<p>I am a rising senior and currently have a 3.8 GPA (unweighted) and I will have taken 7 AP courses by the time I graduate in addition to many honors courses. I received a 33 on my ACT and plan on submitting that if I do not raise my SAT score which is currently at a 1910. I am a member of the varsity lacrosse and wrestling teams and am in the top 15 in my class out of 360, but I have only just started volunteering and I have little work experience. I am hoping that other holistic and unique factors may help me in admissions, but based solely upon these statistics, do I have a good chance of being admitted to schools like Columbia and Northwestern?</p>
<p>Maybe? Your GPA is good (but not fantastic). Your ACT score is great; it’s where it needs to be. However, those schools look past scores and grades. WHICH AP courses? There’s a difference between AP Geography and APUSH. There’s a difference between APES and AP Bio. These all contribute to rigor.</p>
<p>Second, these schools will look at activities to differentiate candidates. This is clearly where you fall short. </p>
<p>So, as of now, you don’t have the best shot. What unique factors are you talking about? How can we tell you if you don’t tell us this deciding factor? </p>
<p>So far I have taken APUSH, AP Bio, AP Calculus BC, and AP French, and next year, I will take AP government, AP English, and AP Stats. I possess dual citizenship and actively record, compose, and produce music of all genres and I have began attempting to sell it. I am also writing a novel that I am looking to publish in the near future, and I forgot to mention that I also participate in two extra clubs at our school (service club and a freshman leadership program) and I will be helping a middle school teacher during one of his/her classes during the year.</p>
<p>@noel597 The GPA isn’t great? Only 3.9 and 4.0 are great? What are you even saying?</p>
<p>OP, you are in good standing right now. If you are a URM, your chances to get in will significantly go up.</p>
<p>Your GPA is fine and you need not worry about it. A 33 is right in line with these schools and that should be fine too. Just focus on writing good essays and getting recs and that should give you a solid shot at admission. Bear in mind even a solid shot most likely leads to rejection due to the highly selective nature of these colleges.</p>
<p>@anniebeats yeah well when you’re not competitive activity wise it comes down to perfect GPA and high scores…</p>
<p>@noel597 that is not true. Essays, letters of recommendation, and the fact that OP hasn’t mentioned his ECs still factor in acceptances. He has the stats to gets into these schools but the rest of his transcript does matter. If he does solid on the rest he could get an acceptance. </p>
<p>@ooohcollege The OP literally JUST SAID that his EC’s aren’t so hot…
Why would he mention sports teams? Then later, in a comment, mention small involvement in things colleges won’t take notice of?</p>
<p>There is nothing he has told us that gives me a reason to believe he’s a compelling applicant…</p>
<p>Whatever just apply OP you never know. Stranger things have happened and people should have a couple of reach schools anyway. Brooding over it on CC isn’t going to help.</p>