College-Bound Student Seeking to Hear Adult's opinions

Parents Forum
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<p>Since many parents of class of 2015 suggested making my own thread which will be easier, I decided to do so.</p>

<p>Hello Parents,</p>

<p>I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice/tips based on your own experience.</p>

<p>I am a Haitian-American female.</p>

<p>I just completed Junior year and moving on to senior year.</p>

<p>I have been taking honors since Freshmen year and AP classes/Dual enrollment since sophomore year,despite financial problems I have. My school is also brand new and in the beginning , not many AP classes are offered and there are more honors than AP. Also they have new policy where once you are in an AP class, you cannot drop out of it.Also, if you want AP to show on transcript, you have to take the AP exam. If you don't take the exam, you won't get the 5 extra points added onto your grade, the AP class will show up as either honors or regular on transcript.For AP tests, everyone who qualifies only get 1 free test and every other test costs 50$ ...which is why I had no choice but to only enroll for 2 AP classes senior year.</p>

<p>Organizations at my school are so expensive.ranging from 30-40$+ each year and that's not including any extra costs such as field trips or misc. And although there are some waivers,they are not that much helpful.</p>

<p>As a sophomore, I got on Dean's list to do Dual-Enrollment in a course that is for Juniors/Seniors only.I am the first and last sophomore to be certified as a Pharmacy Assistant. I did this so if my Computer Engineering route does not go so well, I have a backup.</p>

<p>I want to try and apply to these schools(Listed from desired most to least desired)</p>

<p>University of Georgia
Amherst College
Tuft University
Emory University
Vanderbilt University
MIT
Georgia State University</p>

<p>(Note: MIT,Amherst,Tuft,Emory,Vandebilt,and MIT I am applying through a program called QuestBridge's National College match. They are partners of QB.)</p>

<p>Here is what I have so far:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.660380 (
Class rank: Unknown (Will know in the upcoming school year)
Unweighted GPA may be a 3.5...idk.</p>

<p>9th Grade:</p>

<p>Honors 9th Lit/Comp 98
Honors American Govt 94
Biology 88
Comp Appl I 92
Health 95
Math 1 90
Math 1 Lab 93 (Was recommended for AP but my stupid Freshmen self did not take it.I had no need for support)
Personal Fitness 90
Spanish II 90</p>

<p>10th Grade:</p>

<p>AP World History 91
Honors 10th LIT 93
Math II 86
Honors Physical Science 95</p>

<p>DUAL ENROLLMENT(10th grade)</p>

<p>Anatomy and Physiology 100
Introduction to Computers 95
Medical Terminology 91
Pharmaceutical calculations 84
Pharmacy Technology Fundamentals 87
Principles of Dispensing Medications 87
Spanish III 77</p>

<p>11TH GRADE(Final grades)
Aerobics 92
AP Language 94
AP Psychology 91
AP US History 91
Computer Appl II 92
Honors Chemistry 86
Math III 85
Team Sports 95</p>

<p>Organizations I am in:</p>

<p>Future Business Leaders of America
National Honor Society
Gardens to Grounds
Student Government Association(Vice President Communications)
Prom planning Committee
Special Olympics Volunteer
National Society of High School Scholars
Church Volunteer</p>

<p>Achievements:
-Vice president communications for my rising senior class.
-President in Professional Development for FBLA
-Service Project Coordinator for National Honor Society
-Annual volunteer for Special Olympic event hosted at school
- Won 1st place in regions competition for Job Interview for FBLA.
- Won 2nd place in state competition for Job Interview for FBLA and qualified for Nationals. I have been told that I am the first person in my brand new school and first person in my county to qualify for Nationals.
- Won 3rd place in Desktop publishing in regions competition for FBLA.
- Won Young Georgia's Author Award
- Won Superintendent Scholar award
- Won College Prep Scholarship</p>

<p>SAT: 1450 (560 CR, 450 M, 440 W)</p>

<p>Just took ACT and got a 23 Composite :( (26 E, 19 M , 26 R, 21 S) .I noticed that some of the things covered on the ACT I never were taught. For example, I saw SOHCAHTOA but I felt ashamed that I only knew what the definitions of those were and nothing more...I was mostly taught on things that stuck to those "standards" GA has and rarely see covered on important tests.</p>

<p>:/</p>

<p>I have also been working on college essay prompts for the colleges I am applying too and I already have half of my application materials completed and undergoing final editing/proofreading.</p>

