What is your ACT break down?
@goingnutsmom I don’t have much preference on the type of college I attend, although a research-oriented university sounds like the best for me. I will look into Hendrix and Oberlin now. Tech never interested me and I wasn’t so sure about their financial aid after looking on their scholarships website although I may have missed something.
My school doesn’t calculate core GPA, or at least I think because I have never heard that term used by a counselor in my school. They only give us two numbers, one that is very high (178.5 but that hasn’t been moved since January) and a lower number (3.6025, which was calculated on August 2nd). I believe that is the number that colleges look at, though. My counselors do strange things and are lazy, for the most part.
My ACT breakdown is as follows:
English: 32
Math: 29
Reading: 34
Science: 32
Writing: 10
Combined English/Writing:31
Composite: 32
I am looking to take SAT Subject Tests, but I don’t know a ton about them or if they are necessary. I am planning on taking the ACT again (and to study) in an attempt to get in the 33-36 range.
Thank you again for your help. I truly appreciate it and I don’t think I can thank you enough 
Yeah, school districts report GPA in different ways. It can get confusing.for example, my D’s school reports 3 GPA’s.
I’ll try to explain it as best as I can. Most colleges, especially very selective ones, will reconfigure the GPA. As best as I can tell they throw out a lot of classes (PE, arts electives and others) and base their recalculation on the core classes- English, Math, Science, Social Studies and LOTE. Those classes will determine the core GPA and if ranking is based on the core GPA then that will determine your class rank. That’s why I think your GPA is not very high but your class rank is high.
I would suggest that you ask your counselor to give you an overview of the GPA and ranking system for your school district . Or you may have a Secondary School Information guide to your Texas school district on line or in the school office. I suggest that you familiarize yourself with it.
I do admire kids such as yourself who have to go at this process without the advantage of the resources some kids take for granted.
If you can narrow your school list, it would help organize you. For example, only very selective colleges will require the SAT subject tests. And many of them will accept the ACT with writing in lieu of SAT subject tests. If that is the case with the schools that you are applying to, my suggestion is to focus on studying really hard for the ACT.
If you really want to take the SATII’s, then go to your library and check out a Blue Book for examples of SAT subject tests, take them and see how you do. Usually, you take the subject test right after learning the material in class then test in June. You may find examples of subject tests on line too.
@goingnutsmom If my school calculated core GPA, my GPA would probably be higher. I consistently would earn 3 grade points every grading period from Band since it was never more than a regular class until senior year ( i quit this year for a slew of reasons). My core classes are typically:
English: All A’s except an 89 my freshmen year
Mathematics: A’s, B’s and one C (some issues at the beginning of my junior year)
Social Studies/History: All A’s except one 89 my freshmen year
Sciences: High B’s and one C since I severely struggled in Physics (again, citing issues from my junior year).
All electives and foreign languages are A’s
I will look at practice Subject Tests and see if I should take some. I looked at the Math I Subject Test and found it to be pretty easy so I might do that.
Current colleges that are higher tier that interest me are:
WUSTL (Number one college that has seriously caught my eye)
Stanford
Brown
Of course, those are probably all reaches for me, but WUSTL is the one college I read about that seems like a perfect fit for me!
I will be honest with you. Those C’s are a problem if the are in your transcript for very selective colleges. A very selective college may make an exception for a great candidate on their SAT/ACT scores but not on their grades. The interesting thing is that even with C’s, your rank is still high. That would not have happened at either of my kids schools.
You need to especially work on your ACT math score . It’s dragging your composite score down.
Stanford is a very, very high reach.
If you really like WUSTL then what about it is so attractive to you? Are there similar colleges that are like WUSTL but less selective?
I noticed you mentioned the business school at WUSTL. Are you applying to business programs?
@goingnutsmom Yeah, my school is strange. I usually did well but I had some issues going into junior year. On the ACT, when I got to the Math section, I drifted off pretty severely. I won’t this next time now that I know what’s weighing on it. I like WUSTL for the community it seems to have. Very musical and bright. Also, I spoke with a counselor from and she was very helpful. Everything I have read about to the college seemed pretty nice and reputable.
I don’t know about any college like WUSTL but less selective, but I don’t know about many colleges though. I don’t know if I can afford an LAC, I don’t know what their aid is like.
