I can't figure out what level my match schools would be at

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm a junior, 3.55 GPA, and hoping to score a 2100 on the SAT (the first time I took it I got an 1810, but I was not satisfied--planning to re-take in March). My EC's are alright, nothing spectacular: tennis team one season, classical ballet student, creative writing club president, honorable mention in a poetry contest, photography club, a lot of volunteer work + looking to volunteer at the local hospital and get a job this summer.</p>

<p>I go to a very competitive highly-ranked high school in which every class is honors level. My course load is considerably rigorous--I am in advanced math (taking precalc right now), and this year I am taking AP english language and AP biology. Next year I plan on taking AP english lit, AP chemistry, AP spanish, and AP calculus ab. </p>

<p>I've got a few reach schools in mind:
Cornell
Boston College
Georgetown
William & Mary (high match?)</p>

<p>I also have a few safeties:
SUNY Stony Brook
SUNY Binghamton
Loyola Maryland (match?)
UConn</p>

<p>The only match I can think of is Villanova, but then again that would probably end up as a reach school. I feel like I'm aiming way too high.</p>

<p>Now I need to figure out what my match schools could be... Would a school from what I labelled a safety actually be a match school for me?
Which schools besides the ones I listed could be match schools?</p>

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<p>Are you looking for only certain parts of the country or certain size schools? Here’s a list of 55 schools to start off with that should be in your match range, some more than others.
[College</a> Results Online](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/search2d.aspx?sat1=1300&sat2=1400&y=2009]College”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/search2d.aspx?sat1=1300&sat2=1400&y=2009)</p>

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<p>thanks for the link sadilly!</p>

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<p>According to Naviance, schools like BC, Cornell, etc have accepted students from my school with a much lower GPA than their usual incoming freshman average. This is why I even consider these schools reach schools.
But thanks, I’m trying to bring up my GPA and hopefully my chances will improve.</p>

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<p>Thanks sadilly. But it seems most of those schools are out of my range, especially according to what sureblah has said</p>

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<p>If you expect to go up 300 points on your SAT the best idea is to wait, see how your March scores turn out and then assess your chances at different schools.</p>

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<p>BC does not publish a Common Data Set file, but Brandeis (tied with BC for USNWR #31) does. Nearly half of Brandeis students had HS GPAs below 3.75; about 29% of them had GPAs between 3.50 and 3.74. Private colleges and universities in this range (say, USNWR 25-50) have “holistic” admission policies. They also make it their business to understand variations in high school grading practices. They know that the rampant, extreme grade inflation that occurs in many high schools does not occur everywhere.</p>

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<p>Your top few are definitely reaches, I can’t see any unhooked applicant getting into Georgetown with a 3.55 regardless of how hard their school is. You seem good for loyola of Maryland, my sister got in with around your gpa, an 1800, and decent ECs. Not so sure about the others though.</p>

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<p>W & M would have to be considered a reach, similar in selectivity to BC. What about schools like Boston U, Northeastern, George Washington, and American (assuming you want to stay in the NE)? Much depends on your next SAT score-- big difference in your competitiveness getting a 2100 (projected) versus an 1810 (actual). Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thank you everybody!
I really have to see how I do on the March SAT. I currently have a tutor coming in to help me prepare.
I think Stony Brook, Binghamton, and Loyola are probably more around my level.</p>

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<p>

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<p>Georgetown does not publish a Common Data Set, so it’s a little hard to tell. The slightly higher-ranked Emory does. More than 20% of enrolled Emory students had HS GPAs below 3.75 (~18% between 3.5 and 3.74 in 2010-11). Were they all “hooked”? I dunno. That might depend on what you mean. I doubt they were all URMs, starting quarterbacks, or development admits.</p>

<p>But do look at schools a little lower ranked (USNWR 25-50ish). Look at national LACs in that range as well as universities. A LAC like Kenyon will give you much smaller classes, more faculty attention, a more geographically diverse student body, and better aid than a big OOS public university.</p>

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<p>You might have a chance at some Patriot League colleges like Bucknell, Holy Cross, Colgate, Lafayette.</p>

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<p>^^Highly unlikely with your current stats. And certainly not as matches. Get your SAT to 2100 and then probably so.</p>

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<p>Hooked/Unhooked applicant – What does this mean?</p>

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<p>Hook is under represented minority, first generation college, recruited athlete, legacy parent, or building with your family name on it.</p>

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<p>Hmm. Is South Asian (Indian, Pakistani) considered an under represented minority?</p>

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<p>No, Asians (including South Asian) are considered Over represented minority, sorry.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>In other words, it’s a specific distinguishing characteristic that has nothing to do with your academic ability and achievements, but is considered good for the school community or financial health.</p>

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<p>Haha, well I guess I’ve got no distinguishing characteristics then.</p>

<p>Someone posted a thread about average SAT scores at 50 universities… It says at BC it’s a 1990, Villanova is 1895, etc. Don’t these seem a little low? Even on Naviance the scores are higher.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/310352-list-average-sat-scores-50-colleges-universities.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/310352-list-average-sat-scores-50-colleges-universities.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;