College Match and Safeties

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So for the Questbridge College Match I ranked:
1. University of Pennsylvania
2. Columbia University
3. Yale University
4. Princeton
5. Stanford
6. Vanderbilt
7. Brown</p>

<p>My safeties as of now are: FIU, UF. I would like some advice for which schools should be safeties!!!</p>

<p>Honestly as of now my top choice is Penn, I was invited for their Fly-In Program known as PEEP and it was Amazing. All are extreme reaches but I think I have a solid chance.</p>

<p>Academic GPA: 3.985 (unweighted) / 6.785 (Weighted)
Class rank: Top 1% in Senior Class specifically #7 out of 981
Recommendations:
IB English Teacher - Great, one of the nicest ladies I've ever met, such a joy to be in her class and I can tell I'm one of her favorite students.
AP Human Geo/Euro Teacher and Class Sponsor - Amazing, I'm a class officer so we've grown close, wrote about being like a second son, amazing individual, etc.
Counselor - Great, I'm one of the few students she actually knows so that's a big plus, I like her a lot, she helped me with some dual enrollment issues in the past and academics (forgot to input an AP course into my GPA).
Standardized test scores: 33 - ACT Oct 25 (previous 30 - June)
Bad Subject Tests: 640 Lit, 640 Math II, 700 US History
Essays: Amazing (according to IB English Teacher and CAP Advisor) talked about working at Mcdonalds and it being an environment I feel content in.</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities--
Crew Trainer - Mcdonald's, work <30 hours a week since beginning of junior year, help out my family, help train new hires, understand all procedures in Mcdonalds, etc. Working a part time job and taking my rigorous classes is extremely tiring.</p>

<p>President - French Honor Society
Treasurer - Senior Board (Class of 2015) - responsible for the planning and implementation of senior activities in school
Vice President - DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) 1st place district winner Principles of marketing, State competitor
Secretary - SHAPE (students helping achieve philanthropic excellence) community service club, colombian school supply drive, liga contra cancer, honduras school supply drive, etc
Treasurer - Environmental Club (FEC), recycling program throughout the school, green activities
IB Advisory Board
Mu Alpha Theta
English Honor Society
National Honor Society
Phi Beta Chi</p>

<p>Geographical residence-- Southeast
State residency-- Florida
Religious affiliation/commitment-- Catholic
Minority status - Hispanic
Volunteer work: Rick Scott Campaign for Reelection, I'm a democrat but I needed community service hours, SHAPE, FEC, Blood Drive, etc.</p>

<p>First generation college student: Yes
Income: <40,000</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule:
IB Contemporary History
IB Chemistry
IB TOK (Theory of Knowledge)
IB Film Studies
IB English
IB French
AP European History
AP Calculus AB</p>

<p>During Summer:
AP Macroeconomics
Dual Enrollment American Federal Government
Dual Enrollment English Composition</p>

<p>Would like to study Economics, Pre-Law, or Political Science.</p>

2

<p>ECs are very strong.
Courseload, GPA, and rank is impressive.
Test scores are subpar, but shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows</p>

<p>I think that you are a very strong candidate for a lot of schools:</p>

<ol>
<li>University of Pennsylvania - High match - low reach</li>
<li>Columbia University - Low - Mid Reach</li>
<li>Yale University - Mid-High Reach</li>
<li>Princeton - Mid- High Reach</li>
<li>Stanford - High Reach</li>
<li>Vanderbilt - Match</li>
<li>Brown - High Match - Low Reach</li>
</ol>

<p>And of course your safeties are safeties. Best of luck!!! ;)</p>

3

<p>

If you are asking which of the schools listed are safeties, then the answer is only UF and FIU.</p>

<p>If you are asking for suggestions for other safeties, then I would recommend University of Alabama where you would be guaranteed a full tuition scholarship: <a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.html”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Yes, I wanted advice on which safety schools I should apply to. My cap advisor actually suggested University of Alabama but it doesn’t seem like much of an academic powerhouse and it’s not diverse at all; 83% white, 2% hispanic, It would just be a jarring adjustment.</p>

5

<p>Yes, 'Bama is not an academic powerhouse. But your safety will not be a powerhouse. It never is. That is what safeties are about. Academically 'Bama is very good, just not great. UF is better.</p>

<p>I understand about diversity, though. So that is a good reason to choose a different safety.</p>

<p>Many of the Texas colleges have high percentages of Hispanic students. I can recommend the University of Dallas. They are 15% Hispanic, and it also is a Catholic school. Strong academically, but a safety for you.</p>

<p>I assume that you have already looked into University of Miami. High percentage of Hispanics (20% or higher) there. Not a true safety, but I feel confident that you would get in.</p>

6

<p>Yea I looked into UM and honestly there admissions is pretty predictable however there financial aid is lackluster and they have only a few full scholarships. I don’t think safeties have to be terrible. I’m thinking of Boston University (BU) since there admissions rate is pretty high especially for IB students and their finaid is better.</p>

7

<p>Bump</p>

8

<p>What does “bump” mean?</p>

9

<p>Actually, I was thinking that BU would be a good safety for you. Not sure about their financial aid, but it is a very good school and you definitely would get admitted.</p>

10

<p>Thanks NROTC and Tooty!!! </p>

<p>Bump</p>

11

<ol>
<li>University of Pennsylvania - Accepted/Waitlisted</li>
<li>Columbia University - Accepted</li>
<li>Yale University - Accepted/Waitlisted</li>
<li>Princeton - Waitlisted (the testing/stats might deter you)</li>
<li>Stanford - Waitlisted</li>
<li>Vanderbilt - Accepted</li>
<li>Brown - Accepted</li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck with your apps! ^_^</p>

12

<p>Thanks skslxxbjk, I’m hoping those tests (esp. subject tests) don’t destroy my chances!</p>

<p>Bump!</p>

13

<p>UPDATE: MATCHED PENN WHARTON</p>

14

<p>Congratulations ermar!</p>

15

<p>Congratulations Ermar101! Hopefully I can see you at Penn next fall!</p>