<p><a href=“http://cds.berkeley.edu/pdfs/PDF%20wBOOKMARKS%2009-10.pdf[/url]”>http://cds.berkeley.edu/pdfs/PDF%20wBOOKMARKS%2009-10.pdf</a>
^link to UC Berkeley’s common data set. Note: the REQUIRED 2 years foreign language.
Your current ACT composite is below their 25%.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.hmc.edu/files/institutionalresearch/CDS%202009-10/CDS_2009-10_C.pdf[/url]”>http://www.hmc.edu/files/institutionalresearch/CDS%202009-10/CDS_2009-10_C.pdf</a>
^common data set for Harvey Mudd. </p>
<p>Note the ACT range. 99% have an ACT composite score of 30-36. </p>
<p>94% are in the top 10% of their class.</p>
<p>[Requirements</a>, Deadlines, Costs | NYU-Poly](<a href=“Home | NYU Tandon School of Engineering”>Home | NYU Tandon School of Engineering)
^Polytechnical Institute of NYU</p>
<p>Required before you apply: 4 years of math through Pre-Calc.</p>
<p>[Admission</a> Decisions](<a href=“http://admissions.wustl.edu/apply/freshmen/Pages/Decisions.aspx]Admission”>http://admissions.wustl.edu/apply/freshmen/Pages/Decisions.aspx)
^Washington University</p>
<p>Most candidates transcripts include:</p>
<p>–four years of English
–four years of mathematics (Architecture, Business, and Engineering strongly recommend calculus)
–three to four years of history or social science
–three to four years of laboratory science (Engineering strongly recommends chemistry and physics)
–at least two years of a foreign language.</p>
<p>Note: You’re missing the “at least 2 years of foreign language” and “four years of math”</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.hamilton.edu/college/institutional_research/CDS2009_2010.pdf[/url]”>http://www.hamilton.edu/college/institutional_research/CDS2009_2010.pdf</a>
^Hamilton’s common data set</p>
<p>ACT Composite Range: 25th percentile-------------------------75th percentile
----------------------------------28----------------------------------------31</p>
<p>A composite of 26 is below their 25th percentile making this school another reach.<br>
However, it’s more reachable than others on your list.</p>
<p>Note: They recommend 3 years of a foreign language. You have none.</p>
<p>Hi a couple of points…</p>
<p>My daughters’ school does not rank and they send a large proportion of kids to Ivy League and top weighted schools each and every year. I thought it was odd at first but it does work. Every college is going to judge you in ‘context’ of what your school offers. So your school offers 3 AP’s you didn’t take any for personal reasons, so they will say that you didn’t take the most competitive selection. A lack of foreign language may hurt you.</p>
<p>On another note if you don’t want University of Missouri - don’t apply - period! Be realistic, but in the end its a crapshoot for everyone. Best of luck, hope you find a school you love and get accepted at.</p>
<p>How much can your family afford to pay for college? Get that specific info, and choose your colleges accordingly. </p>
<p>For instance, the only public schools that promise to meet full demonstrated need of out of state students are UNC, UVA and perhaps William and Mary. Most public schools can’t even meet the full demonstrated need of in-state students, so if you have financial need, it probably would be a waste of time to apply to OOS public schools.</p>
<p>I would recommend your getting some tutoring in a couple classes as well as for SATs. Try to get your GPA up and wow-type SATs. In the end, do your best and try to showcase any interesting things about you on your stretch apps. You could still get into a top school, but it won’t be easy. If you end up choosing a state college, I would use it as an opportunity to start over and work for those top grades to get into a top graduate or professional prgrm.</p>
<p>nysmile, thanks for finding all that information but I already have a spreadsheet of the information: <a href=“college prospects - Google Sheets”>college prospects - Google Sheets; </p>
<p>Now, you may have missed it but I also took statistics last year so I currently have 3.5 and at the end of this semester I will have 4, and then I will be taking a math next semester, a college course though. </p>
<p>krmom8 - Thank you, I knew schools look at you within the context of your school thats why I tried to be as specific as possible about classes offered, and about Mizzou its just that its, I guess the second best school in Missouri BUT its all about football, football, football, just like my school is kind of an “akademikz furst” kind of thing; Now, don’t get me wrong, our teachers are great but the school has sports first, classroom materials second.</p>
<p>Redbluegoldgreen - I will finish this year (semester) with a 4.0 weighted, probably a 4.0 unweighted. </p>
<p>And if you guys have suggestions for “match” schools, I will entertain suggestions.
