Georgetown RD - would you apply?

SAT: 1,550
SAT 2: Math 2 800, Chem 680, Physics 650
UW GPA: 3.71
4 years of Mandrin
Honors courses: Geometry, Algebra, Chem, Bio, Modern World History, US History, World Lit, Pre-Calc
AP classes: English Language, Mandarin 4, Calc BC, Physics 2
Private high school that does not offer AP courses beyond what I have taken. They also do not weight GPA or rank students.

Strong EC’s and letters of rec
California applicant

Our guidance counselor feels my SAT Subject Tests are too low, and given Georgetown’s emphasis on SAT2’S perhaps we should focus on better matches. Any other match suggestions would be appreciated! I’m a STEM learner, looking for a 5,000+ student school in an urban setting. Thank you!

Well, how much do you like Georgetown?
This school (esp. the SFS) would be a reach for most applicants.
IMO your qualifications don’t put it out-of-reach.
So, if you like it a lot, and think you can afford the net price, why not apply?
I don’t think we can predict, confidently, how much emphasis a given admission committee will place on the subject test scores.

Now, if you prefer another school that is a bit less selective, that’s different.

Maybe look at Case Western or URochester? They both seem to be a bit less selective than Georgetown (overall, though maybe not compared to every Georgetown division). They also seem to me to be stronger STEM schools than Georgetown.

Without much in the way of geosciences or astronomy, Georgetown doesn’t seem like much fun for a student interested in science. Nonetheless, it appears you’d be qualified for admission by what you’ve indicated here. Regarding SAT IIs, Georgetown may emphasize them in a way that’s not apparent. For example, they may like to see them as substantiating values, but may not expect them to array highly across the board in all cases. They may note that you didn’t take a humanities exam though. With respect to other schools that match your preferences, those mentioned above seem like good suggestions with which to start.

Yes in a heartbeat. Not meaning you’ll get in, but there’s a quirk I their admissions I have seen. And here’s why.

You have really good statistics. But more important are your language skills. All my research and observations have shown me it means an awful lot to Georgetown.

I have no inside source, this is personal observation. My conclusion with all things beig equal, is that students with much less impressive profiles have been admitted with language “hooks” as recently as last year. Students with as strong or stronger profiles than yours (on the gpa side of the thjngs) but no languages. Wl or rejected.

I guess spy’s, senators and statesmen (states people) are really better equipped with a languages. And mandarin is really important with native English. Huge advantage in the coming years.

Interesting comment @ privatebanker. Last year, one of my S’s friends got in RD with a substantially lower SAT score than yours (mid 1400s), OP, and he also took Mandarin, and did a language exchange to China. If you like the school, apply!

Your SAT 2 scores are not too low! Apply 100%. I was accepted EA with scores very similar to yours (one 800 and two mid 600 scores)