Dreaming to be a Double Eagle! Chance for RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston College
1

<p>Hi CC, for the past year or so, BC has been my true top school. I may have been indecisive lately, but my trip to Boston last weekend reassured me that BC is my dream. Even though I would love to go here, I am FREAKING out about admissions. I know I am a weak candidate to start out with, I just hope that it’s not OUT of reach. Please give me any criticism or reassurance, thanks :slight_smile: Even if I don’t gain admittance this year, would these stats make me unable to transfer later? Retake SAT/ACT if I don’t get accepted?</p>

<p>GPA:
-Unweighted: 3.37 out of 4.0 60/315 Top 25% (Rank is approx., isn’t updated yet)
-Weighted: 3.88 61/315 Top 20% (Rank also approx.)</p>

<p>Course Load:</p>

<p>Freshmen Year:
-All Honors Classes All A’s & B’s, 1 C (Geometry)</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
-All Honors, 1 AP. All A’s & B’s with 1 C (Alg 2)
**
Junior Year: (AKA My Bad Year)**
-Intro to Programming A
-German I A
-AP Euro B
-AP US B
-German II A
-Pre-Calc C
-Chem B
-English 11 C</p>

<p>Senior Year:
-First Semester = Not too Hard, Straight A’s.
-Second Semester = 4 AP Classes, expecting 2 or 3 A’s, one B, and maybe one more B or a C</p>

<p>Tests:
-SAT: 1820 Composite, 610 M, 600 CR, 610 W 8 Essay
-SAT II: 580 USH, 570 Lit
-ACT: 28 Composite, 26 M, 26 W, 30 Sci, 29 Reading 8 Essay</p>

<p>EC:
-Boy Scouts (7 Years)
-Marching Band (9-12)
-Indoor Drumline (10-11)
-Concert Band (Oboe, 9-12)
-Digital Arts Club (11-12 Vice President)
-Venture Scouts (3 Years)
-Summer Job (2 Years)</p>

<p>Community Service:
-400+ Hours total with Boy Scouts
-100 or so on Eagle Project alone</p>

<p>Awards:
-Eagle Scout (hence the Double Eagle)</p>

<p>No Hooks (White Male), and around 150k Bracket.</p>

2

<p>Look at the BC factbook, at </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bc.edu/publications/factbook/meta-elements/pdf/10-11/10-11_fact_book.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bc.edu/publications/factbook/meta-elements/pdf/10-11/10-11_fact_book.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Around page 31, you will see the middle 50% range of SAT scores for admitted freshman.
Your composite SAT score of 1820 is deep in the bottom 25% quartile. Your GPA shows a similar need for improvement.</p>

3

<p>Yes, I have read it quite thoroughly. I realize that I am a very weak candidate, hence why it is my Reach, and top school. In your opinion though, is it OUT of reach? There is little I can do about my GPA now or my SAT/ACT scores unless I were to transfer if I get rejected this year.</p>

4

<p>Those are solid scores, just not really BC competitive scores.</p>

5

<p>BC has a little talked about summer transitional program called Options Through Education. This program is EXCEPTIONAL! OTE takes a holistic approach to admissions. They are looking for students that have shown the ability to do well in the most adverse situations. These students are stand outs in their schools and communities. You can not apply for this program. Applications are pulled from the RD applications. Only 50-75 students gain entry to the program. If you get picked and are willing to forgo your summer vacation in exchange for college credits, full tuition, and waving of application fees, this is a fantastic program for you. In the fall these students are one up on their peers because they know the lay of the land and have developed close relationship and friends before the school year has even gotten started. I wish you luck, and am sure your future is bright regardless of what college you attend. I really don’t know why students with your grades are discouraged from applying to certain schools, because BC and few others really mean what they say, when they say we take a holistic approach. Check out the program with this link. </p>

<p>[ote</a> faq](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/offices/ahana/programs/ote/otefaq.html]ote”>http://www.bc.edu/offices/ahana/programs/ote/otefaq.html)</p>

<p>Proud Mom of a OTE student</p>

6

<p>Did you go to BC High? I’m a double eagle as well.</p>

7

<p>No, when I said double eagle, I meant Eagle Scout :stuck_out_tongue: I live out of state.</p>

<p>I knew the question would arise though, my family member went to BC High, but not me.</p>

