***Class of 2015*** Chance me!! IVY LEAGUE? HOOKS

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Well, my title was used to attract all of the top cc critiques lol. Basically I'm going to tell you my stats and what not. Oh, and one more thing. My grades weren't always the top of the top which is why I am here</p>

<p>First semester of freshman year I didn't do too hot( how may times have you heard that?). I got 2 Cs(Gasp<em>), a D( Super gasp</em>), and 4 Bs.
There is a story behind this but I couldn't find a prompt on the common app that would allow me to explain( I don't assume that would be the proper place to do so either). The second semester of my freshman year I got straight As and one B. </p>

<p>Sophomore year and Junior year I got straight As. I'm expecting the same for senior year, but the obvious concern is with the first semester of freshman year. I do have some pretty good extracurricular and community service hours 500+ and some rewards here and there. </p>

<p>Basically I want you all to tell me what do you think my chances are of getting in a top school, it doesn't necessarily have to Ivy leagues. I know that I'll get some comments that say I have no chance and that is what I want, your opinion. I also know I may get that " Others have did this WHILE maintaining good grades." I'm asking about me, not them. </p>

<p>Just because I know some of you are going to ask, I'll list my hooks. That is probably what most of you are here to see lol</p>

<p>I am an African american
First Generation
Income less than 20,000 with 6 in the house hold(me included, not sure if that's a hook or not)
I go to what would be considered a "bad" school. Fun fact: I go to the same school NBA stars Daquan Cook and Norris Cole went too, can you guess my high school?<br>
School's average ACT is a 16 ( I'm expecting a 28+ the next time I take it)
I am taking dual-enrollment and PSEO( I know this isn't a hook)
My GPA uw is a 3.7( I am ranked 1 in my class of 110)</p>

<p>I will be taking SAT2s soon. I would have already but my counselors don't inform students of this because, well, look at my school's average ACT score again. So I'm just now finding out about the test.</p>

<p>Alright, that's about it. The story behind those bad grades is a rather simple one. My great-grandmother died and I had an abusive Uncle. I was going to just give up ( as you can tell from my grades) but I knew if I didn't man up then my siblings would never have a positive role model in their life and I couldn't let my circumstances affect their future, so I did what I had to do and got my grades together. I know no one here will be able to tell "exactly" what my chances are, but I am still interested in hearing your thoughts. </p>

<p>And last but not least, I ask to be chance for top college only because I don't want to go to another below average school. Throughout high school I come to realize that there are other high schools out there offering more advance classes and a better education. I want courses that are actually hard to get an A in( I got A's doing dual enrollment and I felt that those As were the first REAL As that I've ever gotten). I'd like to hear where you think I'd fit in( I do have colleges in mind but I want YOUR opinion). And please, be as honest and brutal as possible. I want only the truth. </p>

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<p>what are your top choices? :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>You never stated what your SAT or ACT score was. </p>

<p>All of the Ivy League schools would be reaches for you regardless of your URM status. They are reach schools for everyone. </p>

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<p>It’s up to you if you feel comfortable writing an essay about your grandmother and uncle but I think that would fit very well under the prompt about the transition from childhood to adulthood! Not only does it show some of your character, but it can also help explain to colleges first semester of freshman year. </p>

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<p>@singerstudent14 most say that you shouldn’t write about that in your essays and to let your GC mention that. Otherwise it seems like you are making excuses. </p>

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<p>@tola2015‌ alright. Regardless of whether he mentions grades or not, I still think that could be a unique and appropriate essay for transition from childhood to adulthood, do you not?</p>

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<p>My latest ACT score was a 27. I have been studying a lot more and I’m pretty confident that I can score a 28+. So I should have my counselor write about it? I have already written my common app essay( ironically I did use the transition from childhood to adulthood prompt) it is about another event other than my great grandmother( Anyone want to read it?) . I do not want to come across as making excuses, I’m sure admission officers would look down upon that lol. This is good information. Keep it coming! </p>

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<p>I don’t know what your chances are, but it seems like you have taken advantage of what you’ve been offered. You conquered a lot of adversity, but make sure you’re not using that adversity as a crutch. Either way, I’m rooting for you.</p>

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<p>Stanford
Duke
UC Berkeley
Ohio State University
Miami University-oxford
Alabama state university( full ride if I go, I don’t really want to though)
Plus some others I’m still deciding on.</p>

<p>I hope I rack up a lot of scholarship money.</p>

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<p>@dreamchaser50 Thanks! It means a lot. I’ll be sure to not depend on adversity to get me in to college.</p>

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<p>Everything is a reach (as it is for everyone) except for Ohio State, Miami, and Alabama State. You’ll get in to all three of those.</p>

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<p>Any more opinions?</p>

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<p>I think the full ride at ASU is the best and most likely choice.</p>

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<p>@jalaquan don’t let highschool students read your common app essay especially if they are seniors. Just post a thread about it or pm shawnspencer and ask him if he can read your essay. Does your GC already know about the situation? If so, chances are he/she is already planning on writing about it. Don’t aim for the 28s you need to aim for the 30s. </p>

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<p>@tola2015‌ Good advice about the common app thing. I don’t know what I was thinking. Yes my guidance counselor knows so hopefully you’re right about her already planning to write about it. If not, I’ll make sure she gets started lol. I’m going to continue to study hard and see if I can pull it off come September. I’ll Pm Shawnspencer right now. Thanks!</p>

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<p>@irlandaise‌ I’m pretty sure I’ll get accepted there but I would rather not go there. I think/hope I can do better.</p>

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<p>I have one more question. The part on the common app that says “Please provide an answer below if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application” should I write about my situation listed above there or should I just have my GC write about it, or both? </p>

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<p>For the school’s I know a bit about (based on your current stats):</p>

<ul>
<li>Stanford = 10% chance</li>
<li>Duke = 30 % chance</li>
<li>UC Berkeley = 60% chance (freshmen year doesn’t count!)</li>
</ul>

<p>The good news is, you still have time to turn the tables. If you worked hard on your standardized tests, and got 2300+ or 35+, I would say these are your new chances: </p>

<ul>
<li>Stanford = 40% chance</li>
<li>Duke = 60% chance </li>
<li>UC Berkeley = 80% chance</li>
</ul>

<p>Focus in on these last few months, and it could make a real difference. </p>

<p>Also, I think your bad grades freshmen year/your background story will do more good than harm to your application. It will help adcoms remember it. </p>

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<p>@Jalaquan You should ask your guidance counselor if you should include that there. Your guidance counselor is already going to write about it; I don’t think its necessary for you to write about it too, but your GC will know what is best. </p>

<p>Read comment #8 by gibby: <a href=“Should I mention mental illness to the college I'm applying to if my disorder affected my grades? - #9 by gibby - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>Should I mention mental illness to the college I'm applying to if my disorder affected my grades? - #9 by gibby - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums;

<p>Considering he has one kid at both Harvard and Yale, I would say Gibby is pretty knowledgeable. </p>

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<p>When school starts I will talk about it with my counselor more. All the information I have received is good! I think I have obtained the information I was looking for on this post. Thank you all.</p>