you could run to get a board position on any of these clubs. In addition, definitely try to enter more competitions for debate and DECA during the fall semester, since you did so well in them junior year.</p>

<p>What about summer activities and jobs/volunteer experience? You definitely seem to be a social science-leaning student, so showing more leadership in that area would look great on your application.</p>

9

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>Godiva123…
I’ll try to get a leadership position next year although 2/3 don’t have them.</p>

<p>For summer, I took a class Soph/Junior summer and two this summer.</p>

<p>I don’t have a job and just a handful of volunteering hours.</p>

10

<p>I think you’re going to get in. Maybe the ACT could go up a bit, but your GPA makes up for it. The EC’s are kind of generic, but I doubt they’ll care that much given your stats.</p>

11

<p>Here’s Wisconsin’s CDS <a href=“http://apir.wisc.edu/publisherssurvey/CDS_2012-2013.pdf[/url]”>http://apir.wisc.edu/publisherssurvey/CDS_2012-2013.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
Go to page 7 to see what they look for.</p>

<p>According to the CDS, UW-Madison believes that rigor of secondary school record, class rank, and GPA are all very important factors. Given that while you’re not technically the valedictorian, you’re highly ranked in your class, and that you’ve achieved an outstanding GPA with rigorous classes, you’ve satisfied all of the very important criteria. Additionally, test scores, state residency, and application essay are all important factors in admission. Well, your test scores put you in the top 35% of all enrolled students, you’re a resident of Wisconsin so you’ve satisfied that criteria, and your essays probably won’t be god awful. You’re not getting rejected from Wisconsin unless you discuss a love for North Korean genocide in your essay. </p>

<p>By the way, UW Madison accepted 54% of applicants in 2012. I assure you, most of them were not nearly as qualified as you are.</p>

12

<p>Thanks for chancing me :)</p>

<p>Your grades are superb, I would work on improving those ACT scores, a 32 or 33 would make it a safety. Also, you have instate advantage. Maybe work a little on extracurriculars, like something very passionate in the subject you want to pursue, like research or business. But I honestly think you’re okay haha! good luck!</p>