<p>Your GPA isn’t bad. It’s just lacking for the colleges that you want to go to. There are a lot of colleges out there so don’t be so caught up in choosing only these schools.</p>
<p>and TBH, I’ve heard this question a bunch of times from my friends: What extracurriculars should I do that will be good for top colleges?</p>
<p>None. Do what you want to do and what you think you have a strong passion for. Don’t do some random extracurricular that your not even into just to impress colleges.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>I should definitely work on raising my SAT scores, and perhaps take more subject tests.</p>
<p>I would say you have a very good chance at the schools on your list. You GPA is the only thing holding you back. </p>
<p>Good luck with the application!!!</p>
<p>One thing. People to people, lead America, congressional youth leaders are all like vacation packages for Rick kids. Seriously, I’ve gotten so much mail from them. I went to people to people in 9th grade. It was fun and all but it has no academic merit whatsoever.</p>
<p>I will also add that I placed 2nd in my school for the German exam. No, it is not the school German final exam. It is a national exam, but I had the second highest score in the school.</p>
<p>Also, my high school is not particularly competitive. I don’t want to be rude, but druggies infest my school. I would stay after school for my clubs, and see outside, students from my school just sitting around, smoking and drinking on skateboards. I would leave after 3 hours, and they are still there. Roughly 40% of the students will be attending community colleges.</p>
<p>There are smart people in my school, of course, who will attend top-tier schools.</p>
<p>But I think it is safe to say the majority of the people in my overly-large, nearly-broke high school don’t care.</p>
<p>And very few people I know will be applying to top-tier schools, even though their GPAs are higher than mine.</p>
<p>And no, I am not a URM.</p>
<p>I’d say NYU is a possibility, but Georgetown will be very, very hard.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>How did you figure that out?</p>
<p>I have studied and taken 3 practice tests since, and my highest was a 2200.</p>
<p>I still need to improve by about 200 points, if I want a 2400.</p>
<p>Ok well just keep practicing, because just because you get a certain grade on a practice test doesn’t mean that you will get that grade in real life. But I wish you good luck, and hope you can in fact meet your goal. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>How much do speaking foreign languages matter to colleges? Does it help?</p>
<p>My GPA really bothers me. I regret not studying much in my junior year. Oh well. I have improved only very recently, though. I hope the final exams will save my grades.</p>
<p>Is there still a chance with a GPA like mine, though? Considering my extracurricular activities and my projected SAT score? (note that I have taken 3 practice tests since and my highest score was a 2200) And what if I study in my senior year and get straight A’s in the first semester?</p>
<p>I will chance back!</p>
<p>I think you have a great chance at NYU (if you can afford the high price tag). And despite your GPA, I think your EC’s will help you with a school like Georgetown. Still a reach though. Check out American University as well. Also, where are you from?</p>
<p>@james24 Thanks for the American University suggestion! Judging from my EC’s, I am interested in political and social sciences, so American University may be a good match/low-reach for me.</p>
<p>I was hoping to increase my chances NYU, since they place an emphasis on the arts, with my “Carnegie Hall” and Scholastic award, but I’m not sure if that is enough for my artistic extracurricular activities.</p>
<ol>
<li>Research project published in scholarly journal
People to People Leadership Conference</li>
<li>Piano at Carnegie Hall
Accepted to Drexel’s Summer Economics Institute</li>
<li>Scholastic Writing Award Gold Key Winner (I assume this is prestigious)
First place debate winner</li>
<li>Ranked best debate speaker</li>
<li>Helped campaign in midterm elections last year (Make sure to write a detailed description to make this look better)</li>
</ol>
<p>Those are just my opinions though…
Anyways if you get your SAT to a 2050, lets say (1850 to 2300 is quite a reach) then Id say that BU, Drexel, American, and Penn State are safeties. Northeastern is a low match NYU is a bit of a reach and Duke, Georgetown, and Tufts are all high reaches… Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for all your advice! I will update my chance thread in October/November.</p>
<p>Please check back and offer your opinions!</p>
<p>But if you still have suggestions now, feel free to post. Thanks!</p>
<p>right now NYU is a bit of a reach, but if you really do get a 2300+ SAT score than id say your in. Georgetown, however, will still be a reach because of your gpa. And dang!!! nice ECs!!! i wish i had those</p>
<p>@mexijo1
Thanks!</p>