Evaluate my list please

College Search & Selection
1

<p>GPA: UW/W 3.4/3.8 (trying to explain GPA through Guidance Counselor letter and my essays) (also taken a rigorous course load)
Scores: ACT 27 (retaking had issue that morning) (using red book I'm testing at a 33 but I'm going to keep prepping)
Sat: 1750, 1910 (retaking currently testing at 2100 so I'm prepping a ton
SAT 2: Planning on taking US history, World History, Lit, Bio
AP Tests: 4- AP World 4-AP Psych 4- AP Lang 5- APUSH
Taking: AP Gov, AP Macro, AP Lit, AP Bio next year
Have Taken: 1 concurrent enrollment course, mostly honors and AP
ECS: Track, Cross Country
Mock Trial 3rd in Region (hoping for state next year)
National Competitor for Debate
Founder of Peer Tutoring Club
National Spanish Honors Society
National Technical Honors Society
Law college class taken at top 10 school over summer
Beautillion and Black Leadership Conference
Currently have 2 jobs
Volunteering= 50 hours
Financial situation: Pretty Bad but have done NPC for some LAC colleges
African American URM</p>

<p>Plans: Majoring in International Relations and/or Philosophy and I am strongly considering neuroscience </p>

<p>List:
University of Utah (safety)
Colgate
Bates
Macalester
Wesleyean
Grinnell
Oberlin
Hamilton
Georgetown (reach)
Pomona(reach)</p>

<p>Any recommendations and advice are welcome!</p>

2

<p>as things stand right now, your list is quite ambitious even with the hook. Still, you’ve chosen schools where the hook matters. I just cannot say how much it matters at any one of them.</p>

<p>For example, the middle 50 ACT at Colgate and Bates is 30-32. Macalester and Oberlin 28-32. Wesleyan, Grinnell, and Hamilton 29-33. This is just one unit of measurement, but it is cause for concern. Basically, it says these schools are reaches for a candidate from their general population of admissions.</p>

<p>Improving your SAT and ACT grades would be the biggest boost to your chances, so you have that yet to come. I’m afraid I cannot help you more than this right now. I’m sorry to be debbydowner.</p>

3

<p>Those test scores for Bates are misleading, because they are test-optional: only high-scoring students will submit their results. Look into some of the “Colleges That Change Lives” - you are an academic fit for many of them. Try New College of Florida, especially. Your test scores are a little below their average, but not out of range.</p>

4

<p>Ok I’m working on getting my scores up thank you I believe I can get my act up I had serious issues that morning!
I will also look into the colleges that change lives thanks!</p>

5

<p>I would suggest adding Lawrence University to your list. They’re one of the “Colleges That Change Lives”. They offer very good financial aid. If you can get your stats up to a 30 on the ACT, you would be in line for getting a nice merit scholarship. They also give renewable awards for the community service you did in high school.</p>

6

<p>OP, have you ever thought about an hbcu?</p>

7

<p>I would re-take the ACT and post again. I think with your current standardized scores the list is way too reach-heavy. There are great LACs that are a bit less selective that you should look into. While I don’t put all that much stock in rankings, this is a good list of LACs. <a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>Ok thank you all I will work on getting my scores up I’m taking the ACT in September and the SAT in October and SAT 2s in November!</p>

9

<p>Holy Cross</p>