Also, just to reiterate I feel that I did much better on the September ACT than I did previously due to studying and practicing
I’m hoping a sliding scale will in my favor</p>
<p>Thanks for everyones input so far keep it coming, more opinions welcome</p>
<p>Also I am assuming trig is weighted because its the second highest math course the school offers (I’m not assuming that trig is weighted, it is)</p>
<p>“can’t take AP Calc, I can’t take AP English and AP Physics doesn’t fit, I really wanted to take AP Calc and AP Physics but it just didn’t work out. I also took Statistics, and I decided to go with harder classes and lower GPA rather than easier classes and a higher GPA; Within the context of my school I feel that I went above and beyond what was even closely expected.”</p>
<p>Highly competitive colleges typically would take students who have left high school early after taking their high school’s most difficult courses. Your not taking AP courses is going to hurt you possibly even for Mizzou.</p>
<p>I know someone who graduated high school early because her father had cancer and as a result, her family was moving out of mainland U.S. to Puerto Rico to be nearer to their family. She had loaded up on AP and IB courses, and took extra courses her junior year to graduate with a sky high gpa and impressive ECs. She got into Mizzou’s journalism school OOS with merit aid.</p>
<p>Your not having any language classes even though your school offers language classes also will hurt you.</p>
<p>You could be a very bright kid who’s so blown away by the lack of fit with your hs. But, to qualify for a “top school,” you need deal with what’s missing in your record. Just like debugging software, to get it right.
My most ardent advice: call Wash U, explain you have an unusual course list, some particular challenges and need advice. See if you can meet in person to discuss how they would view your particulars and what specific advice they have for you. Take their advice.<br>
They may say, “Kiddo, your competition surmounted challenges harder than what you faced, bussed to a better school, took coll courses to make up for subjects missing, had a job, mentored…and got top grades, top scores.” Those kids exist. They apply to “top schools.” You do have an interesting opp to make up for what’s off. Really.</p>
<p>When colleges recommend 4 years of high school math, they are looking for the completion of math through pre-calc. and/or calculus. While statistics is a math course, it’s not pre-calc. and/or calculus. Statistics looks good, but only after the college admission’s office sees that you have completed math through pre-calc. and/or calculus.</p>
<p>You’re selectively ignoring the points that we have brought to light. You have not taken any AP classes. You have not taken any foreign language. You’ve only reached the Trig level of math (have not completed pre-calc. or calculus). No mention of being in the top 10% of your class. You have an ACT composite of 26 which falls below the 25 percentile at most of the schools on your list.</p>
<p>on a side note: trig is never weighted in our area districts. It’s not an honor’s class. It’s not an AP class. It’s simply another regular math class within the typical math sequence. Even if your school weights it, college admission’s offices
will un-weight it. Colleges recalculate the HS GPA. They re-calculate using the major core subjects: English, History, Math, Lab Sciences, and Foreign Language. In other words, if your GPA is dependent on your electives, you need to take this into consideration when making up your college list.</p>
<p>I am not selectively ignoring the points you have brought to light, just that I have nothing to add, I wish I had better reasons but I simply don’t. Look, if you have suggestions about what to do, I will see if I can work something out but at the moment, I am stuck.
My school does not offer pre calculus, just Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Trigonometry. </p>
<p>This link might help you: <a href=“http://www.ozark.k12.mo.us/hs/Documents/MasterSchedule2010-2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ozark.k12.mo.us/hs/Documents/MasterSchedule2010-2011.pdf</a>
Thats the master schedule for the high school, every class, every teacher.</p>
<p>And
[Ozark</a> High School - Curriculum](<a href=“http://www.ozark.k12.mo.us/hs/curriculum.html]Ozark”>http://www.ozark.k12.mo.us/hs/curriculum.html) - Requirements to graduate.</p>
<p>60% of the graduating class last year (~340) are now attending the local junior college, and I bet another 30% went to MSU (Missouri State).</p>
<p>We had one kid go to Harvard two years ago and one kid go to Stanford like five years ago.
Not a great track record for high achieving.</p>
<p>Selective refers to which of our points you choose (select) to respond to. Not how often you post something.</p>
<p>All of us have been trying to give you a sense that your dreams may be dreams unless- and until- you TAKE ACTION. We asked if you are in a position to pay for the schools you like. If you “understand that for you, your transcript and scores will get you admitted or rejected.” Told that Trig is not esteemed as Calc is. Asked you to come up with safetys that are not as lofty as your present list. Suggested you contact a school. And so on. You have repeated that your school does not offer classes x,y,z- or some other reason you missed them. We get it. </p>
<p>We are still here because we do see your brightness and desire. We are waiting for you to say, ok, here’s what I have done to change these problems in my record. Here’s what I can afford/what FA I need. I’m thinking of these safetys. You said several times that you don’t want Mizz. We get it.</p>
<p>Adults deal with bright kids and dunces all the time. We read you kids. We have done our research, counseled our kids and their friends, asked intelligent questions of adcoms and our GCs…and worked closely with our own children to understand their wishes and preferences, their confidence or where they need our advice. Some of us have experience in colleges or in guidance. We’re here because YOU ARE IN A SITUATION where we can offer the benefit of this experience, fill in the blanks that your GC, school admins or parents cannot. </p>
<p>Take it or leave it. I looked at your school. Is it some sort of magnet or “opportunity school?” I note they have no language requirement for graduation. The adcoms will know this. Some will make exceptions, but they will expect to see a very high level of achievement to counteract what’s missing. They will rate YOU in terms of what you did to overcome these limits. Not give you a chance because some roadblock existed. Some kids knock themselves out to achieve despite hurdles. We are waiting to see that you are inspired by our words.</p>
<p>Alright, let me break down your post so I can get everything answered >_<</p>
<p>
Okay.</p>
<p>
Do I need it? Yes. A lot? Yes. I’ve been trying to avoid public and state for these two reasons (and others)(I know a few of the schools on the spreadsheet are public).
