Independent Opinions?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I’m coming to CC because I believe my guidance counselor may be leading me astray. He says that schools like Skidmore and The George Washington University are reaches for me; But I believe that I am competitive for schools such as Emory and Hamilton. </p>

<p>I would appreciate it if you could look at the information I have posted, and tell me my chances at the colleges I list at the end. Thanks. </p>

<p>Test Scores:
-SAT - 770, 640, 710 (2120)
-ACT - 31
-SAT II - Literature 640, US History 760, World History 670, Chemistry 710
-APs - World History 4, European History 4, English Language 4, Chemistry 4</p>

<p>Unweighted Grades (Listed as yearly averages, Included projected senior grades)
- History: H 84, AP 92, H 92, AP 93
- English: 79, 85, H 82, AP 90
- Science: 82, 91, 90, AP 90
- Math: 73, 71, 72, 80</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Newspaper (9-12)
Environmental Club (9-12)
Golf Team (12)
Interact Club (9-12)
Student Council (9-12)
Code of Conduct Review Committee Member (9-12)
Building Level Planning Team member (9-12)
Busser at restaurant (11-12)</p>

<p>Particular accomplishments or achievements:</p>

<p>In 10th grade I was the chairman of the Interact club's finance committee. I organized an auction / concert which raised over $20,000. This money was used to construct a medical clinic and school in Nicaragua.</p>

<p>In 9th grade I attempted to form a GSA, however, there was community push-back and it didn't happen.</p>

<p>In 9th grade a couple of my buddies and I were lamenting how no one our age seemed to know about world events. In response, I arranged for two flat screen televisions to be placed in the cafeteria through the Student Council which I was / am a member of. They are tuned to CNN and the students still love them.</p>

<p>Attedned RYLA and HOBY.</p>

<p>In the summer of 11th grade I interned for the president of an investment company with over $40,000,000 on the books. (Can't go into specifics due to a confidentiality agreement)</p>

<p>I organized a concert for a local man who became paraplegic after a car accident. It raised over $1,000 which went towards his medical expenses. </p>

<p>Personal Profile:
-White
-Bisexual
-Income below 50,000 USD,
-First Generation</p>

<p>Schools I would like to be chanced for: Bucknell U, Penn State, Grinell, Gettysburg, NYU, Boston College, University of Chicago, Lehigh U, Colgate, The George Washington University, Wake Forest U, University of Virginia, Amherst, Hamilton, Lafayette, Vassar, Colby, University of Richmond, Northwestern, Duke, Cornell, Brown, Emory, Davidson, UNC Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt U, and Brandeis.</p>

<p>The schools I'm most interested in : Emory, Grinnell, Amherst, Boston College, Cornell, Brown, Hamilton, Colgate, Lehigh, Wake Forest, University of Virginia, and Kenyon</p>

2

<p>If you can rise that SAT to 2200+/ ACT 32+ that will give you EVEN more of a better chance. You have a GREAT list of safeties/matches/reaches. Are you doing the National College Match at Questbridge? If not, I strongly advise you to check that out. I believe you will get in a pretty decent school and have a bright future. Have a great day. :D</p>

3

<p>You have great ECs, but your academics are weak. The SAT I & II scores could be higher and the gpa…more than one C/C- doesn’t look good. I could see where your gc is coming from considering he mainly sees your grades. In light of those grades (for which ECs can make up a little), some of the schools you plan to apply to are gonna be reaches. But it’s worth applying to those top schools.</p>

4

<p>Thanks hopeforDC, I looked into that program and it seems like something that would suit me well. The things GCs don’t tell you about! Haha</p>

<p>But just focusing in here. If you could chance me for Emory, Kenyon, U of Virginia, or Wake Forest I’d appreciate it!</p>

5

<p>I agree, I wouldn’t say the George Washington University is a reach for you, but its not a safety either. Your grades are very weak and projected senior year grades??? never heard that one before and I’m ignoring them. Your AP scores are OK and your test scores meet the requirements for all of these schools, that being said, they aren’t good enough to compensate for your low grades. Normally I would ask if you were at a very competitive high school, but seeing that your counselor thinks that those are reaches, obviously there are many kids at your school getting better grades. I would say wake forest is a far reach, as is Emory. If you live in Virginia I would think you have a slightly better chance than at the two I just mentioned, but if your out of state it will be tough. However, If you can get your ACT to at least a 33 or your SAT to at least a 2200, then your chances could improve substantially. Also, since you have to get a recommendation from your counselor, that might hurt you in the admissions process. When I visited duke they highlighted 6 more or less equal factors that make up the decision(and this applies to most colleges). </p>

<p>Grades you received(GPA)-you are lacking big time here for all these schools</p>

<p>Test Scores-You are good enough to be on the same level as an average accepted student at these schools, but not good enough to be above average. </p>

<p>Recommendations-You might be in danger from your counselor lol.</p>

<p>Essays-All up to you</p>

<p>EC’s-your are looking VERY strong here</p>

<p>Rigor of your Class Schedule-You are sufficient here as well, however, just like with the test scores, not good enough to completely make up for your Grades.</p>

6

<p>Well, with the concern of counselor’s recommendation. I know he is going to give me a very strong recommendation. We’ve met extensively, and he knows me very well and knows that I am intelligent and competent, the problem with my grades is just that I never took High school very seriously until junior year. </p>

<p>I’ve picked out two teachers who are skilled writers and have instructed me in AP classes. Both will write strong recommendations.</p>

<p>The reason I included projected senior year grades is because I plan on working extremely hard senior year to show adcoms that I am capable of handling the work at this caliber of schools. I know 95+s in the mid year report for senior year won’t make up for 2-3 of apathy, but it can’t hurt can it?</p>

<p>As for essays, they’re all written. I worked with an essay consultant over the course of this year and she is confident that my essays will be stick in the adcoms mind.</p>

<p>All of my classes will be AP with the exception of math, which will be Pre-Calc.</p>

<p>Lets say I raise my SAT to a 2200 and ACT to a 33+, which isn’t out of the question. Would that push me into Reach / Competitive for the likes of Wake Forest and Emory? Or would that still be a pretty far reach?</p>

7

<p>If you get those scores you will be pushed into a regular reach, maybe low level target. The not taking hs very seriously thing will bite you though, but yes getting high grades senior year would help you even further. I’d say that if you get high senior year grades and those test scores, you could be competitive at wake, but unfortunately, I don’t think Emory will ever be more than a reach.</p>

8

<p>Bump, please chance for as many as you wouldn’t mind doing</p>