Lost cause for elite schools?

College Search & Selection
1

As an avid reader of college confidential threads, I feel like it was about time I came to you guys, for I am completely hopeless.

I didn’t try my freshman and sophomore years during to family issues, which happens to everyone, I know, so I won’t dwell on it, but soon after I realized I wanted to apply to competitive “elite” schools, I’m just hoping I’m not a lost cause.
I guess I want you guys to chance me and give me school options based on my stats and ec’s? And if any of you have any advice on how I can make myself a stronger applicant please feel free to let me know as well! I am really really desperate at this point.
I came to America from Egypt in 3rd grade, but didn’t adjust to the language until I was in middle school, I am also a first generation college student and first girl to go to college from my mother’s side if that counts for anything

Freshman:
English honors: B+
Algebra 2 Honors: B
World History honors: A-
Spanish 2:B
Personal Finance: B+
Biology honors: A-

Sophomore:
Ap Human Geography: A (a family member passed away the week of the ap test so I went in and did like 10 questions then left so I ended up scoring a 2, I obviously won’t send that score in)
Eng 10 honors: A-
Pre calc honors: B+
Chem honors: B
Spanish 3: B
Journalism: A

Junior: (my father’s hip surgery went wrong and was unable to walk/drive for months so I became the “man” of the house, leading me to drop all but one of my AP classes, so my junior year schedule isn’t as rigorous as I would’ve liked, but there’s nothing I can do about that now)
AP Eng Lang and Comp: B (took the test, I think i did well)
Calculus: A
Physics honors: A
Modern US history honors: A
Art studio honors: A
Forensics Duel Enrollment: A

Senior year: ( as of right now… this is where I’m torn because I have no idea what classes to take/keep/drop in order to remain as competitive as possible while not overdoing it so I have time to do my college applications. I am considering dropping APUSH and taking a study hall but since I didn’t take Ap’s junior year I feel like I need it to make up for that loss. My other option would be dropping spanish 4 so I can go home early and have more time for my EC’s and college apps, but that would mean I only took 2 years of a foreign language, which i know is frowned upon for most colleges… idk if me being fluent in arabic gives me a passs tho? My last option would be to leave the schedule as it is, please leave your suggestions below.)

AP calc
English 12 honors:
AP Bio:
Ap US History
AP studio Art
Spanish 4
Culinary

Interning with a chemist throughout senior year

My sats scores absolutely blow… but I’m devoting my summer to studying for them
I got a 1210 (new sat)
math: 29
critical reading: 32
writing: 31

ECs:

-cofounded successful nonprofit organization for refugees (have been mentioned on Huffington post and local newspapers)
-freelance blogger for successful blog called Muslim girl (recognized by vogue, MTV, and the white house)
-Key club advisor
-meals with a mission (like a soup kitchen)
-Pilots log editor (school newspaper)
-Multicultural club outreach committee
-Model UN (president?)
-Treasurer of GSA
-national honors society
-Student council board member
-intern as a marketer for halal food festival
-youth leader at my local mosque
(have been in charge of many events such as the halal food festival, walk for water, and multiple muslim youth confrences)
-Democrat republican Club (president)

Summer programs this upcoming summer: Henry Clay for Statesmanship Congress and Girls Who Code

Awards: Princeton Prize in Race Relations (for starting my nonprofit)

I’m really relying on my Ec’s to make me “stand out” amongst other applicants because it is something i’ve devoted a lot of my time towards, I just hope my crappy stats don’t ruin my chances.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what I could be doing to help my chances that I haven’t done already? and should I look into SAT II?

Sorry for this being so long, but any help would be appreciated!

2

At this point, your chances at the “elite” schools (whatever that means now - top 15? really vague) are very low.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t manymanymany good colleges (Top 50-type, although there are also manymany excellent schools outside of that arbitrary cutoff) that will accept a 31/3.6(? not sure the exact GPA) student. Please, don’t tie your self worth to getting into colleges with low acceptance rates. Just because you don’t go to Princeton doesn’t mean you’re “a lost cause.” This is not something to be completely hopeless about. You are an excellent student, though visiting CC can really skew the perception.

