<p>It's my junior year of high school and our school has been pressuring us so much on really focusing on college i'm stressing out big time. I've always wanted to go out east .. perhaps to BU/boston college, UNC/NC state but i'm worried my achievements will fall short when it comes to applying. I currently have a 3.665 GPA (unweighted) and am very involved. I have been treasurer of the school executive board for one year, and secretary for two. I was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, am a member of NHS, have completed almost 100 hours of community service, and by the time i graduate will have taken 6 AP classes along with other various honors classes. I tutor and coach younger kids as well and do the stats for my varsity basketball team. I have yet to take my ACT/SAT's but will soon.<br>
I am wondering what the reality of getting into those schools is for me and/or what I can do to increase those chances?</p>
<p>also what are some other schools on the east side of the country that are not as popular but still excellent schools that anyone would reccomend? HELP! </p>
<p>You have to give us a little more guidence here about what you are looking for:</p>
<p>-size: LAC? mid-sized? large public universities?<br>
-urban/suburban/rural?
-does weather matter?
-is religious affiliation an issue? single sex vs. co-ed? heavy Greek?
-fit: are you artsy? quirky? jock? conservative? activist?
-do you need financial aid? merit aid?
-do you have an usual major or extra curricular that you want to continue?</p>
<p>If you provide a little more guidence, you’ll get better feedback.</p>
<p>Your GPA is a tad low for BC (you’d be in good shape with 3.7, great shape with 3.8 if you can pull it off), but it’s fine for BU. Your EC’s are pretty solid, but there’s nothing special. You should pursue something this spring or summer that’s beyond your school–a university summer program, an internship, something of that caliber. Ultimately though, it’s your SATs that will decide if you get in. You should aim for at least a 1900. A 1900 would give you an OK shot at BU, a 2000 would give you a good shot at BU and an OK shot at BC, and a 2100 would put you ahead of the pack at both. </p>
<p>UNC is tricky because you’ll be applying OOS. For an IS applicant a 2000 is fine (I’m assuming you’re talking about UNC-CH, which is the best of the UNC’s), but if you really want to go there you kinda need that 2100.</p>
<p>Other East Coast schools that may interest you are NYU, Brandeis, Rochester, William and Mary, Syracuse, U of Miami if you feel like going down there.</p>
<p>If your school has naviance - use it (program that compares acceptances from your school). My UW gpa is 3.8 but the average student accepted to BC from my school was 4.0. You have to look at the pool of students you are coming from as well as the pool you will be competing for placement with. GPA’s today mean very little. I have a friend that attends a private highly ranked school on the west coast and the validictorian had a 3.63 gpa last year - his 3.5 puts him higher in his class than my 3.8.</p>
<p>Everything Godfather says is true. But what you need to understand is we all pretty much look the same. Similar range of gpa’s, test scores, EC’s, AP’s, essays, summer programs. It is hard for admissions to differentiate. You can’t take any of it personally. The recruited athletes dont have to deal with the size of the pool but do deal with the competition of like students/athletes. The validictorians are in the same boat. </p>
<p>Stressing WONT help anything. Be realistic (easy to say) and have a good mix of reach, match, likely schools and you wont be disappointed. I applied to 9. I had a mix in my top four reach schools and decided to apply ED II to the one I had the best shot at as I knew I would be happy at any of the four. It worked! I already feel connected to the school through facebook and I am really excited to go. Take a deep breath and enjoy your Senior year!</p>
<p>‘mom’ (and others)-- i’m looking to pursue a major in print journalism and as for the stats of where the college would preferably be located i haven’t really thought about it. like i said i like the environments of most of the eastern states…i’m thinking no religous affiliations though and i definatley want there to be lots to do. i like to be involved in extra curriculars so thats a big thing for me.
i had some more questions regarding the whole application process in general. I’ve read that your essay is really what makes you stand out to the college boards. What are some tips/pointers anyone can give me on that? or in general at all? What are some things that will really help me on the way to getting into ANY school? I don’t really want to stay in state but i also know it’s tough getting into OOS schools.
thanks!</p>
<p>Make sure to make cost a part of the decision up front? Are your parent’s willing to pay out of state tuition at a public college? Are they willing to pay for $50,000/yr private colleges?</p>
<p>Run calculators if you might qualify for aid, see what your family is willing to contribute and then start formulating a list of schools that are realistic with your budget.</p>