<p>and thank you very much legitamate, that sounds awesome! I wish I had done better in HS regardless though haha. And yeah, I felt like I have a better chance of getting in than not applying at all</p>

8

<p>The post above about the OTE is spot on. It’s a great program. But Schiffer4, as a white male, is not going to be invited to the program. OTE is a program through the office of AHANA that promotes diversity.</p>

9

<p>griffen, I see what you mean :frowning: but, you would think there is something wrong with disallowing white kids to even be considered. Lowering the chances, maybe, but to eliminate them?</p>

<p>And also, my real question is this I guess. Do you all think that there is maybe a shot in the dark that I’ll be accepted, like, does it happen much? From what I’ve seen, I’d say that a student like me would be a rare sight at Chestnut Hill. Also, if (when) I am rejected, would retaking the SAT/ACT be viable for transferring next year?</p>

10

<p>Have you considered Holy Cross, Santa Clara, or Fordham?</p>

11

<p>No, Schmaltz, not really. I have had my heart set to go to school in Boston for years :stuck_out_tongue: I didn’t consider much else beside 2 schools in-state and 2 within an hour or two from Boston.</p>

12

<p>lol why’d you take the SATII?</p>

13

<p>Aren’t they required?</p>

14

<p>Schiffer4</p>

<p>I must interject at the premise that Boston College would exclude any student from being in any program because of their race. There are white students in OTE in my daughters class 2014, and other classes that I have personally met in orientation, and other events at Boston College. Nobody is a shoe in (because they only except 50-75), but they do not look at the race of the student, but if a student is able to succeed through adverse conditions. No there is not a aboudance of white students, because of course there would be more minorities students with adverse conditions. I would hope in this day in time that no school would allow programs that excluded students because of their race. Good luck to you!</p>

15

<p>Legitamate, thanks for the info! I kind of figured as much. I guess we will see when the time comes :P</p>

<p>Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk</p>

16

<p>I feel like this thread is leading the OP (Schiffer4) on with false hopes.</p>

<p>Schiffer4:
With the grades and scores you posted, BC will be a high reach for you. You then discuss your intent to transfer to BC in the future from another college. The bar for transfer students is often higher. The OTE program is a possibility, but based on the picture you paint in your opening post, do you think you’ve overcome the exceptional adversity that would put you in the running for it?</p>

<p>I encourage you to keep pursuing BC, but do it as you would any “high reach” school. Go after it with everything you have, but make sure your safety school applications are in place.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

17

<p>I understand jpm, and I do regard it as a high reach, in fact, I preach to my friends how I wont get in. I have been accepted to 3 places already and I have applied to 9 more (including BC).</p>

<p>I don’t know what type exactly that they’re looking for for OTE as far as exceptional adversity. Somewhere I read that it takes leadership into consideration. If that is the case, I believe I have a few big leadership oriented qualities, one being Eagle Scout. My essay too centered around the big responsibility that I have had leading others and guiding others. I don’t know exactly if that is what they meant, but if that is the case, it all depends on other applicants. I, personally, am not expecting to get in through this, but I do see it as a possibility.</p>

<p>And yes, if I do not get accepted, wherever I end up, whether it be BU or Northeastern or whatever, I plan on doing as well as I possibly can, including retaking the SAT/ACT, to come closer to meeting that raised bar that BC has for transfers.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help and support :)</p>

18

<p>Stay positive ! You seem to have a good grasp of this crazy process of college admissions. As any admissions officer will say - you never know unless you apply. You’ve done all the leg work - relax - enjoy your senior year. I wish for you the best!</p>

19

<p>Haha, thanks Gorish :slight_smile: and I’m trying, if AP Lit doesn’t kill me…</p>

<p>Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk</p>

20

<p>There you go Schiffer4! That’s the attitude you need. All of my daughters stats were lower than yours. She took the most rigorous classes available to her, and did her best, with all of the other things she had to do. She never believed that she could not get into elite schools, so she applied. She of course was accepted into Boston College (where she is thriving, and auditioned and won a spot on the award winning Mock Trial team), Occidental, University of Illinois Urbana, and wait listed at University of Chicago. We went in with the idea that the worse they can say is no. Nobody ever died from hearing no. I would encourage you as you proceed in life to continue (as you seem to be) with a great attitude and winning nature. Its very easy to think of reasons why things can’t be done. Just think up reasons that they can. Please let us know where you end up.</p>