Also, I am not planning on applying to any business programs, I have other subjects I would prefer over Business (nothing against Business, just personal preferences).
Some ideas:
Rice Univ.- very selective, especially for Tx applicants
Gives good merit and good financial aid
Carnegie Mellon Univ.- very selective but depends on major; the financial aid is iffy but of they want you they give you good aid/merit; has diversity outreach; apply to their diversity weekend if interested
FYI- my S goes there
Trinity University- in Texas; they have a huge endowment; beautiful campus; their Open House is coming up- go to it
I was very impressed with them
Case Western- not as selective as WUSTL but impressive school; their campus is in a great area that has a ton of cultural opportunities (Cleveland Art Museum, Severance Hall are right there)
Food was one of the best we tasted on tour
Vassar- this is an LAC that has the best financial aid out there with a big diversity effort; as a URM male you have a bump here
University of Tulsa- this school seems odd to add in but they are strong academically and give a lot of merit for academic focused kids; they have an unusual major- cyber security that they’ve been given a lot of money to attract kids to them
Go to the colleges CDS and compare your stats. You have to do the homework.
Bring up your ACT
Good luck!
I forgot- Emory Univ. in Georgia. Absolutely beautiful campus. Students seem bright and eager- ready to conquer the world. Their diversity fly in is coming up CORE. There is another way to get to Emory if you’re stats are not as strong- Oxford College. You can apply to both. Read up on it.
BTW, my daughter is going to kill me giving out all the secrets and essentially her almost her list.
Well , not really. She hasn’t applied anywhere yet and is leaning more toward the small LAC’s. But it’s nothing you couldn’t have gotten from the internet.
I sense that you like a pre professional vibe. It fits with your list with the exception of Brown. Brown was my ultimate favorite campus visit. It was prefect. My D hasn’t decided to apply. I’m trying not to let her see that it’s my fav. It’s got to be her choice and fit her.
Sorry about typos- on iPhone…
@goingnutsmom I’ll look into the colleges you mentioned. WashU, Stanford and Brown were all seemingly impossible for me, and that seems to hold true, which is okay! I have a chance for graduate school and I am sure that I will not be broken solely because I didn’t go to one of those schools. Thank you again for your help and advice, it is truly appreciated.
OP, no one is telling you not to apply to your reaches. A kid should always have reaches. Just be realistic and have a solid list.
Research your reaches so that you are able to articulate why you are a fit for their school.
We don’t see all of what you have to offer at CC and thus mainly focus on stats but your essays may show something that we cannot take into account. Also your LOR can speak volumes about your character.
I see that you have Stanford, Brown, WUSTL and then a bunch of Texas public schools.
There are schools in between these.
Stanford and Brown are both highly selective but very different in vibe. Both will give great need based aid.
WUSTL does seem to have a reputation for giving iffy need based aid and tends to draw kids that don’t need much need based aid. They had the lowest Pell grant recipients. But I read that they were making a huge effort to correct this. They do have a lot of merit scholarships though .
BTW, both my husband and I graduated from state public schools, went to graduate state public schools and are doing OK. Especially my H who is in a field that pays very well.
Again, with a great attitude and hard work, you will do very well!
Buena Suerte!
Also, if you really like Brown you could look into Vassar. But it’s very different from WUSTL or Stanford. The advantage for you would be the bump for your demographics- URM male. But it has to fit.
Vassar is in NYS and a 2 hr train ride from NYC. Beautiful campus. They give great financial aid and have one of the highest Pell grant recipients. They are very committed to socio economic and minority diversity.
@goingnutsmom Alright, thank you again for your help! It is greatly appreciated and I will try to do everything you recommended! Enjoy your day!
I was accepted under Conditional Admission. That means that they denied me for fall 2016 but i have a guaranteed spot in 2017. The requirements for me to transfer and have guaranteed admission is for me to take three courses: math, english and science at any four year or two year institution. Once completed, i can transfer to SMU. I plan on taking a science courses at a community college over summer and taking math and english in the fall and transferring in spring instead of waiting a whole year. Did this happen to any one else?
^ Why are you posting on this thread?
because there is no other thread…
You need to start your own thread. Is this for SMU?