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<p>Why in the world would you put “least desired” schools on your list?</p>

<p>OK, moving along…</p>

<p>You intimated that finances are a concern, therefore having Georgia public colleges on your list is a smart move, considering the availability of HOPE funds.</p>

<p>To provide the best advice to you, you should let us know what majors do you intend to enter. Of course, students frequently change their minds after arriving on campus. Also, it would be wise at this time to identify which aspects of a particular college interest you. Except for UGA and Amherst, all the schools on your list are urban (although Emory might be described as suburban). </p>

<p>Hope your personal essay is shorter than your post. Well, not shorter really, just less factoids would be the goal.</p>

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<p>Perhaps I have worded it incorrectly. Schools that I don’t mind going to if all else fails and is the only one that accepts me. </p>

<p>I do plan to do Computer Software Engineering. I am also thinking of Business and maybe Pharmacy.</p>

<p>I do like Urban schools and a don’t mind a few surburban(like Emory) </p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>These could be an issue.</p>

<p>I would add some test optional schools to your list. I think it is very top heavy…even for a QB applicant.</p>

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<p>Yeah…I switched to ACT.Got a composite of 23.</p>

<p>Also…stupid question, but how do you quote someone in replies? I tried to do that a few times but failed.</p>

<p>:-S </p>

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<p>given you math strength (based on test scores), I would guess that any sort of engineering will be too difficult. I would suggest you consider alternative majors – and drop MIT & Vandy from your list. They are just not worth the app fee. I’d recommend dropping Amherst as well. Even if you were able to get in, academics would be a real struggle.</p>

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<p>I can get waivers and through applying through QB, app fee can be low or even free.</p>

<p>That is the thing @bluebayou why go the easy route in life? I know my weakness and I intend to expose it and work on it. I am not challenging myself or even growing if I do not acknowledge my weakness and work on it. Also technology is what I love and been using/doing since I was 2. Yeah Academics will be a real struggle but I’ll come out stronger and wiser in the end. Life’s a struggle in itself?Should I drop life? No.</p>

<p>It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I do have some back up majors . However, I am more than what those test scores show.In fact, there are many things I saw on the SAT/ACT I never was exposed to/covered upon. Heck, I actually was supposed to be in advanced mathematics due to math teacher finding it ridiculous of me being in regular but due to some scheduling issues and whatnot,I have been stuck with regular. </p>

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<p>A 23 ACT is as problematic as a 1400 SAT.</p>

<p>Look at some test optional schools.</p>

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<p>And I am thinking of doing changes on college list but i’ll see…also …with friends that I know that have similar income situations like me and applied to 43-53 schools and paid less than 100$ , I know im not too worried about app fes with the opportunities and help I can get.</p>

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<p>I am going to try and raise my ACT score this fall.</p>

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<p>@sammyxB - what I know about the Questbridge program could fit on the tip of a pencil but there is a Questbridge forum on CC that might be helpful to you - in particular this thread on last years applicants <a href=“***Official 2014 Questbridge College Prep Scholarship Results*** - Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/1642828-official-2014-questbridge-college-prep-scholarship-results-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You mentioned over in the parent’s forum that your sister attends college - what college is that - the legacy factor might be a helpful tip for you. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Georgia State University. She just graduated.</p>

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<p>@need2learn Haha yes I have that thread bookmarked because I posted my results(which was accepted) on that thread. :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>I’m not sure if I’m an “adult” yet (recent college graduate) but I’ll answer anyway.</p>

<p>Is your low math test score from being not taught what you need to know you think, or are you just naturally not very good at math? If it’s the former, well, that can be fixed. If it’s the latter, then you probably shouldn’t do engineering. </p>

<p>It’s summer now so presumably you have a little time. I’d recommend brushing up on your math. If you’re planning on Engineering your other scores don’t really matter, but I’d recommend studying some of the English too. English and Math are the easiest scores to raise by studying, it’s pretty hard to just study your way through raising your Science or Reading scores, and your Reading score is pretty decent actually so I’d say you don’t really need to worry about it.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Making your life difficult for the “challenge” is a very bad idea. I don’t know how much you really do worry about money now, but if you don’t now you will in the future. If you’re making it hard for yourself to make money because you think you want a challenge you’re gonna be miserable. </p>

<p>Computer Engineering is probably a good choice, and not really the challenge route (once you graduate you’re mostly set), but just as a general philosophy, going for the challenge is a bad idea. Exploit your strength, work around your weakness. </p>

