Guidance on College Applications : PLEASE HELP

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>My top 3 schools (in no particular order)
1. University of Colorado - Boulder
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
3. University of Wisconsin - Madison</p>

<p>Also applied to University of Arizona (ultra-safe school)</p>

<p>STATS: SEPT 12
Composite Score : 29 </p>

<p>English 26<br>
Usage/Mechanics 14
Rhetorical Skills 13</p>

<p>Mathematics 25<br>
Pre-Algebra/Elem. Algebra 15
Algebra/Coord. Geometry 13
Plane Geometry/Trig. 11</p>

<p>Reading 32<br>
Social Studies/Sciences 16
Arts/Literature 17</p>

<p>Science 31
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARPIL 2012
Composite Score : 26 </p>

<p>English 30<br>
Usage/Mechanics 15
Rhetorical Skills 16</p>

<p>Mathematics 26<br>
Pre-Algebra/Elem. Algebra 13
Algebra/Coord. Geometry 14
Plane Geometry/Trig. 13</p>

<p>Reading 24<br>
Social Studies/Sciences 14
Arts/Literature 11</p>

<p>Science 25 </p>

<p>Combined English/Writing 28<br>
Writing (score range 2 to 12) 08</p>

<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ergo, I have a superscore of 30. Michigan and Wisconsin don't take superscores but they take them into consideration, (basically forgot my sin/cos/tan on the math section).</p>

<p>My ACT scores fall within the range of both schools, but my GPA is what's really killing me.
Unweighted - 3.23
Weighted - 3.42
Class rank 211/378</p>

<p>I do attend one of the top high schools in the country, which will hopefully add some consideration to my admissions decisions. I also have extenuating circumstances. As a freshman/sophomore I struggled with depression and ADHD. I've played baseball my entire life, earned a JV letter two years, but am not planning to the season. I was also a very good runner my freshman and sophomore years. I made varsity and was consistently running within the top 2 with our team. My junior year I suffered a major setback with stress fractures in both legs, which, to this day, are no better. I was ranked 9th in the state of Kansas (2009</a> Kansas Cross Country 5000m Rankings - Kansas Runners) and won multiple races.</p>

<p>Since my diagnosis of depression and ADHD my grades have improved tremendously, going from a 3.0 GPA my sophomore year to ~3.83 junior year, my grades are currently very strong for my senior year as well. I have always had a strength in writing quality essays and would love to attend either Wisconsin or Michigan. Could anyone else recommend some colleges that have a good party seem paired with solid academics? Location and price are not an issue.</p>

<p>What I want is a college that is known for good academics but definitely has a party scene!</p>

<p>Locations : Not too worried about
Price : Not too worried about
Some suggestions similar to Wisconsin/Michigan would be greatly appreciated! (I feel as though I have a pretty good shot of getting in to CU-Boulder)</p>

<p>Oh and I'm applying to all schools as a Psychology major, but may change to business/something with computers.</p>

2

<p>University of Colorado: match
University of Michigan: reach
University of Wisconsin: low match/low reach
Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Wow, thanks for the quick response!</p>

<p>After hours upon hours I’ve come to similar conclusions. What I like about all three schools is they A) Have strong academics B) are nationally recognized universities, (I read that Wisconsin and Michigan both have top 10 psychology programs, but who knows with so many different ranking systems) and C) I feel like I could spent the next 4(or more) of my life there. Even if I had a 4.0 unweighted with ALL AP classes and got accepted to Harvard I simply wouldn’t go. Prestige of a school is undoubtedly important, but my hopes in college are to really show off my intelligence and find what interests me most. As far as my salary in job/profession, I’m not worried in the slightest (maybe because I’m a young 17 year old LOL) but I just want to be psychically, emotionally, and have an overall sense of well being. What I actually want to do after college is BEYOND me. I would at least want a minor in psychology because, even though I earned a B in that class(literally 1 question away from an A), I felt like that was the most fascinating class I’ve ever taken. </p>

<p>This year in AP-Statistics I love it. I may have a lower grade (B), but the real world applications involved and its relevance to Psychological studies is really just interesting to learn about. </p>

<p>As of now I’d said I’m in decent shape for my college applications (Due Nov. 1st for most EA), but some of these essays are just tough to nail. Like Wisconsin-Madison’s essay</p>

<p>Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why it’s important to you.</p>

<p>I’ve talked to my English teacher, father, mother, etc. I have a few ideas but i really want to NAIL the essay.</p>

<p>Any other similar schools on my list that might be a good fit for my interests?</p>

4

<p>Extra info regarding grade trends</p>

<p>GPA sophomore years
S1 : 2.8571
S2 : 3.1429</p>

<p>GPA junior year
S1 : 3.6429
S2 : 3.9762 (no idea how it’s not 4.0 all A’s and one B in an honors class)</p>

<p>as you can see there’s clear improvement and my GPA for this semester is on track to be all A’s with probably a B in AP statistics.</p>

<p>Again, any insight/help/chances other schools that fit my criteria would be greatly appreciated/.</p>

5

<p>Sorry to bug you all, but I really do want to get into a good school. I do have the intellectual ability to do well at a good school (not ivy-league, but potentially top 50) and am struggling on some of my applications. My ACT score is good, not excellent, my GPA is sub-par for the schools I’m looking at, but my GPA trends have been very good I’m looking at another semester of 4.0 weighted. </p>

<pre><code> What can I write on these applications to really set myself apart from other applicants? I got the whole depression/ADHD diagnoses, but I don’t have any real “hooks” so to speak. My EC’s are decent, not very good. I work around 15 hours a week now, am involved in a Cotillion program, but that’s about it. I can’t run cross country anymore and don’t plan on doing baseball again.
</code></pre>

<p>I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere though, I don’t enjoy my job or cotillion. They’re simply there for the purpose of resume/transcript. I’m not enjoying school and am quite frankly very stressed out. I’ve seen multiple doctors and probably have some anxiety issues, but I haven’t been treated properly for my current issues. My essays, thus far, have emphasized how I’ve overcome depression and ADHD but now I have anxiety issues. I obviously don’t want to put this in a college essay, but I do want to get into a decent school. </p>

<p>My dad has suggested starting a coat drive for the homeless in my area, but what’s the point? In my personal opinion colleges will look at that and say wow, this kid is all of a sudden dedicated to his community a couple weeks before the application deadline.</p>

<p>I’m not sure if anyone can help me out here, but based on my situation are there any other schools I should be looking at? I really like University of Colorado-Boulder and do have a decent shot of getting in there, but would appreciate some insight. I want to get a decent education, but most importantly be healthy. Physically and mentally. I love psychology because I’ve suffered with mental illness and the ability to understand these topics, and possibly make a career out of it is truly amazing.</p>