What attracts you to elite schools beside prestige? How much can your family afford? What regions are you interested in? What size school? If we know these things, we can actually provide suggestions rather than guess whether or not you’ll get into crapshoot schools.

3

Not necessarily ivy league, I honestly wouldn’t mind going to a state school if I receive a generous scholarship only because my parents cannot assist me in any way financially. I wouldn’t want to go to an elite school just for the name, but rather for the opportunity. It’s inevitable that I would build more connections and meet more people that can help me with my career and perhaps my charity. The syrian refugee conflict is the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time and having a nonprofit to aid that is huge and extremely important to me, so I feel like going to the “wrong” college won’t help me further the success.
I’m interested in staying on the east coast for the most part, but I’m willing to make exceptions. School size: medium-large

4

And considering you believe my chances are low, should I give up taking APUSH or spanish 4 for the sake of my application look better? I would rather not waste time on something that will bring no benefit and maybe use that time for my charity

5

You still have a shot. Having said that, does it matter? When you think “elite”, think top 100. Don’t fall into the Ivy, MIT, Stanford or bust trap. No one gets in! (Not literally, but paper perfect kids get rejected all the time!). So not realistic for most kids whether perfect or with Bs sprinkled into their GPA:)

Think: a great LAC. Do you have a great flagship? A public Ivy? So many great choices to get stuck on words like elite!

I know you likely mean top 20/30. But expand your mind. The top 100 are pretty elite. And the top 300 are still in the top 10% of US schools. Focus on a). What do you want to study and find schools that elcan give that. Then b) of those schools, who “gets” you? Which one fits your way of thinking/living? Do you enjoy hiking and outdoors? City living? Rah rah sports? These things are really important bc 300 schools can give you an elite education. Maybe 100 will excel at your major: which has the things that will make you happy? Status does not. I guarantee it. (My day is rarely improved by carrying a Chanel bag instead of a backpack;)

When my S started this journey, his list was silly. After a lot of looking, he chose some great schools. I knew from the beginning that he was a Michigan kid. It’s who he is. I guess they saw it too. He was not a Duke kid. I guess they saw that too. My point is, you choose. Take back your power! YOU choose your school! They don’t choose you!! Whether you choose for fit or financial aid, choose. Don’t be chosen!!!

Good luck to you!

6

What state do you live in, and have you run the net price calculators on the web sites of that state’s public universities?

Here are some scholarships based on HS GPA and SAT/ACT scores:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

7

Strong ECs will not typically “make up” for below average grades or standardized tests. Still, you have done well and should qualify for many fine schools where you can get a great education and have an amazing experience. Don’t get sucked into thinking that only the Ivy and equivalent schools can get you where you need to go – that is absolutely untrue. Neither one f my kids went to Ivy or equivalent schools (S went to a Jesuit school and D went to a LAC – both were great fits for them and they flourished) and they are doing really well.

8

Your EC’s and your passion for refugees makes you very interesting, imo. You have nothing to lose by applying to a few dream schools as long as you find some others that are safeties. As for academics, I see that you did very well in physics. Maybe take AP Physics intead of AP Bio? I would definitely take Spanish and maybe skip the culinary class and take another AP. Just go for it, don’t cut corners, because you just never know. You said you want time to work on applications next year. Try to do as much as you can during the summer.

What state do you live in? Do you like your state’s public schools? When you say your parents can’t help you need to see if colleges agree with that. Fill out those NPCs on college websites and see what the colleges think your parents can contribute. That’s the most important thing you can do right now, because it will tell you what schools you can and cannot consider. GL

9

First run the EFC calculator, since there’s a difference between “can’t” and “refusing” to pay.

Where are you from? Definitely raise those SAT scores, and you may qualify for full-tuition scholarships (depending on your UW GPA).