Junior Looking at Some Colleges

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello! I am currently a Junior in High School in VA and was wondering what schools I would be a good candidate for.
Here is some info on me:

Background:

I am mixed. My mother is a naturalized American Citizen from Korea and my father is white and was in the Army.
I have Type 1 Diabetes (scholarship opportunities?)

I have a nut allergy (scholarship opportunities?)

School:

Class Rank: 1 out of 112
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Current Weighted GPA: 4.36
Potential Weighted GPA (if I continue to get straight A’s): 4.63
I am Currently involved in a dual-enrollment plan that allows me to take ALL College Classes (through community college) during my Junior and Senior Year that will give me my Associate’s Degree in General Studies a month before I receive an Advanced Diploma
Sophomore Year: AP Biology-4, AP World History-5
June of Sophomore year SAT Score (1st attempt): 600 CR, 650 Math, 640 Writing (10 on Essay).
Junior Year Curriculum (so far all A’s): Music Appreciation, College Chemistry, College Precalc, US History, College Composition (writing intensive), College Success Skills, and Concepts of Personal & Community Health.
Senior Year Curriculum: General College Physics, Survey of World Lit., Applied Calculus, US Government, Intro to Computer Applications and Concepts, Religions of the World, and Principals of Public Speaking

I plan to retake the SAT at least until I receive a 750 on math, 700 on English, and 720 on Writing.

I plan to take the SAT II in Math 1&2 and Bio

Extra Curricular Activities

Boy Scout of America- Eagle Scout (Junior Assistant Scoutmaster)
Order of the Arrow- (Lodge Executive Committee Member (EC is made of 20 people who is in charge of a 1000 member lodge))
4-H (President and Founder of local 4-H Shooting Club)
National Honor Society
Karate (Black Belt and volunteer to teach)
FIRST Robotics Team (Chief Operations Officer)
Forensics (3rd Place in 1A school in VA for Extemp. Speaking)
Student Council Association (YWCA Relation Committee Chairman)
Scholastic Bowl Team (Captain)
Community Emergency Response Team (founding member)

Honors Bestowed Upon Me

Eagle Scout
Outstanding Student in Chemistry
Outstanding Student in Biology
Dean’s List
Principal’s List
1st Place and Record holder for Popcorn Fundraiser sales in Blue Ridge Mountains Council for BSA
Virginia Department of Education’s 1st Place in David Ricardo Economics Challenge
Central Virginia Science Fair-2nd Place in Engineering
Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth Award for High Honors
Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth Distinction in Mathematics
NASCAR Grand Marshall of the Kroger 250 Race
Acceptance into the Early College Program
Acceptance into the Central Virginia Governor’s School for Science and Technology
NASA Aerospace Scholar

National Junior Honor Society: Highest Number of Service Hours

I hope to apply to Virginia Tech (their Honors Engineering Program), UVa, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, and my dream school, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. What are my chances? Are there any other good engineering colleges I would have a chance at?

2

You’re definitely in a good position to have a good chance to get into your choices. Just try and get your SATs up higher (and maybe try taking the ACT too; some people do better on one test than the other). I would say you’re probably in at Tech and UVa since they’re in-state schools (Even better if you don’t live in NoVa, but even if you do, then you’re still most likely in). I think you also have good shots at the rest of your schools too.

Also, I think I’ve read about some scholarships for kids with diabetes, but I’ve never heard of anything for kids with nut allergies. Check around though.

3

I took the ACT Last April and got a Composite score of 28 with a 29 Math, 29 Science, 28 CR, and 28 Writing. I live in South Central VA so the competition compared to NoVA isn’t as bad. I really hope my SATs improve. I believe my math score can go up a lot more and so can my writing. The only thing that kills me is the CR section.

4

You need to study for the SATs, don’t just ‘hope’ your scores go up. Also, why take SAT subject Math I? Just take Math 2 and one other. Leave time for two sittings on those, too.

What is your financial situation?

5

intparent, I have been studying for them with the blue book. I have taken several practice test (my highest score was a 2090). I am an only child with a household income of 58k annually.

6

Don’t do Math 1; it’s a waste. Most colleges don’t like it but they probably wouldn’t admit it. Math 1 is basically the equivalent of SAT Math in the actual test.

Use other books to study for the SAT and ACT too. Princeton Review, Barrons, and online resources are great places to pick up knowledge and tips that the official doesn’t give.

7

Look at the SAT thread out here. There are a couple of pinned threads, I think, with study methods that you should consider using. I also like the Gruber books to study for math. CR is harder to raise – the students who do best on CR are lifelong readers, which is hard to make up for as a junior in high school. But study the blue book and other prep books for CR.

