Just finished junior year (thankfully). Chance me for some schools please?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone! Now that the dreaded junior year is over, and the application process is right around the corner, I'd really appreciate some input on whether or not my college choices seem realistic. I've visited my school's college counselor, but numerous older students have told me that he told them they should have no problem getting into this or that college, but sadly, that's not what happened. Therefore, I'd really appreciate some extra input on whether or not these choices are realistic for me. Thanks :D</p>

<p>Colleges I want to apply to:
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (hoping to get some merit aid)
Yale just because my dad went there and I think he wants me to at least apply.
I've been told to look at College of Charleston so I guess I will.
Johns Hopkins is also a possibility.</p>

<p>Classes (only academic ones): </p>

<p>Freshman year:
Honors Physics PCB - A both semesters
Honors History of World Civilizations - A both semesters
Honors Freshman English - A both semesters
Advanced Algebra - A both semesters
Honors French 2 - A both semesters</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
Honors Sophomore English: B both semesters
Honors French 3: B, then A
Pre-Calculus - A then B
Honors Chemistry PCB - B both semesters
Sociology - 1 semester, A
Brain Studies - 1 semester, A
I did take a Marketing and an Intro to Business class. Each was 1 semester, and I got an A in both, but they don't count towards my academic GPA.</p>

<p>Junior year course load:
Honors Junior English - B both semesters
Honors French 4 - A both semesters
AP US History - B first semester, then an A
AP Calc AB - B both semesters
Honors Bio PCB - B both semesters
Honors Consumer Education 1st semester - B
Public Speaking 2nd semester - A
My 1st semester gym counts towards my academic GPA too (t's honors gym) - A</p>

<p>Overall GPA as of now:
Unweighted is about 3.7
Weighted is like 4.36</p>

<p>Predicted Senior year course load:
AP Psych
AP Stats
AP Chem
AP French
AP Lang
AP Macro for one semester
That honors gym again, but for both semesters
Possible independent study/research project with my Brain Studies teacher from sophomore year. I still need to work that out.</p>

<p>I took the ACT twice, got a 30 and then a 33. The 33 had a 34, 34, 30, and then 33 (I think). 11 on writing.</p>

<p>My school doesn't rank, nor does it give percentiles. I'd estimate top 25%, maybe 15%, but I really have no idea.</p>

<p>Extra curricular activities:
Erika's Lighthouse club: 9th-12th, hopefully a leadership position this year, since I'm pretty much the reason the club is still around.
PAWS animal club: 9, 11 - couldn't do it sophomore year b/c of a schedule conflict. Board position for senior year.
FNHS: 10th -12th grade
Job as an assistant at an orthodontist's office a couple days a week, usually from about 3:30 to 6 if it's a school day, and 8:30 to 1:30 on some Saturdays.</p>

<p>I'm getting one recommendation from my calc teacher. If I need another one, I might ask either the teacher I had for Brain Studies, or the sponsor of Erika's Lighthouse, depending on the situation.</p>

<p>School: Pretty decent reputation, located in a good suburb. I'm lucky to be able to go there.</p>

<p>Me: White girl from Illinois. Lives in a suburb of Chicago. Pretty average.</p>

<p>Financially, things are a bit complicated. My dad has told me he's been saving for a long time and that I shouldn't worry about cost. However, he and my mom are in the middle of getting divorced, and I know that causes some complications. My mom works at an athletic clothing store as a sales person. My dad is a lawyer.</p>

<p>Intended major: Probably something in the field of biology/psychology/neurological sciences. University of Michigan has a really cool major for Biopsychology, Neuroscience, and Cognitive Psychology all rolled into one. I've heard WashU also has something similar.</p>

<p>Size: I'm not really sure, I guess I'd like a bigger college because they usually can offer more in depth majors. Maybe around 10,000 to 30,000 students?</p>

<p>Setting: A good college town would be great. A smaller city would be cool. I'd prefer not to be in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>Co-ed is a must, greek life is preferred but not something I need.</p>

<p>Am I forgetting anything?</p>

<p>Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thank you so much :)</p>

2

<p>Wisconsin and Minnesota are definites. Michigan is a match. Yale/Washington/John Hopkins are a tiny bit of a reach since you didn’t take any APs prior to junior year, but its doable. </p>

<p>If you’re looking for a school in the tens of thousands of undergrads, Yale/Washington/John Hopkins are out. They’re pretty small schools. Elite, but small.</p>

<p>All the areas your listed colleges are in, are of decent size. All of them are co-ed. If you intend to go private or out of state, I hope your dad has $160,000-$240,000 saved up. </p>

3

<p>I would say Yale is unlikely. WashU is a reach - a lot of kids from the Chicago burbs apply there so best to use your school’s Naviance data if you have access to that. The major at WashU you mentioned is PNP - Psychology/Neuroscience/Philosophy. Very popular particularly among pre-med students. Also check Naviance for the stats for Michigan since they also pull a lot of applications from that area. But would think that is a match for you. </p>

4

<p>I’m not sure if this helps any, but I got my AP scores, 5 for calc and 4 for APUSH.</p>