Help me figure out my match/reach/safeties

<p>Frosh->Senior
GPA: 3.1, 3.4, 3.6, projected 4.0 senior year
ACT: ~34, 35
SAT: 2310</p>

<p>Varsity Lacrosse
Many awards/pins for Rifelry</p>

<p>10 years Violin
Played in Carnegie Hall (with school orchestra)</p>

<p>2 National Level awards in Business Professionals of America
3 State Level awards
10+ Regional Level awards
Vice-President of BPA
Nominated for Wharton leadership conference
Two internships</p>

<p>School newspaper editor in chief
Philosophy Club Vice president
Elected member of school student council</p>

<p>Rec from a University of Michigan professor</p>

<p>Safety: Michigan State, Northeastern
Match: Boston College, Wake Forest, Indiana
Reach: Emory, UChicago, Michigan, NYU, Carnegie-Mellon</p>

<p>My guidance counselor is worthless (bet you've heard that before) and so my only resources for making my list is this forum and Barnes and Nobles.</p>

<p>So:
1. What are my chances for the above colleges realistically?
2. How should I rearrange/shift my list if my chances are unrealistic?
3. Which college would ED/EA help the most for? I really like Uchicago and Emory, but if they are unrealistic reaches I might as well apply ED at Boston college to play it safe.</p>

<p>Tell me if my reaches are too big of a reach so I can pare down my list if they are indeed, unrealistic reaches. </p>

<p>Thanks for all your help</p>

<p>It's completely realistic, but u shud get more matches and reaches....maybe like 2 more in each category..what do u guys think?
btw- i think u have a good shot at all of ur reaches.</p>

<p>Looks to me like you've got about a 3.36 GPA through your junior year. Given the conflict between your relatively low GPA and high ACTs and SATs, your list is probably realistic, though I'd say Emory and UChicago are probably big reaches (though the fact that your GPA rose every year and your test scores are strong will probably help).</p>

<p>ED/EA to the school or schools that you really want to go to, especially if those schools are reaches. So yeah, ED/EA Emory and/or Chicago if that's where you really want to go. RD the rest, especially those schools you're likely to get into or those you think you have a 50/50 chance for - your safeties and matches, in other words.</p>

<p>yea, I plan to work on my essay a lot for Uchicago, i've heard stories of people getting in with very low GPA's like mine, but with great essays. Apparently thats what Chicago looks for in thier apps</p>

<p>Hmmm. Just re-read your ECs. I take it you're interested in majoring in business. Changes things a bit, if that's the case. Emory, Michigan, NYU, and Carnegie-Mellon all have superlative undergrad business schools, but all - and especially NYU's Stern school - are tougher to get into than the regular undergrad schools. UMich, though, is different from the others. From what I understand, you get into the undergrad school first and then apply to the business school at the end of your freshman year. Anyway, that makes NYU (if it's Stern you want) a bigger reach, and the other schools a bit reachier. Your matches and safeties are still solid though. And by the way, your ECs are good for what you appear to be after and should give you a boost.</p>

<p>I suggest you go to the websites of the colleges you're interested in and see if you can find that stats for last year's class. Most schools post some data, and it would give you a better idea of how your stats compare.</p>

<p>I'm instate for michigan btw, but I think michigan is a reach as my michigan GPA is lower than my regular GPA.</p>

<p>Also, I planned to apply to undergrad business school at the schools you mentioned, but I'm thinking I probably won't for the same reasons you also mentioned: its much harder to get in. </p>

<p>I planned to major in economics or a different major, because i'm def. going to grad school for business.</p>

<p>Sounds like a good plan. Also, most of those schools will let Arts and Sciences undergrads take courses in the business school. I know NYU does. In some cases, you may even be able to transfer in if you prove yourself. </p>

<p>Good luck, then. I think you're on the right track.</p>

<p>good chances in all...</p>

<p>on a side note, we at CC have made ED and RD verbs now:</p>

<p>i.e. ED the school you want...</p>

<p>do you think I have a shot at emory or Uchicago?</p>

<p>Add Wake Forest, UMich, and Indiana to your safety list
Emory and Carnegie Mellon are matches with those nice SATs
and I'd say NYU and UChicago are only slight reaches</p>

<p>I think you will get into all.</p>

<p>Thanks for you help</p>

<p>amptron: is it worth it for me to apply to emory or uchicago? If they are both huge reaches, should I look into more feasible reaches?</p>

<p>what exactly does "reach" mean?</p>

<p>Others on CC might disagree, but I'd say a reach is a school where your GPA is below the average GPA of admitted freshmen for that school and/or your SAT or ACTs are below the median for that school. The exception to this is most of the Ivies and schools on that level (Duke, MIT, Stanford, Amherst, Williams, etc.), which are reaches for almost everybody because of their extraordinarily competitive applicant pools and the very low rates of acceptances. </p>

<p>Now, you ask whether it's worth your while to apply to Emory or UChicago. I say yes. Your SATs and ACTs are above the 75th percentile for both schools. Your ECs are strong. The only stinker is your GPA, and that's been rising every year. Both schools will look at that in a positive light. So, if you really want to go to Emory or UChicago, apply. You've got 2/3rds of the package (test scores and ECs), your grades aren't terrible, and if you nail the essays, well, you just might make it. And if you don't, at least you tried, and you still have your matches and safeties to fall back on.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Heres the tentative final list:</p>

<p>Safeties: Northeastern, Mich State
Matches: Boston college, Indiana
Reaches: Emory, Uchicago, Umich</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

<p>hmm...I'm not an expert or anything, but I think with your excellent EC's and SATS you could even try for Brown as a reach.</p>

<p>Safeties: Northeastern, Mich State
Matches: Boston college, Indiana, NYU, Carngie
Slight Reach: Emory, Uchicago, Umich
Reaches: Brown, other lower Ivies.</p>

<p>That looks like a good list. Good luck!</p>