How Realistic are My Aspirations?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I am 17 and going into my senior year of high school. I’ve been doing a lot of research and it seems that for my choice schools I am quite average, at least in terms of grades and test scores. Will I just be another applicant, or will I stand out at all?
First off I am set on going to a college with a 4 year undergraduate business program, and naturally UPenn (Wharton) comes to the top of the list. Yes I understand how selective it is and I realize that this is a big "reach", but it’s good to have goals. My next choice is NYU (Stern), and I believe I have a better chance at this school. My other two college choices are MIT and Cornell (Yes, very good colleges just to be other choices, but UPenn and NYU just seem like better matches for me). Lastly as my safety school, I will apply to UW Madison. Now, Ill let you know what my credentials actually are.</p>

<p>Background</p>

<p>Sex: Male
State: Wisconsin
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Parents: Married and both went to grad school.</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>Cumulative G.P.A (Un-weighted): 3.9
Class Rank: My school does not disclose class rank</p>

<p>ACT:32
Math:30
Reading:34
Science:32
English:33
Writing:8 (Ouch I know).</p>

<p>Classes
My school does not offer honors classes, but I have always tried to challenge myself with the available classes.
When I graduate my credit distribution will look like this.
Math: 4 Year
English: 4 Year
Science: 4 Year
History/Social studies: 4 Year
Computer Science: 1 Year
Arts: 1 Year
Foreign Language (Spanish): 4 Years
Business/ Economics: 1 Year</p>

<p>Classes that would stand out: AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP Lang, Spanish V.</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular</p>

<p>Varsity Football (We haven’t picked captains yet but I may be)</p>

<p>Varsity Track: I was 1st team all-conference last year and have been selected as the captain for next year. </p>

<p>Boy Scouts: I served as the Senior Patrol Leader (Would be considered the president), and I recently became an eagle scout.</p>

<p>NHS: Member last year, I'll be running for an officer position this year.</p>

<p>Mentor: This is a program where we help the incoming freshman class assimilate to high school. </p>

<p>And through all these groups I have 200+ community service hours. </p>

<p>That is all I can think of now, but most likely I am leaving something off, so tell if there is a section you would like more info on. How do you think I stack up for my college choices? Will I stand out at all? </p>

<p>Thanks for reading!</p>

<p>Dave</p>

2

<p>you have a shot at those schools, but it is still a reach. This is what i would do if I were you. DOnt waste your time on Cornell and MIT. Apply to UPENN early decision, it is binding so you cant apply anywhere else early. Apply to NYU and UW regular decision. You have a chance at UPEEN ED, but it is still a reach I would say. GOOD LUCK! and chance me please!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1181151-please-please-please-chance-me-my-shools-ill-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1181151-please-please-please-chance-me-my-shools-ill-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Your gpa and ACT are solid for NYU. I’d say you have an excellent chance there. For the ivies, you’ll need to get a higher ACT score though. For most people, you need the equivalent of a 2300+ SAT to get in</p>

4

<p>Work Experiance??? Thats the only EC I think you haven’t mentioned. Otherwise it looks good!</p>

<p>That’s not necessarily true for Ivies. About the SAT scores. Ivies are crapshoots for everyone and if you have a solid app then you have a chance. I definitely think you have a good shot at Cornell and UPenn</p>

<p>College Board says their Middle 50% for first years ACT looks about in this range.
29 - 33 - Cornell
30-34 - UPenn </p>

<p>UPenn (Wharton) - Reach but your stats hold up!<br>
NYU (Stern) - Match
MIT - Low Reach/High Match
Cornell - Reach just like for everyone else. But solid chance. </p>

<p>I agree with the above. I’d cut out MIT at the very least. Apply early to UPenn and regular every where else.
If you can, take the ACT coming up this fall just to see if you can boost it a few more points. If you do then you should have no problems(:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1178130-my-first-post-chance-me-oos.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1178130-my-first-post-chance-me-oos.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Volleyball, keep in mind that those lower-range ACTs belong to athletes, development cases, legacies, and URMs, not unhooked applicants. Unhooked people need great stats. Strategically, I think this applicant would be better off applying early to Stern- Wharton is a huge reach. And Stern is a reach, not a match, but applying early will help.</p>

6

<p>Thanks to everyone who has replied. Ill just have to try and really stand out with my essay then!</p>

7

<p>If I were you I’d apply to one more safety/match. NYU and UW are the only ones I can really see you getting into. The others you have a chance at, but they are so selective that it’s so tough to get in. You could very well get accepted, but it’s tough.</p>

8

<p>Do you think Villanova would be a match for me?</p>

9

<p>Personally, my friend is going to Villanova for business. He had a 97 weighted average with a rigorous course and a decent SAT and ACT, worse than yours. So I would say it is a match, but that my opinion.</p>

<p>Chance me back =)<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1182045-its-early-but-what-heck-i-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1182045-its-early-but-what-heck-i-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;