Do I have a shot? (Need brutal Honesty).

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey all, just wanted some input about my chances at a few colleges. I've been reading the forums for over a year and have made one Chances post in the past, a few months ago, and only got one reply. Hopefully i'll get more this time, as I would really love some input.</p>

<p>Some background information on me: I am a black male from suburban Virginia. I would be a first-generation college student.</p>

<p>GRADES: My average GPA is around a 3.3 unweighted, with a dramatic upward trend. In my freshman year, I had all A's and B's and... one F. I don't want to seem as if i'm making excuses for the F as i've come to terms with it, but my guidance counselor has written my recommendation and in it, he explains the reason why I got the F is I was placed in a class that I was not prepared for. He basically points the blame at my middle-school guidance counselor for misplacing me. The F was in math and since then, I have had an A and a B+ in math, so it's not as if i'm just bad at math and fail my math classes. He also explains this in my recommendation and has a quote from my junior year math teacher that makes me seem like a good, hard-working student. Anyways, so my freshman GPA was around a 2.8ish. Since then, i've had pretty much all A's and B+'s. I guess what i'm wondering is just how badly that F in freshman year will hurt me.</p>

<p>SATs: 2060 New (710 Critical Reading / 690 Math / 660 Writing), 1310 Old (660 math / 650 verbal) The college I am looking at does not consider the new writing portion of the SAT so that could work in my favor.</p>

<p>EC's: Pretty average, nothing spectacular. A few clubs and lots of volunteer work. Treasurer of Model U.N.</p>

<p>Awards: National Achievement Semi-Finalist and uhh.. I think that's it.</p>

<p>I am applying ED to my dream school, William and Mary. I've loved the school since I began my college research process and after visiting, I think it would be a great fit.</p>

<p>If I don't get in to William and Mary, I will be applying to UVA, Virginia Tech, Boston College, and Penn State.</p>

<p>So, do I have a shot at William and Mary? Is it even realistic? Are my other colleges realistic? I am open to all input.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Wm and Mary is not far from home.......I guess the factor is how many students just like you are applying. I think you have a great chance.</p>

3

<p>The problem is the 3.3. Neither William and Mary nor UVA will be able to overlook that GPA. They both have a slew of overqualified applicants that they have no space for. My guess is that you won't even be offered waitlist status with your GPA. But try another school and plan to transfer. With Tech, I predict that you will be waitlisted, but not accepted because of your GPA. Tech's GPA rose this year and is expected to be 3.81. I just don't see it happening. Some other VA choices would be Christopher Newport, VA Commonwealth, Radford, Longwood, ODU, and GMU.</p>

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<p>Sorry, that sounded harsh! Here's the bottom line.............nothing ventured, nothing gained. My SAT's sucked and I was admitted to William and Mary. After I got my acceptance package, I was hesitant to answer the phone because I thought they might be calling to say they had made a mistake!!! Just kidding. But I am an instate male. I did have over a 4.0 GPA, good EC's, AP's, and a 31 on my ACT. SAT's 1290!!!!!!!!!!! I was right up at the top of my class of approx 450 students. Some of this is really random. Good luck!</p>

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<p>SAT I scores (25/75 percentile):
Verbal: 630 – 730
Math: 620 – 710</p>

<hr>

<p>What is the relative importance of specific academic factors in admission decisions?
Secondary school record: Very important
Class rank: Important
Recommendation(s): Considered
Standardized test scores: Important
Essay: Important </p>

<hr>

<p>Selectivity: Most Selective
Overall acceptance rate: 35%
Early-decision acceptance rate: 51%
Early-action acceptance rate: N/A
Acceptance rate (excluding early-action and early-decision students): 34%</p>

<hr>

<p>Total enrollment by ethnic diversity
African-American 6%
Asian-American 7%
Hispanic 4%
Native American 1%
White 81%
International 2%
Total enrollment by ethnic diversity</p>

<p>Economic Diversity
Percent of undergraduate students receiving Pell grants: 8%</p>

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<p>Beat......what application are you making? What does your school counselor recommend? How many others from your class are applying to Wm?</p>

