Last Time: My Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok, this is the last time I'm posting this since I finally came to a definitive list of schools.</p>

<p>BU (RD) - Match
BC (EA) - Reach
U. of Richmond (RD) - Slight Reach
GW (ED?) - Match
American (RD) - Slight Safety
Northeastern (RD) - Slight Safety
Brandeis (RD) - Reach
Holy Cross (RD) - Match
Catholic U. of America (RD) - Safety!</p>

<p>I just took the new SAT and ACT w/ Writing for the first time, no practice, nothing.</p>

<p>SAT: (EEK!)
1910
710 CR
600 M
600 W (9/12 Essay)</p>

<p>ACT:
30 Composite
26 English
28 Math
29 Science
35 Reading
26 English/Writing (9/12 Essay)</p>

<p>Rest of my stats:</p>

<p>I'm a rising Senior....just got done with Junior year</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>GPA: ~3.477 unweighted, ~4.0 weighted, these will hopefully be a bit higher by the end of first semester Senior year.
Rank: 65/592 (Top 10.9%)</p>

<p>Classes this year:
AP Psychology (A's)
AP US History (A's)
AP English Language & Comp. (A's)
Precalculus Honors (C's and B's)
Physics Honors (A's and B's)
Debate VI Honors (A's)
Government Honors (A's)</p>

<p>Note:
Brought Physics from a "B" to an "A" from 1st to 2nd semester, and brought Precalc from a "C" to a "B" from 1st to 2nd semester, so, rising GPA...</p>

<p>Extra-Curric:</p>

<p>Debate Team (~325 NFL Points...for those who know what those are), this is my passion, I've competed in 5 different event categories as well, and placed in 3 of them (Student Congres, Oral Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Public Forum, Policy)
President of Debate Team
VP of Law Club
Lead Attorney on Mock Trial Team
Social Studies Honor Society
JETS</p>

<p>Community Service:
Camp Counselor at local summer camp: ~125+ Hours
helping with middle school debate team: ~15+ hours</p>

<p>Work: Public Library (20 Hours/Week), hope this looks good since it's for the state.
Previously was a Lead Graphic Artist and ran my own PC Repair Company.</p>

<p>Background: Single-Parent Home, Dad pays no child support, etc. Roman Catholic, Irish-Italian, Public School in Florida</p>

<p>Looking to major: Poli. Sci., Government, Political Media
Minor: Journalism, International Studies</p>

<p>Courses for Senior year:
AP Euro
AP US Gov
AP Microeconomics
Independent Study (AP World History)
AP Lit
AP Stats
Debate VIII Honors</p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

2

<p>Looks like a realistic list.</p>

3

<p>If you ED @ GWU you're most definitely in.</p>

4

<p>I think you have a relatively good chance to all of those schools.</p>

5

<p>^ Thanks guys!</p>

6

<p>dont worry about the SAT score, it will come up. my first practice test was a 1980. i took one a week later and improved by about 100 points.</p>

7

<p>Well, I was considering taking the ACT again instead, just because I did better on that and liked it better overall.</p>

8

<p>Any more opinions?</p>

9

<p>It seems like a lot of schools, and schools have application fees. If you're really bent on doing 8, go ahead, but it seems like a stable list and if you're not that interested in 1 or 2 a bit less application stress is great. Seems stable.</p>

10

<p>^ Thanks! </p>

<p>Any more input?</p>

11

<p>I think you have a reasonable number and spectrum of schools. I agree with your assessment of safety/match/reach except that BU is probably a bit more of a reach than match these days for your stats. But you have a sufficient number of less selective schools, I think. Just be sure to put a lot of effort into the essay and secure strong letters of recommendation.</p>

12

<p>^ Thanks for the input!</p>

13

<p>Alright,</p>

<p>Well, I'm still not sure about one thing, so if I could have some opinions on this.</p>

<p>I was planning this whole time to apply ED to GW, but realizing that because I have a fairly low income (EFC ~$1,500), I would be dependent on need-aid, I'm not so sure it would be safe. Granted, GW supposedly fulfills 94% of need-aid students requirements, but I'm just worried that I'll get in and I'll have $20k in grants/scholarships, and $30k in loans/jobs. The other thing is, the only other school I'd apply ED to is Brandeis and their stats aren't better, if anything they're worse.</p>

<p>I'm also going to take Holy Cross off my list I think, it's unnecessary, more money I don't have, and too far from boston, which is the reason I'd be going to school in Mass, it's a long way from here in South Florida, hehe.</p>

<p>I appreciate any opinions on the ED thing.</p>

<p>BTW: Pretty sure my Weighted GPA is closer to a 4.1 or so.</p>

14

<p>im sorta in the same situation...GW's my first choice and id do ED but i dont wanna be stuck with that hefty 50 g's a year. :::sigh:::</p>

<p>too bad money DOESNT grow on trees</p>

15

<p>^ Ah, yeah, I've noticed you're in a similar boat. I really don't know what to do here. :&lt;/p>

16

<p>well, wut ive decided to do was just go RD at GW, there are plenty of other schools id be happy with, and if i dont get the $ from GW, well then it wasnt meant to be. Gotta sacrifice :(</p>

17

<p>^ Yep, I think I'm going to do the same thing.</p>

18

<p>Any other input?</p>

<p>I'm replacing Holy Cross with Wake Forest.
Mind you, they're big on debate and I'll be attending their tournament next month at which I hope to talke to a Debate Coach there and an admissions officer.</p>

<p>So, now it looks like this:</p>

<p>BU (RD) - Match
BC (EA) - Reach
U. of Richmond (RD) - Slight Reach
GW (ED?) - Match
American (RD) - Slight Safety
Northeastern (RD) - Slight Safety
Brandeis (RD) - Reach
Wake Forest (RD) - Slight Reach
Catholic U. of America (RD) - Safety!</p>

19

<p>I wish you good luck with the admissions process. :)</p>

<p>Since you said something before about having a low family income, I think you should request fee waivers for many of these schools. Applying to nine schools is pricey. You should talk to your Guidance Counselor about waiving the application fees this fall.</p>

<p>Also, have you visited any of these schools? I thought Brown University was my dream school when I was a freshman but when I visited Providence last summer, I was severely disappointed. :( It's good to visit so you get a feel for the campus and know if the school matches your personality.</p>

20

<p>ya i mean in all honest, and this is like being realistic not PC or anything but i feel that for most people, unless ur jewish, u may feel out place at Brandeis...its a different atmosphere then u may be used to if not jewish or from southern NY ;)</p>