Georgetown is my dream school

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So, I got one of those “exploring college options” emails, and going to an info session for Gtown tomorrow. If I like what I see, I’ll pay for a trip (me personally) to go to D.C. to tour and such (I live in Ohio). What are my chances of getting into Gtown EA (and the Ivies+ Stanford if you feel so obliged).

Recs: I expect to have excellent recs. I’m well known throughout the school, and have a reputation for being a good student. A short anecdote: Today was the last day of my junior year. As I was walking out my AP Bio class, I said “thanks for a great year” to the teacher. She got teary and said “no, thank you” and wrapped me in a hug. (i was the only one in the class, b/c I was the only junior who had taken it. The rest were seniors, who graduate a week early at my school) I have mad respect for this teacher, she really is an amazing woman.

School: I attend a public high-school in southwest Ohio. We are above average academically tho, I’d say.

Grades/Test Scores:

Unweighted GPA: 3.79 ( I expect an strong upward trend for this semester. I got 5 A’s/A+'s and 1 A-)
Weighted GPA: 4.27
ACT Score: 31 (Up 1 point from a 30, I can’t take it again, I’ll be gone this summer)
Class Rank: Top 10%-- 72/732, subject to change though
Haven’t taken subject tests yet, will take in early June

Current Course Load: Honors Physics, AP Biology, AP Language and Composition, Honors Pre-Calculus, Government, Latin III

Senior Course Load: AP Econ, AP Literature and Comp, AB Calc, AP Latin, AP Computer Science Principles, Art (this is a required class)

Extracurriculars:
Varsity Football
Varsity Track
Communications Officer in School Cultural Club,
Tutor at local elementary school
I also tutor struggling high school students
Work around 15 hours a week at Old Navy
Member of Model UN
NHS

Personal Hook:
I am part of a set of Black (so URM right?) quadruplet and they’re all just as “smart”, if not smarter than me. Alttohug my parents’ income is greater that 200K paying to go to college is gonna be tough. So, I’ll need financial aid.

Hook EC:
National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship recipient. I will go to Morocco on a State Department scholarship to learn Arabic this summer and will return proficient in the language as a result (it is highly selective and very intensive).

2

I’m not exactly sure what the GPAs are for Georgetown are, but I think you’ll be fine. Also I think you should retake the ACT this fall and try for a 32 or 33.

3

So is a 31 a no go? I’m not opposed to retaking it, just wondering if one or two points will really make or break me. Let’s be honest, I’m not gonna get a 34+.

4

You should aim for at least a 32. And if your parents make 200k a year, race doesn’t matter too much. Besides going to Morocco with the State department, your ECs are a bit dull and lack spark. While you stand a chance, you aren’t a very competitive applicant IMO.

5

But with 4 kids the same age, going to college at the same time? Like I don’t even care about the race thing, but on 200k, there is no way anyone’s parents (probably) can pay for college four 4 people. That’s gotta have an effect, right?

6

Not trying to make my situation seem worse than it is (I know there are a lot of kids who’ve had it wayyyy worse than me) but I just want to impress the fact that even though my parents do well for themselves, we aren’t exactly rolling in it.

7

Yes I think you should do your best to try to get that extra point or two. Schools take into account if your siblings are enrolled in college when it comes to financial aid.

8

Oh, I’m gonna take it again, that or the SAT. But, what if I stay the same. Am I doomed. I studied a good amount for the April Test, and was expecting a big increase. But my C went from a 30 to a 31. Suffice to say that I was very disappointed. If my score doesn’t raise, am I done for, that is what I really want to know. I have no desire to was time or money on applications to Ivies if I don’t have at least a fair shot of getting in. (I know chances are low for everybody, but someone has to get in, right?). @Roxbury_resident @RoundGenius

9

Georgetown is not in the Ivy League. In any case, like everyone else, you want to get the best score on the ACT that you think accurately represents your potential. If you think you maxed out at 31 then sit tight - but how do you know if you increased your score on the second attempt?

If your family is going to have 4 kids in school simultaneously for many years (potentially grad school) consider shooting for schools where you stand to get merit aid. Several Ohio schools give generous merit aid and would be safety schools for you.

10

@WISdad23, I’ve already taken the test twice. 30 first time, 31 Second. And yeah, I plan to apply to OSU as a safety

11

Have you tried the SAT? You might do better on a different test format. Given how much you prepared for the ACT, if you didn’t get a significant boost, maybe it’s time to move on and try something else.

Have your parents run a few NPCs. With 4 in college at the same time, I imagine your family would qualify for something, unless they have an insane amount of assets.

Being a URM should give you an admissions boost, regardless of your family’s financial profile.

12

I don’t know about merit at OSU but you would have in-state tuition. Schools like Miami of Ohio and Denison have good merit aid.

13

OSU does too, and I would do well there in terms of merit money @WISdad23 and yeah, that’s what I was thinking @mamaedefamilia I’m def gonna take the SAT in October, though that would be too late for EA

14

and thanks @cannedmeat

15

With an October 9 test date for the SAT and 3 week turnaround, it might be in time for a EA Nov. 1 deadline. Sometimes, adcoms will exercise a bit of flexibility for test scores to come in.

16

I guess I can always submit my lackluster ACT score and send in my SAT later.

17

Stop posting multiple chance threads. One is enough.

18

Now you listen here @jarrett211, you’re right. One is enough, plus my apathy is increasing ever so slightly with each post.

19

@NikkuWadde fwiw I got into Georgetown as a URM with a lower gpa than you albeit with a higher act score and good subject test scores. My ECs were about the same similar to your Morocco experience I had one EC that stood out. My advice is to write strong essays because that’s going to help make you stand out and to not worry if you get deferred EA it’s harder to get in EA than it is to get into RD so don’t worry if you get deferred. Best of luck!