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<p>@sammyxB - my son and I attended an engineering festival this spring in DC - there we met Mrs. Jackie from Georgia Tech - she’s the Engineering department’s outreach coordinator for K-12 - an extremely warm and helpful woman <a href=“http://coe.gatech.edu/content/our-team”>http://coe.gatech.edu/content/our-team&lt;/a&gt; (she’s the second one from the top) if anyone can give you helpful advice on getting into Georgia colleges, I’m betting it’s her! Why not drop her an email - nothing ventured/ nothing gained.</p>

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<p>Do you understand how to look at admission stats? Look at this site: <a href=“Admissions statistics | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/stats&lt;/a&gt;
MIT’s 25th % math score is 750. Their 75% math score is an 800. They accepted 1 student with a score less than 600. They accepted 2 students with scores 600-640. They accepted 0 students with ACT mathscores less than 25 and only a total of 17 students with math scores 30 or less. Their math 25th-75th range is 34-36. The accepted 0 students with ACT composite scores 25 and lower. </p>

<p>I do not know anything about the other schools, but I would recommend looking at the admission stats for each school.</p>

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<p>From what I see you’ve been mostly a B student in regular math. Engineering is going to be a challenge. MIT certainly doesn’t belong on your list. You would be trying to compete with kids who have been programming computers since they were in elementary school. I’m not discouraging you from reaching high, but you really don’t want to get in over your head. Even well prepared kids feel like they are drinking from a firehose at MIT. </p>

<p>Look for schools that practice holistic admissions and will be interested in you as a person and not just your stats. Unfortunately most colleges aren’t as transparent as MIT about what the lowest score they will accept is. For example at Tufts, 25% of the student body (including my son) have a 690 or less in math, but does anyone have a 450 or the equivalent score on the ACT? They don’t tell us. We do know that 99% of men and 100% of women last year were ranked in the top 20% of their high school class. <a href=“Fact Book - Office of Institutional Research”>http://provost.tufts.edu/institutionalresearch/fact-book/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>

</p>

<p>There is “raising” and there is RAISING.</p>

<p>The issue is not your drive, but the competition levels at tippy top schools. Even if you were accepted – the odds of which are less than being hit by lightning – your chances of being able to graduate in four years with even a C average are not very good. (And that is why your chances of admissions are so low; any adcom would be scared that you would not be able to compete with the hundreds in their class for which math came really easy.)</p>

<p>Engineering is typically the most rigorous major at every college. (only architecture can be worse.) It serves the applicant and the school no good to admit someone who is at risk before they set foot on campus.)</p>

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<p>You may not like this, but here is some information you need to take to heart.</p>

<p>Below is your list of schools. Next to it is the ACT & SAT score of the accepted student at the 25% percentile. (This means they are the break over point into the bottom 25% of students.)</p>

<p>University of Georgia: 25 / 1680
Amherst College: 30 / 1990
Tuft(s) University: 30 / 2040
Emory University: 30 / 1960
Vanderbilt University: 31 / 2050
MIT: 32 / 2090
Georgia State University: 21 / 1500</p>

<p>Your ACT=23
Your SAT=1450</p>

<p>Practically speaking, even factoring in that you may benefit from racial preferences at some institutions, this is what your odds look like:</p>

<p>1) You have a reasonable chance to be admitted into Georgia State University.<br>
2) A slim chance to be admitted into the University of Georgia.
3) Almost no chance to be admitted at any of other the schools on your list.</p>

<p>Many of the places you listed are among the nation’s most elite. </p>

<p>Vanderbilt received about 24,000 applications last year. They accepted about 4,000 and rejected 20,000. While they do not publish this data, I have a friend who works in admissions and she tells me that the vast majority of those rejected students had ACT scores of 30 and higher.</p>

<p>You seem to be a very nice young lady with very big dreams, and I don’t say any of this to crush your spirit. You would be well served to be more realistic, and do not set yourself up to fail. Study as hard as you can to improve your scores, and choose a school that you can not only get into, but do well while you are there. </p>

<p>Best wishes.</p>

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<p>There are acceptance threads from the past several years over on the AA forum that you can peruse. I encourage you to dig deep into those threads and see if you find any acceptances to Vanderbilt/MIT/Emory/Amherst/Tufts type colleges with stats as low as yours… Posters are giving you some very good data here, but I have a feeling you want to cling to being that one in a million. Perhaps seeing actual real life AA results will have a bigger impact.</p>