<p>Stats:
-African American Male
-In state at an extremely (annoyingly) competitive high school
-Freshman Year GPA: 3.5
-Sophomore Year GPA: 3.5
-Junior Year GPA: 3.7
-SAT: 1810 (CR: 600, M: 540..yikes I know, W: 670). This is probably going to be the downfall of my application because I know College Park does not look at writing, so that puts my score at 1140.
-ACT: 26
-I agreed to myself today that I won't be taking anymore standardized tests because I need to just accept that it's something I fail at.</p>
<p>Ten AP courses taken by the end of senior year:
AP World History
AP US History
AP US Government and Politics
AP English Lang & Comp
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP English Lit & Comp
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP Calculus AB</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Student Ambassador
National Honor Society
African American Leadership League
Copy editor for newspaper (junior year)
Student Improvement Team (President)
Literary Magazine staff</p>
<p>Hooks I guess would be URM? I'm in a single parent home because my father passed away a few months ago, but that's probably not a hook. Thanks!</p>
<p>I suggest–sorry–more standardized tests. It’s good that you took the ACT and the SAT, but it will be better when you try in the fall and achieve a higher score. My daughter, who is going to be a sophomore at UMCP in the fall, had similar test scores and GPA, but she managed to get an ACT of 28. If nothing else, I think retaking the test(s) will show that you’re determined to improve your stats. Also, the number of AP classes is great, but what sort of scores are you getting?</p>
<p>I think you have some good things going here. Upward trend in GPA, lots of AP’s, solid EC’s. I agree with JenPam, that you should actually focus on the tests. My recommendation would be to get some help on the SAT then nail the October test.</p>
<p>Either take a small SAT test prep class or if it is viable, get one on one tutoring. Had my son take about 4 hours of math tutoring and 4 hours of CR tutoring one on one and he improved about 100 points from his first to second test, although from reasonably high scores to start with. </p>
<p>You get your scores up to say 600M and 630CR, I think you would then have a very strong chance at being accepted to UMD. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>So if I was to take another standardized test, I should do the SAT and not the ACT in the fall?</p>
<p>You’re pretty solid for getting in. And being an african american male who is in state is a big advantage. I had similar stats as you and got in. If want to get into honors u will need a higher gpa. You do have a shot at scholars though. But you should try to get the math up to 600.</p>
<p>Thanks! By the way everyone, I was predicting a 3.7 for my junior year GPA because I hadn’t gotten my report card yet, but it turned out to be a 3.8! So yay. I’ll definitely be focusing on the math SAT.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how being a URM will affect admissions, but my stats were higher than yours (28 ACT 3.8 uw gpa with 6 AP classes and 2 community college courses) and I only got 2014 spring admit.
Retake your SAT - you will regret it later.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I got my AP scores back…the three I took this year.</p>
<p>AP US Gov’t and Pol (3) - so there’s credit for GVPT170
AP US History (4) - credit for HIST200 or HIST201
AP English Lang (3) - apparently this gets elective credit but I’m definitely retaking this next year so I can get out of that dreaded ENGL101 that everyone whines about. I’m really not sure what happened with this exam because this was a class that I excelled in against my peers and received an A. I did think the test was hard, though, and the reading passages were a doozie. Better luck next year, I guess.</p>
<p>Strongly suggest retaking the standardized tests.</p>
<p>Just an update if anyone cares…I got in! And the Scholars program! Yay!</p>
<p>Congratulations! That is awesome!</p>
<p>Nice going, alittlescared! That’s great news. Can you share you if your SAT improved after study? And scholars, too? That’s really great news. Congratulations.</p>