help!

Applying to College
1

HI everyone,
So I am a senior in high school doing dual enrollment, I am taking all of my classes at the local university and none at my high school. I just received my grades from this semester and I got 3 B’s (english, biology, math) and a C (in the lab for biology which is just a 1 credit course). This semester was unfortunate because it was very math and science focused which is my weakest point. I took a college course over the summer (psychology) and got an A. Anyways, I am disapointed in how my grades turned out this semester. I have an 88 AVG from my freshman to junior year in high school, but I did fail one math class my sophomore year. I was going through a lot of personal issues at the time and I plan to address that in my application. I only took one AP my 3 years of highschool, so my transcript isn’t that impressive. But neither is my first semester of college one. I have a 1300 SAT score (really high in english, pretty low in math) and my essay is really good. I also have volunteered A LOT. So my college list is as follows:
Safeties:
UNC Asheville
Ithaca
Matches-
Clark University
Skidmore

Reaches-
Macalester
Fordham
Hamilton

So first question-
Should I send my first semester college transcript in with my application even though it’s not that strong because it’s very weighted, or should I just send in my highschool transcript plus my A in psychology?
Second question-
Am I in way over my head here with the colleges I’m applying to? I believe I would have a lot to offer to colleges but I know my grades don’t totally reflect it. Do you think I have a chance with any of my match/reaches with my grades if i have a very strong essay and good recommendations?
Thank you!!

2

A few comments:

–It should be your guidance counselor, not you who addresses any personal issues that impacted your performance in school. First it is more believable to admissions officers as it is coming from an independent party. Second, it doesn’t come off as you complaining which is also a good thing.

–Your transcripts must be sent in by your guidance counselor, not you. And every transcript must be sent – you cannot pick and choose.

–Also be sure colleges are affordable

–I don’t chance, but I would say that Skidmore would be a reach not a match. A school like Goucher might be more of a safety for you. I don’t think Macalester ad Hamilton are very realistic options based on your academics but certainly put in an application and see what happens (good ECs, essays etc. do not compensate for academics).

3

Hi, so the reason I get a choice whether my college transcript is sent or not is because I am a dual enrollment student and my guidance counselor said if I wanted to I could rush my grades I just received from this semester and get them in to colleges if I wanted to. I realize good recs and essays etc don’t compensate for academics, but it’s not like I am a C student. I am a high B student who’s taking only college courses for my senior year. I’m not arguing with you or implying you’re wrong, I just wanted to clarify. Hamilton is definitely a HUGE reach for me and Macalester is a pretty big leap too, but I feel like I have a small shot since I have circumstances that are different than most and also my dad went there (not sure if that helps anything).

4

^ @happy1 just told you exactly what I told you when you posted this in another thread. You have Skidmore in the wrong category, and Hamilton and Mac are a big stretch, so yes, with those two, maybe those three, “in over your head” is likely. Note, I mean that from an admissions point of view, not whether you could hack it at any of those schools, which is an entirely different matter.

In terms of your circumstances … I think you’d be very surprised at the diversity of “circumstances” that an admissions officer sees each and every cycle. Unless there is something extreme going on, I wouldn’t count on that context too much.

You are a high B student in HS, and the college courses look more like a flat to low B average based on grades.

That w/ a 1300 makes you a long shot at Skid, Hamilton and Mac w/o a hook. W/ a hook this is a different conversation.

I think the thing that’s going to hurt you … or at least the missing piece that could have made up for good but not great grades, is rigor.

Ad coms know full well that a kid with a 3.6 who took the occasional honors or AP course is a different animal that the kid who barely cracked a 3.0 who took IB English HL, IB Calc. SL, IB Physics II HL, IB History of the Americas HL, IB Spanish 400 HL and Theory of Knowledge. THAT kid can explain away a 3.0, or have it viewed differently than the other kid.

I would expand that list and I would mentally let go of Hamilton and Mac - apply but don’t expect anything - and I’d make my realistic reach Skidmore.

You need more matches and safeties. Fordham, Clark and Ithaca may be matches, but not safeties. I have no idea what UNC Ashville will do - are you in or out of state?

If you were my kid, I’d say review that list and make some serious adjustments.

5

I might as well put my cents in.

Don’t lose too much hope, and definitely apply to where you want to go, but put a few more options.

I do have to warn you to consider financial feasibility; I have no way of knowing what your parents make or other details, but I would definitely tell you to get away from privates if your parents aren’t rich (> $125K income per annum) or have a low income that can be met with financial aid money. Fill out the FAFSA and CSS and see your Expected Family Contribution, and use your parents’ tax return info to fill out the Net Price Calculator on your colleges. Talk with your parents about this money, and I would definitely go for the cheapest option. Don’t make this an impulsive labour on them and be considerate; I’m not applying to anything I’m expecting to pay more than $10K per annum for.

Apply to another public IN-STATE college or two, as they are actually very good and would be a much better deal over some meh liberal arts college. I hate to bash on universities, but I think that a good public university beats out a $50K lib arts college in terms of cost-effectiveness if the lib arts college isn’t a top school with a top-tier student body like Macalester, Amherst, Swarthmore, etc. A public school would be easy to pay for.

Safeties:
UNC Asheville

Matches: I’d personally skip over those, as I would never pay their asking price even after some reductions.
Clark University
Ithaca

I’d look into a good public college of your state as a match (assuming you’re not in something like Cali, where those are still super competitive)

Reaches: I’d recommend these if you can get in. All of these are going to be hard to get into, but keep hopes up (:
Skidmore
Macalester
Fordham
Hamilton
Maybe look into as reach: Occidental

As for your situation, I have a hard time deciphering what it is you have to offer. 1300 is above average for some public universities, but below for your reaches. Taking college courses does not raise you to an elite high, but rather impacts you in the same way that your high school grades would. I’m not familiar with whatever arrangement you have with your transcript options, but I would go with what your counselor says.

Are you shooting high? Yes; very high. Should you? Sure. Just make sure that your options are financially feasible (heck, favorable) and talk it out with your parents. Go ahead and apply (and look into your local public college for safety), and just hope that Macalester or Skidmore see something in you.