I need your help

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>This is a repost as last time I posted, I only got one response. Figured i'd make a more interesting title (even though it isn't that interesting, lol) and see what I get this time around.</p>

<p>Hey all, just wanted some input about my chances at a few colleges. I've been reading these boards for a while and figured with senior year approaching, it's about time I find out where people think I stand.</p>

<p>Some background information about me: I am a black male from suburban Virginia. I would be a first-generation college student.</p>

<p>GRADES: My average GPA is around a 3.5 unweighted, with a dramatic upward trend. In my freshman year, I had all A's and B's and... one F. I don't want to seem like i'm making excuses for the F as i've come to terms with it, but in my guidance counselor has already written my recommendation and in it, he explains that the reason I got the F was because I was placed in a class that I was not prepared for, and he basically points the blame at my middle-school guidance counselor for misplacing me. The F was in math and since then, I have had an A and a B+ in math, so it's not as if i'm just bad at math and fail my math classes. He also explains this in my recommendation and has a quote from my junior year math teacher that makes me seem like a good, hard-working student. Anyways, so my freshman GPA was around a 2.9. Since then, i've had pretty much all A's and B+'s. I guess what i'm wondering is just how badly that F in freshman year will hurt me.</p>

<p>SATs: 1310 old (660 Math / 650 Verbal), 2060 New (710 Critical Reading / 690 Math / 660 Writing).</p>

<p>EC's: Pretty average, nothing spectacular. A few clubs and volunteer work and the like.</p>

<p>I'm not quite sure what I want to major in, maybe history.</p>

<p>SCHOOLS:
Reaches:
- William and Mary (going to apply ED and hope for the best)
- Boston College (EA)
- NYU CAS (regular decision)
am open to suggestions about any more good reaches.</p>

<p>Matches:
- Penn State University Park
- Fordham University
am open to suggestions about any more good matches.</p>

<p>Safeties:
am open to suggestions about any good safeties.</p>

<p>William and Mary is my #1 choice.. so, do I have a shot?</p>

2

<p>Boston U as a match
U of Virginia as a match/reach
Hampton U as a match
Norfolk State as a safety
U of Richmond as a match
Virginia State as a safety</p>

<p>Anyway just some suggestions, I think you're on the right track with your reaches, matches and safeties. Not to be crass but being black could definitely help you out. That CR scores is good, thats probably the most important one. If you have a great essay and recs than you have decent shots at all your schools.<br>
I also think you have a very good shot at the College of William and Mary, especially applying ED, and being from VA. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Your list seems reasonable to me (particularly if you're in state for W&M).</p>

<p>What i think you might want to rethink are your matches, not because you can't get in, but because if you like places like BC and W&M, you might not be happiest at large campuses like Penn State and Fordham.</p>

<p>Perhaps Syracuse and BU would be better matches.</p>

<p>U Md College Park has some excellent learning communities that could give you a small college experience on a big campus. Perhaps that could be a good safety. American U is another potential safety.</p>

<p>Do keep finances in mind, too, and ask your parents about how much they're willing to pay each year for college. Check an EFC calculator such as the one on CC's site or the one on Princeton's financial aid site. Do this early so that your parents have a realistic idea about what kind of aid to expect.</p>

<p>BU has some very nice scholarships now --MLK scholarships --for top black students. Something to consider.</p>