Hello- I am currently a high school junior and am trying to narrow down my list of colleges as senior year approaches. I have a 4.25/3.75 weighted/unweighted GPA and scored a 1330 (720 English/610 Math) on the SAT. I have taken 2 AP classes and plan on taking 3 more next year. For extracurricular, I am the president of my school’s French club, the VP (just elected president) of MUN, VP/co-founder of my school’s Amnesty International club, and tennis captain/first singles player. I am a member of NHS, tutor middle schoolers in French, have interned for my state rep, and will intern for my congressman this summer. I also do a great deal of campaign volunteering. The list of colleges to which I plan on applying is as follows:
Georgetown University
George Washington University
American Univeristy
Fordham University
Boston College
College of William and Mary
Trinity College
Providence College
Fairfield University
I realize that Georgetown is way out of my reach, but I think that American is my first choice anyway. I just want input as to whether or not some of these schools are realistic for me.
Well formed list. Actually Georgetown is not WAY out of your reach at all. Your SAT is near the 25%tile but your ECs look pretty good to me.
You have a good bunch of Reaches, Matches, and Safeties. I like it.
If money isn’t an issue, you can ED to Georgetown. ED DRAMATICALLY increases the chances for middle top 50 schools and below (like top 15 and below). At least at my school it does. The GPA graphs for ED vs RD are significantly different.
Well there you go. The chances are you will definitely end up in DC. Whether it be at AMu, Georgetown, or GWU,
If your guidance counselor uses Naviance, take a look at what scores and grades have been required for acceptance to these schools. I wouldn’t recommend applying EA at Georgetown as their EA acceptance rate is les than 20% and would require a 1500+ SAT to be successful; also applying EA at Georgetown would prohibit you from applying ED to another school, except BC (the catholic schools have a particular EA policy). I would consider GW as a low reach and American as a safe match with your scores/grades.
I would go ahead and go against AimingTop50’s suggestion to apply EA for Georgetown. I’ve been keeping up with the thread linked below because it has a lot of useful information, and this year’s EA acceptance rate was not beneficial. I’d use it when it can actually be considered a big advantage. Apply to something that might actually help you if financial aid is not a major concern and there’s a college that you’d accept no matter what they offer. If you REALLY want to go to American (I didn’t like it when I was considering it, but that was just me), I can almost guarantee that you will be accepted if you apply ED1.
I’d recommend applying to at least one state flagship, preferably with rolling admission and that you’d love to go to. You do have a nice mix of schools, but just as a precaution, I’d do it.
By the way, what are you intending on majoring in, out of curiosity?
Last couple of cents in, I would say: High Reaches: Georgetown University Reaches: Boston College, College of William and Mary Fits: George Washington University, American University, Low Fits (not quite safeties): Fordham University, Trinity College Safeties: Providence College, Fairfield University
**And I would look into these, as they seem great from my research and similar to yours: ** Reaches: Davidson, Emory, Oberlin, Wake Forest, Richmond, F&M, Lehigh Fits: Occidental, Gettysburg, Union (NY) Safety: Wabash, Sewanee