Help! Chances..?

Hi, I’m currently a junior and I’ll be applying to colleges starting this fall!
I’ve always loved Barnard and I really want to apply ED, but as of now, what are my chances?

My latest report card hasn’t been released yet, so I will update that later.
Unweighted GPA : 92.6
Took the SAT I twice: Oct: 1980, May: 2090 > Superscore: 2120
Just got my SAT II scores back and they’re not too great… advice? Literature: 680, Physics: 580
Should I take the ACT?

Extracurriculars: Lots of volunteering and TAing at various summer camps, Chinese classes, just places with kids; I’m also a private piano teacher and take piano classes myself, I have various clubs and commitments at school including to a dance club but no sports or leadership positions, National Chinese Honor Society
Planning to major in Education and or Asian Studies and or International Relations

Both my teacher recs are coming from teachers I am super close with (2+ years) and my counselor loves me.
I’m planning to get a supplemental rec from my employer this summer who is also attached to my work ethic.
I’m a low income Asian girl who comes from parents that immigrated here a while ago, but I was born here.
I live in NYC and go to Stuyvesant High School.
Do you think it’s possible??? :,) What can I do to improve myself??

THANK YOU SO MUCH <3

Yes, take the ACT – that will give you some flexibility in deciding which scores to submit.

Unless: If your SAT CR score is 620 or below – and if “low income” truly means that - you may be eligible for HEOP. See https://barnard.edu/heop/admissions

If you HEOP eligible, you might be better off keeping the scores you have and focusing on other areas of your application. Here’s a link to the income numbers that would make you HEOP-eligible: http://barnard.edu/sites/default/files/eligibilityrequirements2011-12through2013-14.pdf

Have they ever accepted students who demonstrate financial need but have a score for CR higher than 620?

My SAT scores are as follows: Oct: CR680 M660 W580 | May: CR650 M720 M720
I guess I’m not eligible? Why do they require a score of 620 or below?
Yes, my family is actually low income, I’m the second child of three and my brother is still paying off loans.

Of course low income students get accepted with a higher SAT scores, but anything above a 620 is not qualified for HEOP. You would get the regular financial aid package; HEOP aid packaging might be more favorable.

Given that your CR is already too high for HEOP, then the point isn’t relevant – you should go ahead and take the ACT and see how you do. Your current scores are ok, but there’s no harm in taking the ACT and it might give you more choices when it comes to submitting test scores.

HEOP is a NY state financed program intended to help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. See http://heop.org/ for more information.The reason for the lower test score requirement is that it is also geared to the “educationally disadvantaged” as well – so perhaps as you attend Stuyvesant you don’t really fit that description, although attendance at a specific high school is not a formal reason for disqualification.

I saw on another thread that you wanted to apply ED. I would suggest that you review the net price calculator and perhaps even consult with someone at Barnard’s financial aid department before doing that, as your expectations as to “meeting full need” might be different from Barnard’s practices. Barnard expected our family to pay at least $10K over and above my D’s FAFSA EFC, even during the years that she was Pell-eligible. That may have been due to various complicating factors in my financial situation – but I think you need to make sure that yo have realistic expectations about what Barnard will expect when it comes to paying for your education.

I don’t think that applying ED is the best choice, since you might get lower financial aid than what you need. (This is coming from a girl who applied ED even though she knew the risks though, so I’m probably not the best person to give advice. That being said, my family will have to pay about 3k less a year than our FAFSA EFC, so I was very lucky.)

As for advice, sure, go take the ACT if you feel like it’ll improve your chances. Be passionate and “unafraid” in your essays; I started my “1 hour conversation with a woman” essay with “Notorious RBG is my MVP” to introduce my admiration for Chief Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In retrospect, it shouldn’t have worked, but it did.

Best of luck!! :-*

HEOP is not flexible about the CR score maximum.