It is another reach on your list, but Harvey Mudd is a pretty great tech school (one of my kids goes there). Maybe Case Western as more of a match school? You will want to go run the net price calculators on the website (financial aid page) of all of your schools to see what is affordable, too.

8

Better SAT scores and consider taking the ACT. Definitely take the SAT II tests (like you mentioned). For the VA schools you mentioned, if you bring up the SAT, then you’ll be fine. Especially for UVA and VT. I can’t chance on the MIT part, but you have a good shot there along with UMich and GT. You’re a VA resident and that will help you for VT & UVA tremendously.

9

You’re fine for VT, UVA, and most likely GTech. I don’t know much about UMich but I think you should be fine for that too. MIT…your SAT’s would need to come up a lot. Especially your 2 part. Excellent SAT’s (2300+ range) would give you a much better chance, but I would give it a shot regardless of what your final SAT score is. Keep in mind that MIT’s acceptance rate is about 8%…in other words, there’s no such thing as a sure shot, even if you were to get a 2400. In fact, something like 25% of MIT students did get an 800 on at least one section, so obviously the competition is tough.

One thing that can really set you apart and help even no matter what you get on the SAT, is writing good application essays. One thing a lot of students lack, especially math/science/engineering students, is the ability to write an interesting and cohesive essay. If you can write a killer essay it separates you from thousands of your closest friends who also are great students, desperately want to go to MIT, and essentially look the same on paper. If you make your essay interesting, personal, and connect with the reader, you become a person to the admissions counselor, not a statistic, and they will be much more likely to see you as a valuable asset to their college. Spend a lot of time on your essays, especially for MIT, and definitely get help - from parents, english teachers, peers, etc.

10

@james161davis Awesome job, having such an amazing resume while managing your diabetes! I would look for scholarships for those that “overcome adversity”.

May I ask if you needed any standardized test accomodations from College Board and how difficult it was to obtain them? This is on the horizon for my youngest with T1D and a 4 hour test is a scary prospect.

Since you need to work on that SAT score, I want to recommend Dr. Chung’s SAT Math (it has some errors in it, but raised my son’s score substantially - he only got one problem wrong on the PSAT). I also hear that Erica Meltzer’s books on CR and W are the best.

SAT IIs for a science guy should be Math2 and a Science. Math 1 would be a waste of time and money.

Definitely look into programs like Questbridge and the Gates Millenium scholarship.

Now, go conquer the world!

11

3boystogo, I did not make any specific accommodations. All I really did was bring my glucometer and 2 candy bars in case I went low. I just put the candy bars in my pocket and ate them during one of the many breaks that were given between every two sections.

I still have until next December to test for my SAT. I plan to take the SAT and The SAT II in May and June. Then I may take them in October, November, and December.

12

I am aware that I need to raise my test scores. Thats a WIP i believe is achievable :slight_smile:

13

SATs are much too low for Michigan engineering at the moment.

14

Ive been getting help studying and preparing for my SATs with a friend who got a 2390 (WHOA!) and will be a part o Harvard '19. I’m literally studying my butt off to make sure I am at least somewhat competitive :smiley:

15

Your SAT’s basically make your gpa look as if it’s inflated. Try to get over 2200, and make sure you get 750+'s on both SAT subject tests, and I’d say you would have a fairly competitive application at most of the schools on your list - except for MIT of course

16

Two things- I would try to punch your science fair and economics EC’s from State to National level. Second, I would pay for an on-line test prep course ($300). Others on CC seem to have great success with those. You are looking really good, but you are still half-baked. Push through this next year. Math II and on lab science for the SAT IIs.

You have a fighting chance for Harvey Mudd/ MIT/ CalTech; put you want to increase your chances.

Good luck!

17

Did you really just say that because you have a nut allergy you might have a scholorship oppurtunity.

18

The biggest problem with National Competitions is that my school offers NO way to enter into them. I have looked into things but I simply cannot afford to travel to other states and financial aid is obsolete with this because my household income is low, but not low enough to get major financial aid. Plus, I live in an area where the closest city is small, with a major city that offers me access to a lot around 2 hours away.

19

Bump please

20

If you can get the SAT and ACT scores up, you can match UVA, Virginia Tech, and GT. UMich is really becoming a reach lately for people and MIT is a reach for anyone.

I guess you want to go into science/engineering. Case Western can be a match. Johns Hopkins is a reach. Don’t know how much money is an option but UWisconsin Madison is another option to look at that is a great engineering school. Harvey Mudd and the UC’s are options too, but far.

On the East Coast, Cornell’s engineering program is the best of the best…if you can get in. :wink: