Okay, so I’ll be applying to 15 colleges and I was wondering you guys’ input. Please don’t be too harsh or judgement at me lol.
What do you guys think colleges will think when they see my stats.
Freshman Year: 3.25 UW
Sophomore Year: 3.35 UW
Junior Year: 4.0 UW/4.75W
Senior Year: 4.0 UW/5.0 W
GPA: 3.65 UW/4.1 W
SAT: 2330
ACT: 34
$135K in scholarship money
I would also prefer to graduate in 3 years and I have taken 10 AP classes.
I have received all 4s and 5s on my AP exams.
EC:
Medical Doctor Club
Aviation
Basketball
Football
Entrepreneurship
Debate
Extras: I am an app developer and have so far created 3 Apps. Will this help in my college application?
Major: BioChemistry (I’m a premed student who wants to become a cardiac anesthesiologist)
Applications
These are my reaches
Stanford
Columbia
Georgetown
UCLA
Matches
USC (I know that they have a 17% acceptance rate, but their average admitted GPA is a 3.73 which isn’t too far off so…)
NYU
UCSB
UCI
GWU
Pepperdine
Emory
GT
Stony Brook University
Safeties
Fordham
University of San Francisco
No, you know what your reaches are so you’re going in with reasonable expectation. Good luck!
I know USC’s GPA is a 3.73, but it is in no way a match. Keep in mind that 23% of admits are legacies. This being said, I think your list is pretty balanced, although it is a bit lengthy. Remember that you have to do applications for all of them and shouldn’t do any of them halfway! You don’t want to get rejected from all of your top choices AND your safeties because you didn’t think you needed to put in any effort on the applications for the safeties.
You’re definitely a competitive applicant! Good luck.
I’ll just reiterate what RoundGenius said about the length of the list. 15 is too many. I know it’s common nowadays for students to have 10, 15, even 20+ apps, but imho that’s just ridiculous. Narrow it down to schools you could actually see yourself going to. At least throw off a reach and 2 or 3 matches. You’re definitely not going to get shut out of all of these schools so I just don’t see the need in applying to 15. I was somewhat limited in where I could apply since I had to stay in-state, but I applied to 3 schools. Kind of makes it easier when family or friends ask where you’re applying :).
I only applied to four schools and still only got into half of them. More choices is a good thing. But they have to be smart choices so you’re not wasting an app.
Three might have been too few for me as well, and if I were applying OOS I could easily have seen myself with 7 or so. Ten is probably okay, but I think there’s a limit - 20+ is definitely over that limit. Not saying OP is at that point necessarily, my original post may have been too harsh, but looking at the list I could definitely see them trimming it down to 11 or 12 with more thought. This just gives them more time to really perfect their apps. I don’t see how people juggle 15+ applications and make sure their essays are all in order, and mention the correct school in them, etc. It just seems like a hassle. I’d rather see that time spent on the things that could make a difference in getting accepted to those reaches; some EC during the summer, writing spectacular admissions essays, etc.
I also think your numbers make a big difference in how many schools you should apply to. For instance, someone with a 2.9 uw and a 2300 SAT, I THINK, should apply to more schools than someone with a 4.0 and a 2300, everything else being equal in finances, ec’s, etc.
If you wanna graduate in 3 years, maybe just look at the schools on your “matches” list because the others most likely won’t accept your scores(even 5s). But you seem pretty dope. Keep doing those things that interest you rather than things that is “supposed to be” on a college app. good luck
If you’re planning pre-med, go somewhere you can get a high GPA and a low cost of attendance. Check for schools that may be known for grade deflation and avoid them.
What does $135K in scholarship money mean?
The schools you’re looking at aren’t going to accept AP scores. I don’t know what state you’re from, but state schools and lower level private schools are the only ones to accept AP scores, even if you do receive a 5. You seem like a good candidate at all the schools listed, and have a nice balance in your ECs. Mention in your application that you have developed apps, as that is unique and can give you an edge over other applicants. I would not consider USC a match by any means, as well as UCSB, UCI and GT unless you’re in-state. I don’t think your list is too competitive, you have a good balance of schools on there and think you have a good shot at getting in. Best of luck!
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