Dream School Chances Upward Trend

Colleges and Universities A-Z Villanova University
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<p>I'm a going to be a senior at a prep school in SE PA. I have some extenuating circumstances and my grades suffered until this year. I will address that in my college essay. Do I have a chance? My school doesnt rank. My cousin also goes there, if that should be mentioned. Villanova is very similar to my high school and I know that I will thrive there.</p>

<p>Applying: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences</p>

<p>Freshman: 2.65
Sophomore: 2.66
Junior 3.53 (Current Cum 2.95)
Senior (So far) 3.9</p>

<p>ACT: 30</p>

<p>Recs: Excellent 2 from Villanova alumni, Guidance counselor rec should be good citing extenuating circumstances, also an alum.</p>

<p>Awards: 9th Grade Academic Achievement award in Programming, 10th grade JV hockey all star, JV hockey coaches award</p>

<p>I Went on service trip with Augustinian volunteers to South Africa</p>

<p>Leadership: Head of Programming robotics team, Senior captain of Varsity Ice Hockey team.</p>

<p>ECs: FIRST Robotics, academic competition, March for Life club, varsity ice hockey, Theatre Society, stock market club, intramural soccer and basketball, Club ice hockey, eBay powerseller, jv lacrosse, and 250+ hours of community service.</p>

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<p>Update: 32 on December ACT</p>

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<p>Great test score, but you will have to make a compelling case for your application with your mediocre grades freshman and sophomore years.
You are in competition in admissions with applicants with much stronger grades and you need to find a way to stand out in the application pool. A strong faculty recommendation letter and a letter from a guidance counselor regarding your extenuating circumstances will be a start.
Unfortunately admissions tends to view high test score / poor grade applicants as underachieving high aptitude students. It will be your task to convince them otherwise.
I would so you are unlikely to be accepted considering your competition in the applicant pool.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>High match; what’s your safety?</p>