Junior in need of some advice!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone.
I'm a junior in high school living in PA and I'm not really sure where to apply yet?</p>

<p>Here are my classes/grades up to 11th grade:</p>

<p>9th grade
Choir - A
Academic Biology - A
Wellness - A
Gym - A
Academic Algebra I - B
Spanish I - A
Academic English - B
Academic History - A
Total GPA - 3.75</p>

<p>10th grade
Academic Algebra II -B
Spanish II - B
Honors US History - A
Honors English - B
Academic Physics -A
Wellness - A
Gym - A
Total GPA: 3.71</p>

<p>11th grade (projected grades)
Spanish III - A
Honors English - A
Honors World Cultures - A
Honors Chemistry - B
Gym - A
AP Environmental Science - A
Academic Geometry - A
Total GPA: 4.231</p>

<p>12th grade classes I signed up for - AP European History, AP Language & Composition, AP Biology, Academic Pre-calculus, Honors Spanish IV, German I</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
JV Tennis - 9th grade
Varsity Tennis - 10, 11, & 12th grade
Yearbook Staff - 9, 10, 11, & 12th grade
National Honor Society - 11 & 12th grade</p>

<p>Leadership:
Yearbook editor - 11th & 12th grade
Tennis captain - will be in 12th grade</p>

<p>Awards:
Most improved player - 9th grade tennis
Best serve - 9th grade tennis
Spirit award - 10th grade varsity tennis</p>

<p>I'm taking the ACTs in June.</p>

<p>I'm 100% sure I want to go to school to become a biology teacher.
Right now, DePaul University in IL is my number one school.
I'm just not sure if I'll get in because I'm probably getting a B in honors chemistry this year =/</p>

<p>Thoughts/Comments/Suggestions?</p>

<p>Thanks!! :)</p>

2

<p>What about URochester, Vandy, Emory, Tulane, CWRU, Grinnell, Macalester, Oberlin, URichmond, UWisconsin-Madison, UIllinois-Urbana Champaign, UMichigan-Ann Arbor, UWashington-Seattle to start.</p>

<p>What characteristics about DePaul do you like? That may help with suggestions for other schools.</p>

3

<p>r u kidding. I don't know what your test scores are gonna be, but I'm almost certain you could do much better than DePaul. Seriously.</p>

4

<p>Getting into DePaul will not be a problem. Start with the basics- type of school (large, medium, small, urban, suburban, rural) and financial considerations. You should have many options with those grades.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for all your replies!</p>

<p>I'm in the top 20% of my class, so I don't really think I could get into any of the schools that IsleBoy suggested for the exception of UIllinois or UWisconsin-Madison. </p>

<p>I really like the location and diversity of the student body at DePaul and they have exactly what I want to major in.</p>

6

<p>The one thing I would keep in mind with DePaul is that a lot of the students go home on the weekends. If you plan on doing that, it won't affect you, but it's definitely something to consider if you plan on staying on campus for the weekend.</p>

7

<p>Have you asked your parents yet if they have any distance or financial restrictions on your applications? If they say, "no," have them run their finances through a financial aid calculator such as the one on CC's home page so your parents know what they may have to pay. Few things are worse than getting into a dream school and then being told that your parents feel they can't afford it -- something that can happen even if you get merit or financial aid.</p>

8

<p>one B means u could get into much much more than depaul trust me. you can look at w/e schools u wannt with jst ur grades</p>

9

<p>Just out of curiosity, why is everyone so turned off about DePaul?</p>

10

<p>Actually, Vandy, Oberlin, and Emory would be more difficult to get into for you, but still doable. UMichigan is rolling, so the earlier the better. UWashington is the same way as well.</p>

<p>URichmond is a matchy/low reach university. URochester, Grinnell, CWRU, and Tulane are matchy/reachy as well. </p>

<p>But, let me stress that your recs and essays must be excellent. You have a shot at those, so I wouldn't automatically write them off.</p>

<p>As for Depaul, they have some good programs, but financial aid is not the best...and the Downtown Campus does not have a cohesive feel. That being said, if you like the university keep it as one of your safeties. You'd be surprised how many CCers have a dream school they'd like to attend, but no match or safety schools on their list that they'd want to attend (even as they applied). Probably not a very smart tactic.</p>

<p>That being said, have a few reaches, matches, and safeties (financial and admissions wise) that you'd like to attend.</p>

<p>P.S. UWisconsin does take 4-6 weeks to replay to an application, but they are rolling (though they have a due date). The earlier the better (like UMichigan)...I'd say get your applications out by September for the state schools. Then, you'll hear by November/December. As for LACs, consider, if you like, Beloit, Knox, Earham, Wooster, etc...good with aid and amazing places. See CTCL.com</p>

11

<p>I honestly don't think I have a shot at UMichigan or Wisconsin because I took straight academic classes freshman year? =/
Does that matter or is it okay since I have taken much more difficult classes junior and senior year?</p>

12

<p>That is fine. You have a shot, just get your applications in early, like August or September. One of my friend's found out before Christmas, he had a regular schedule his first two years of HS, then college prep, a couple of AP's, and a few CC credits. He had a 3.46 gpa, and a 26 on his ACTs, a 1220 (CR + M), excellent recs, good EC's, and excellent essay(s). He got into both.</p>

<p>His safety was Oxford College of Emory U. It is the two-year college arm of Emory that enables one to move straight into the university as a junior after Oxford graduation (without the hassle of having to apply to Emory). He got in, and was sorely tempted to go that route, but in the end...he ended up at a LAC because he wanted four years of the experience, rather than the two at Oxford. The great thing about the Oxford College-Emory University option is that one gets both experiences (college and university). I suspect that during the first-two years, a smaller, intimate, and more supportive environment would greatly help students develop their skill sets and make the transition to higher education; And, just when a college starts to feel a little small, one is off to Emory with it's wealth of choices and larger student body.</p>

<p>Think of the Emory-Oxford connection like the College of General Studies at Boston University, except that Oxford at Emory has it's own campus.</p>

<p>In any event, don't sell yourself short. The schools others & I have suggest are doable given your grades and schedule. It's more about what you want during the process of finding a college/university. Your first- and second-year schedule should not bar you from get-into or attending the suggested schools or DePaul.</p>