I’ve had my parents do the estimated EFC on collegeboard and it was somewhere between -9,000$ IIRC. </p>
<p>
I knew I was weak on safeties, but maybe we have different definitions, schools such as:
University of San Diego: ACT 25/75 - 25-29
UMass Amherst: 23-28
University of Denver: 24-29
With my current ACT score, I fit right into that range, I felt reasonably confident in my ability to get into at least one of these schools, am I wrong?</p>
<p>
An unusual course list, this year or all years?
I can’t meet in person, its a four hour drive, maybe, but unlikely. </p>
<p>
Thanks, I’m glad someone saw my desire, even if it surmounts to nothing in the end.</p>
<p>
Nope, just a regular public HS.</p>
<p>
Well, I didn’t mention this before but I have a huge passion for the Italian language, and just culture in general and I have actively been trying to learn it on my own; I didn’t mention because self-learning doesn’t make up for credits. </p>
<p>
I am inspired but still unsure what to do? Maybe my responses will bring us closer to seeing eye-to-eye. </p>
<h2>I hope I covered everything</h2>
<p>nysmile:</p>
<p>
Well, to be honest, I’m not sure, it wasn’t on the report cards last year like it normally is, also my school does exact, but I’m just mentioning that.</p>
<p>
I know, not much else to add to that.</p>
<p>
I know, the 26 was just my first time “baseline” score. </p>
<p>
Yeah, I just mentioned it because we were discussing class rank and trig, as a weighted course, will help me. This is my only weighted class so I don’t care about a weighted GPA.</p>
<p>[Common</a> Data Set, Fall 2009](<a href=“http://www.sandiego.edu/irp/cds/cds-2009/cdsc.php]Common”>http://www.sandiego.edu/irp/cds/cds-2009/cdsc.php)
^University of San Diego common data set</p>
<p>Despite the fact that you ACT falls within their range, you’re lacking some of the other important criteria. The ACT 25th percentile for this school is 25 and you have a 26. You just made their lowest percentile range.</p>
<ol>
<li> They REQUIRE two years of foreign language (you don’t have it)</li>
<li> 61% have a gpa of 3.75 (on a 4.0 scale) or above. Average GPA is 3.84.</li>
<li> Rigor—you have not taken one AP class.</li>
</ol>
<p>Do you see why this should not be considered a safety school? If anything, it’s a high match to a low reach school. You need to be conservative when setting your reaches, matches, and safeties. Just because you have one part of what the school is looking for, doesn’t mean that it is a match.</p>
<p>I’m glad that you are now realizing that it’s essential to adjust your list by adding TRUE safeties and matches.</p>
<p>Yeah I see what you mean, but I don’t really have any to add to the list, I’ve been avoiding anything with “state” in the name, now that may seem pretentious but there are more reasons behind that then just a word. I’m kind of at a loss at whom to add</p>
<p>-You want to exceed where hs peers go. You don’t have the right guidance, hs has limited “academic” opps. 60% to jc, 30% to “state.” Not even UMO. No one insisted you take 2 years of lang; they let you take filler electives. This is exactly why smart kids often go to cc for a year or two-- fresh start, make up for past mistakes and lost time. </p>
<p>Coll admits? It’s not enough to say, “I would thrive there.” It’s their decision. Top kids’ records- they blew me away. You don’t want to feel unworthy, so don’t go to a coll where you feel like you lucked in, take ego hits 24/7. You need a chance to be a winner, lots of support for smart kids who aren’t 100% prepared in hs, lots of fin aid, challenges, get to know profs, have fun and plenty of chances to succeed. </p>
<p>Start with collegeboard.com’s college search or match maker tools. Play with it. Google creatively. Check immediately to see if the school requires 2 yrs of language. Pick one, CALL them and explain maturely your language sit and see what they will offer as alternative. Some schools allow provisional entry- you start languages 1st semester and must get certain minimum grade.<br>
That’s your homework. Also see
York Coll in PA (ycp.edu) - look at the comp sci. Low cost, great fin aid.<br>
U of Rochester- good rep, look at majors and minors, fin aid tool.</p>
<p>KNOW THIS: if your peers are all going to jc/state, they won’t know the name or rep of your coll, won’t look it up, check its comp sci dept, etc. THEY WILL hear what YOU say about the place, see your pride. You are in control, you create the impression. </p>
<p>Later. You need to research. Then let us know next Q.</p>