<p>Act: 34 (September 2011)</p>
<p>Gpa: 3.28</p>
<p>Alright, so I definitely know that I'm a slacker (I don't the motivation to do pointless-ass assignments) but I have taken 7 AP classes and have passed all 5 AP tests that I've taken so far (2 more this year) which equivalates to 20 credits at Madison. </p>
<p>I'm really worried about getting in, because all of my bad grades (a couple of C+s and a C) are in really easy classes that I really should've gotten an A in. I maintained a solid B average in all of my AP classes which is good in my opinion as these classes are legit college like classes at my school. The reason I have bad grades in easy classes is because I spent so much time doing homework and reading the text book for my AP classes (APUSH, AP Micro, AP Macro, AP Psychology, AP European History, AP Governement, AP Calculus) that I didn't have the time or will to do stupid assignments for other classes.</p>
<p>I don't really have much for ECs, but I played 4 years of Varsity hockey and 3 years of JV golf.</p>
<p>Any help is appreciated</p>
<p>I had a 3.0 UW and 34 ACT. I got in with very good OOS financial aid, though I was deferred from EA to normal decision. I wouldn’t call it guaranteed at all, but if I was a betting man, I’d definitely bet on you.</p>
<p>I fear for your chances, because there seems to be a general trend to denigrate standardized tests.</p>
<p>Some colleges “pretend” that a 34 ACT does not mean anything, when we all know full well that someone who gets to the 99th percentile on a standardized test is a good college candidate. I am always amazed when I see some kid on CC who says he is valecdictorian of his high school class, but says he only has a 29 ACT.</p>
<p>However, given that you also have shown good grades in your AP courses, you should get in. To the extent you can, you should try and let the school know about this, because with thousands of applicants, your good AP results might get lost in the shuffle.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is a great place to go to school. My best friend from high school went there for graduate school, and loved it. (although that was 40 years ago)</p>
<p>Just like there are schools that are SAT optional, there are probably schools out there that place more emphasis on standardized tests than others. Perhaps people on CC know which schools they are. I would be interested in the answer to that question, because my son too got a 34 ACT, but his gpa is somewhat low by CC standards (about a 3.7 unweighted)</p>
<p>Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I’ve defintiely pointed out that I received the AP Scholar with Distinction already in my essay</p>
<p>Also, do you think it helps if I already know my major and future plans after college? I am going to major in Philosophy and hopefully go onto Law school after that, which I pointed out in my essay, also.</p>
<p>Does your high school have Naviance? If other people from your h.s. have applied, that would help to tell you what your chances are.</p>
<p>The average HS GPA of students at UW-Madison is 3.6. You’re below that, but not that far, and your ACT is way above the 75th percentile. </p>
<p>But the only ones who can give you a realistic assessment of your chances are the members of the admissions committee at the school, and then only when they have your complete application package in front of them. </p>
<p>In other words: nobody on CC or anywhere else on the Internet can accurately predict your chances at any selective enrollment school. </p>
<p>This message is MIT-specific, but the principle applies to all selective colleges: </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/10581800-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/10581800-post1.html</a></p>
<p>Make sure your college list includes some safeties - schools where your stats are well above the norm, that you can pay for under most pessimistic FA assumptions, and where you’d be happy.</p>
<p>I work as a middle school counselor in WI. I have a chart that was given to me a few years ago that looks at admissions success with various combinations of GPA and ACT. According to that chart, students with your stats have about a 50-50 chance of admission. The data is a couple of years old but I am guessing it is still reasonably accurate. Remember, too, that other factors will affect your admission. Good luck!</p>