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<p>My school counselor recommends I go for it and apply early, it can't hurt, so I'm applying early. If I don't get in, I'll apply elsewhere. I'd guess about 20ish other students from my class (of 750ish) are applying. Typically, our school sends 8-10 students to William and Mary and TONS (50+ each) to UVA, Tech, and a lot (25+ each) to CNU and George Mason.</p>

<p>Pedsox: Thank you for your input and no worries about sounding harsh, I asked for it heh.</p>

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<p>How many are black, in your score range and GPA range? Does your school rank? You can get a better feel for you chances by looking closely at your peers which apparently your counselor has done. If you don't get accepted early do they roll you to regular? I did notice that last year they ran a huge waitlist.......did they take anyone? Ask your counselor to find out. I'd say that is really the worst that could befall you.....waitlist. You would feel compelled to hold out hope and yet they may not take anyone......it could be a consolation prize.</p>

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<p>There are some black people within my GPA range at my school, but not many (any?) in my SAT range. This year, I was the only National Achievement Semi-Finalist at my school out of a class of 750ish and last year there were none at all. I think this may be why my counselor has encouraged me to go for it.</p>

<p>Edited: Not sure exactly who is applying to William and Mary, will have to discuss it with my counselor I guess.</p>

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<p>I think you are good to go........good luck!! Be positive and I don't know if your counselor will tell you........just as she should't tell others where you are applying. Trust your instincts and your improved record.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement hazmat! What Pedsox said has me kinda nervous though... Anyone else have any input?</p>

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<p>In the spirit of "randomness", you MUST apply to William and Mary since it's your dream school. I would contact the admissions office, tell them your concerns, convey your sincere interest in attending if offered, try to go for an overnight visit. Your statements in the 7th paragraph say it all. This is what you HAVE to convey to the adcoms. I'm going to tell you that William and Mary KNEW without a doubt, that they were my first choice for college. I visited, attended different programs, had a student interview, had an alumni recommendation, was in contact with admissions even before my senior year to ask about taking AP Spanish. My weak spot, in my opinion was my SAT's, but I believe they were able to work with that part of my app because the rest was above average. The F can be explained away, and shoud be by your counselor. Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you have a few too many B's, dude. First generation college student, black male, not from Northern VA...........................you have to at least try but understand that you are fighting the odds. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>I would forget about UVA. I know a number of kids who got admitted there and NONE of them had under a 3.6 GPA ( unweighted). Your SATs are ok for there but not your GPA. Sorry.</p>

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<p>Ok, we are talking a freshman grade. Many schools do not put a lot of consideration on freshman year. You have a great chance with such an upward trend. If the school can't look beyond a freshman grade they may not be where you want to go. Go for it and interview. Explain the situation. Get a rec from a math teacher as well to help, and good luck!!</p>

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<p>Arizonamom..................he still needs to face the reality of the situation. William and Mary and UVA can pick the "cream of the crop". There would have to be a very good reason for them to pick a student with a 3.3 GPA. They turn down many a qualified student for lack of space. He has a very slim chance of gaining admission to either of these schools, but should apply because of sheer "randomness". One F does not make a 3.3. His class ranking must be in the top 5 to 10% of his graduating class as well. He's facing distressing odds and needs to be fully aware of this so that he can pay close attention to his safety schools and focus on possibly transferring. He is absolutely set up to achieve all his goals, one step at a time. He'll be a student at W&M or UVA, no doubt..............just maybe not as a freshman.</p>

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<p>Go for it, Beat. Complete your app and essays, send it in, say a prayer - and get ready for plan b if it doesn't work out.</p>

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<p>Thanks all for the advice. Gonna go for it early and hope for the best, even if my chances aren't that great. Does my list of other colleges look decent? If I don't get in to William and Mary, can I expect to get into atleast one of my other schools? Or am I looking at possibly facing all rejections if I don't revise my list?</p>

<p>Oh and, if it will help at all, I took the October 8th SAT and feel pretty confident about it. Those scores will make it in to William and Mary just in time for early decision, and i'm hoping to reach the 2150 - 2250 range this go round.</p>

<p>Edit: Oh and just for clerification, I am from the Northern Virginia suburbs. I know it will hurt me in the admissions process, but eh...</p>