Do I have a chance at AU?

Colleges and Universities A-Z American University
1

<p>I am a rising senior and I would be very grateful if you could please let me know what you think my chances are for American University. Would I qualify for merit aid?</p>

<p>Proposed major: double major in political science with some sort of concentration or minor in peace and justice studies or human rights (all depending on the school); and film </p>

<p>Objective:
• SAT I (one try): 2080 (CR: 660 M: 690 W: 730 E: 12)
• ACT: 28 (I will be focusing on SAT for the fall and may or may not retake/send ACT)
• SAT II: US History: 650 Literature: 650
• Unweighted GPA: 4.539
• Rank: N/A
• AP: US History and AP Lang/Comp (pending scores)
• Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Economics, Hon. Precalc AB, Hon. Women’s Studies, Hon. Public Speaking, Hon. Symphony Orchestra (4th year), AP French
• Major Awards: two book awards</p>

<p>Subjective:
• Extracurriculars:

  • Creative Cultural Arts Council (Co-founder and President for two years)
  • Debate team (2 years)
  • Writing Club/Poetry Slam
  • Gay-Straight Alliance (Secretary Freshman, VP Junior, President now)
  • National Honors Society (head of a committee I founded)
  • Editor-in-Chief of the school Literary Magazine
  • World Language Honors Society
  • Student Delegate, went to France</p>

<p>Non-School Related Extra-Curriculars:

  • Political org. board member for 2 gun violence prevention groups, as my town was greatly affected by it recently. I have become very active in gun violence prevention
    -Founder and Chairwoman of a student gun violence prevention group with national outreach
    -Political involvement in general… Working with organizations around the nation, going to and participating in speaking at protests and marches, going to Washington DC to speak to legislators, holding a press conference on gun violence, and connecting with other victims
    -Summer debate camp (probably won’t include)
    (I played Softball and Volleyball in Freshman year) </p>

<p>• Job/Work Experience:

  • Page at local library since I was a sophomore
  • Intern for town literary magazine
  • Plan to intern or volunteer in CT for the 2014 election
    • Volunteer/Community service:
  • Volunteer work with various groups (almost 350 hours)
  • Writing Center tutor at school during free periods
    • Essays: I’m working on my common app essay now
    • Teacher Recommendation: Should be very strong (APUSH teacher and AP Lang teacher)
    • Counselor Rec: Great, I am very close with her
    • Additional Rec: GSA advisor who I had freshman and senior year in class; possibly a non-school oriented rec from someone I work with at Center for American Progress </p>

<p>Other
• State: CT
• School Type: Rural, Medium-sized, public
• Ethnicity: White
• Gender: Female
• Income Bracket: Not sure…</p>

<p>If you have anything else, suggestions-wise, that would be great! Thanks!!!</p>

2

<p>Please look at Ruotsi’s chance thread below yours. Same answer for you and everyone else.</p>

3

<p>The academic data book can only tell you so much. You have a very good chance at admission.</p>

4

<p>Have you really read the Academic Data Book? It can tell you virtually everything–way more than a lot of other colleges and universities publish. And way more than “chances” from a bunch of people whose only real qualification for “chancing” is a broadband connection.</p>

5

<p>I have read the academic data book, and it tells me that her SAT score falls into the middle range for admitted students. However, AU uses GPAs of all scales in their academic data book. My school, for example, uses a GPA scale out of 4 unweighted. Therefore, while my GPA is good on the 4 scale, unweighted, it would appear to be lower than the original poster’s GPA, simply because her GPA is on a different scale. This makes it impossible to accurately compare my GPA to applicants and admitted students. Beyond that, people create these posts so they can have their peers evaluate the things that the academic data book does not cover. Knowing AU’s strong focus on community service, I see that the original poster’s community service is a plus. Since she wants to major in political science, the experience in politics is a plus. In the Princeton Review’s ACT prep book, they break down the factors of admission for liberal arts colleges into three categories: GPA, standardized test scores, and extra-curricular activities. It is the third area that people come here for. That is what I meant when the academic data book can only tell you so much.</p>

6

<p>Thank you all very much. I will definitely look into the Data Book. :)</p>

7

<p>For small and mid size private schools, admission is almost always a combination of the objective and subjective. Large state schools, rely almost entirely on the numbers (gpa and test scores). Common Data Sets can give you a accurate picture of the objective criteria only. Getting feedback on sites like CC can help fill in the blanks like extra curriculars, shown interest and intended major.</p>