Im wondering what top colleges put ECs at the top of their list of importance?
Heres where im going to apply next year (i am a junior)
Dartmouth
Duke
UNC Chapel Hill
UVA
University of Florida
University of Georgia
UPenn
NYU
Columbia
thanks…
<p>bump u bumpers</p>
<p>You mean put them at the top assuming you have very high gpa and test scores?</p>
<p>like a 3.5 gpa and lets say....1300 SAT....those are just rough estimates though and im not exactly sure what either gpa or SAT is going to be by the end of H.S.</p>
<p>There aren't any colleges that put EC's at the top of the list, at least that I have ever heard. You can figure, generally, that you have to have the grades and test scores in range of the past accepted students. So grades and test scores are really at the top of the list. The EC's will help when you are at the lower end (tip factor) or if the school is so uber-selective that virtually everyone applying has equally fantastic grades and test scores. Some exceptions are always made for URM, athlete, legacy, a few other things, like desired musician, science student when the school attracts more humanities students...and on.</p>
<p>I don't really want to comment on projected or guessed gpa and scores. Generally for a super selective school, like Dart, Columbia, Penn and maybe others if you are out-of-state, you should try to keep uw gpa at 3.75 and above and take a very demanding courseload. But that doesn't mean you can't get in otherwise. 3.5 is still in the running. The 1300 is okay for the state schools, but may be low-end for the top privates. But often SAT's go up 100 pts per year, so if you take it Spring of Jr year you'll increase chances of a higher score.</p>
<p>Some EC's can be a great hook. Leadership EC's are very important. My dd has almost 4 years of very unusual experience that makes her stand out and is a true hook, but she still also has the requisite expected grades and high SAT, leadership, sports.</p>
<p>Don't give up, but be somewhat realistic. Have some reaches, uber-reaches even, but spend most of your time finding the matches that will be great for you. Seriously, after this educational process, as a mom of a senior, I think we could have made a list of safety-only schools which would include pub and priv, and been happy. And this is from a parent where the kid only applied to the very final cut schools after being accepted EA somewhere. Have fun with your search. We didn't much.</p>
<p>Yea thank you for the info..i didnt mean top i just meant what colleges think they really important but of course grades and SAT are always important.</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>anybody else?</p>
<p>Brown places consideration of EC's a tad more than SAT scores. This was discussed in this thread: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33558%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33558</a>.</p>
<p>Ec's are really important for all top private schools that you mention. Maybe a bit less at the publics.</p>
<p>K...if you're depending solely on ECs, a 3.5, and a 1300...then:</p>
<p>Reach: Darthmouth, Duke, UPenn, Columbia, NYU
If you're out of state in UVA or UNC you won't get in unless you got to one hell of a school where 3.5 is like fantastic. They're both harsh on outta staters</p>