<p>I've just started the college application process, and let me tell you - I've never been this stressed out in my life ! My top two choices are Lehigh and Villanova, but I'm afraid I don't meet the standards. My overall GPA is a 91, excluding senior year grades. I've taken a total of 5 AP courses, one of which I take as an extra class after school. I'm actively involved in every club my school offers [around 10] , and hold leadership positions with the Key Club [a volunteer group], Mock Trial, & I'm the head of prom committee. I ran 3 years of varsity track, played volleyball for a season, and was a varsity cheerleader for 2 seasons. I attended New Jersey Girls State this summer, and was elected to a leadership position there as well. I hold an after school job at Hollister and I've worked at a daycare for the past 2 years, where I volunteered for 4 years prior. I scored a 1750 on my SATs, and I plan on retaking them this November. My school doesn't rank, but I'd be in the top 20 if they did. I come from a small catholic school, our student body barely covers 300 students - it's rare for our students to get into top tier schools. Is it a waste of time for me to even apply, or do I stand an actual chance at acceptance? Thank you so much for your help ! :)</p>
<p>Special Accomplishments & Honors
Honor Roll 9-12
National Honor Society 11-12</p>
<p>In-School Activities:
Student Council 10, 11
Mock Trial 9-12
o Co-Captain
Key Club (volunteer) 9 -12
o President
St. Joseph’s Club (in school volunteer) 9-12
Book Club
Highlander (Newspaper)
Prom Committee 11,12
o Head of Committee
Modeling Club 9-12
History Club 11, 12
Science Club 9-12
Drama Club 9-12</p>
<p>Athletic Activities:
Volleyball 10
Track 9, 10, 12
o Varsity
Cheerleading 11
o Competition Team</p>
<p>Outside Activities:
New Jersey Girls State 11
o President of the Senate</p>
<p>Volunteer Work:
Daycare 9-12
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 9-12
Mental Hospice 10-12</p>
<p>Work Experience:
Daycare, Summer Aid 11,12
Babysitting 9-12
Reception 10-12</p>
<p>SAT BREAK DOWN:
Math: 490
Reading: 640
Writing: 620
Essay: 11</p>
<p>I took the SATs without a calculator, so my scores are bound to increase.</p>
<p>AP CLASSES:
Biology
Physics A
Literature
Comp
US History</p>
<p>My school doesn’t offer many APs, in fact- I take English Comp afterschool in a private study, which means I have an extra class my senior year & more credits.</p>
<p>Both are reaches for you. Still worth applying to but make sure you have backups.</p>
<p>What could I do to improve my odds?</p>
<p>I think you have a far better chance at Villanova, and you should maximize that chance by applying early action by Nov 1. You’d hear by Dec. 20, which would give you time for decision making about where else to apply if necessary. Does your HS have a relationship with their admissions office? Maybe your GC can talk you up your excellent grades and ECs and play down your SAT.</p>
<p>Lehigh is much more of reach.</p>
<p>I’m going with an interview with Lehigh on Monday, I’m hoping that my charity work & leadership will help even out my iffy SAT scores. My guidance office is questionable at best, so I’m pretty much on my own with this entire process. -______-</p>
<p>For the schools you mentioned, the SATs definitely need to come up a bit more otherwise their around a Reach right now
otherwise definitely do what schohawk said and go EA if you can</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1006553-senior-chance-ivies-ehhhh-grades.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1006553-senior-chance-ivies-ehhhh-grades.html</a></p>
<p>chance me back?</p>
<p>I was originally planning on doing EA, but apparently that decreases ones chances if their on the border. They accept the same percent EA every year, and the best of the best apply in advance - which means a less than ideal application can be tossed to the side. I’m not sure how realistic that advice is though.</p>
<p>I think both schools are reaches. Do you have some matches and safeties ready?</p>
<p>I disagree with schmohawk to an extent. I think you probably have a better chance at Lehigh. If you look at the profiles of incoming classes at the two universities, Lehigh generally enrolls more students in the top 10% of their highschool classes than Villanova but Villanova undergrads usually have slightly higher test scores. Also keep in mind that the middle 50% for test scores at Villanova include scholarship athletes (not so at Lehigh since they don’t offer athletic scholarships) and nursing students who tend to have lower test scores. Therefore, you are pretty far below the SAT score Villanova will require if you are not a recruited athlete, URM, or a nursing applicant.</p>
<p>What you have going for you at Lehigh is a decent gpa and decent class rank. Your SAT us below what they want at Lehigh but you are a bit closer to their SAT standards. Also, While Villanova is 51 or 52% female, Lehigh is about 40% female. As a result, being female will not help you at Villanova but may give you a big bump for admission to Lehigh.</p>
<p>Again, both are reaches but worth applying to. Seriously, definately apply to both because you never know what this year’s application pool will look like. Just make sure you have a back-up plan.</p>
<p>I am thinking that the Catholic school connection might be helpful with Villanova. Lehigh was super tough this year- from what I hear from friends with younger siblings.</p>
<p>Do you want to be in PA? Gettysburg, Franklin and Marshall, Bryn Mawr and Dickenson don’t require SAT for accomplished students like you. Maybe apply to one of those.</p>