McDonough RD: Can I get in?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Georgetown University
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<p>Info:
High School: Top 100 Public, sends many grads to top schools (~2500 students)
Ethnicity: Korean American
Gender: Male
Low income family (~$30,000); applying for financial aid</p>

<p>Intended Major: Business/Finance?</p>

<p>GPA:
Class Rank: Top 10% in a class of 556 students
Unweighted: 3.60 (bad sophomore year, family death will be explained)
Weighted: 3.93</p>

<p>Standardized Test Scores:
SAT Reasoning: 710M/650CR/680W = 2040 (should I retake w/ a 34 ACT? I am fairly confident I can get 2100+)
Math Level 2: 800
Korean w/ Listening: 800
Physics: 750
ACT: 34</p>

<p>APs:
11th: AP Calculus AB (4), AP English Lang (4)
12th schedule: AP Lit, Physics, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Spanish, AP Statistics</p>

<p>ECs:
- Access Christian Club: Secretary/Treasurer—Board Member (12), Media Tech (11), Outreach Representative (10), Member (9)
- Agribusiness Club: President (12), Vice President (11), Publicity Manager (10)
- ****** Youth Ministry, Worship Team/Praise Band: Bassist (9-12), Youth Group Leader (11, 12)
- California Scholarship Federation: Board Member (12), Secretary (11), Member (9, 10)
- DECA: Treasurer (12), Member (9, 10)
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): Honorary Member (10, 11, 12)
- Key Club International: Vice President (12), Treasurer (11), Member (9, 10)
- Korean American Student Association (KASA): President (12), Vice President (11), Secretary (10)
- Football: Junior Varsity (10), Frosh/Soph (9)
- “Olympia” Literary Magazine: Features Editor (12), Writer/Photographer (11):
- Track & Field: Varsity (12), Junior Varsity (9, 10); Schedule conflicts with Wells Fargo internship in 11th grade
- Youth Advocates for the Environment: Secretary (12), Member (10, 11)</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
- National Merit Commended Scholar/Semifinalist: Scored 220 on PSAT
- Presidential Award for Academic Excellence
- Coastline ROP: Certificate of Excellence
- Principal’s Academic Honor Roll
- Presidential Volunteer Service Award
- UCI Academic Talent Search: Academic Merit Award</p>

<p>Community Service:
- American Red Cross: Community Service Director, volunteered 300+ hours throughout high school
- ****** Korean Church: Camp counselor/youth leader, Vacation Bible School Summer Program for K-6 kids
- ****** Youth Ministry: Mexico Missions Trip (Summer ’06): Built a local Mexican church, Arizona Missions Trip (Summer ’07): Organized VBS for kids
- 30 Hour Famine (organized by church): Activity leader, fund raiser; Raised money for starving families while fasting and obtained sponsors to donate money
- Homeless Outreach (organized by church): Served meals at a homeless shelter in Santa Ana with several youth group members, every Sunday morning</p>

<p>Employment:
- Daffy’s TropicCafe: Cash register/waiter (9-11)
- Wells Fargo Bank: Associate intern/stage director/teller assistant (11); Unpaid internship through Coastline ROP Program
- ****** Youth Ministry: Associate intern/graphic designer/webpage designer (11); Only 2 students chosen out of 500 in youth ministry</p>

<p>Essay/Recommendations:
- Essay: should be focused on my interest in business and particular programs in McDonough
- Teacher Recs: one from AP Eng teacher, one from Honors Chem teacher - both should be excellent
- Counselor Rec: made me fill out a comprehensive packet "all about me" so should be pretty good/thorough</p>

<p>Would my high test scores offset my low/mediocre GPA? Are my ECs focused enough and show interest in business?</p>

<p>Any/all input would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Anyone? 10 char</p>

3

<p>I honestly have no idea about this one. If not for the GPA, I’d say your chances were really good. But the GPA is a little below average, and it’s tough to say how the adcom will react to the death. The importance of a favorable recommendation from your GC will likely be fairly important.</p>

<p>In terms of EC’s, I’d certainly say you’ve shown sufficient interest in business. If there’s one danger, it’s probably that you’ve overstretched yourself. You’ve done gazillions of activities, seemingly with leadership activities in each one. It’s possible for an adcom to get the idea you’ve overstretched yourself on EC’s, and that’s the cause of your GPA.</p>

4

<p>Ah, thanks for the input. I totally agree.. I’m not the usual CCer with a 3.8+ GPA to accompany high test scores, and I’m really hoping that the admissions officers will understand about the death.</p>

<p>On another note, do you think I should retake the SAT Reasoning since my highest composite so far isn’t really on par with my ACT? Or will they disregard the SAT score because of my higher ACT score?</p>

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<p>What were your individual year GPAs? If the death caused a bad sophomore year which lowered your average but the subsequent years saw an improvement, the GPA might not be so problematic.</p>

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<p>9th: 1st semester - 3.6, 2nd semester - 3.8
10th: 1st semester - 3.2, 2nd semester - 3.4
11th: 1st semester - 4.2, 2nd semester - 4.4
12th: Currently have all A’s except 1 B in 5 APs</p>

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<p>See, that looks better because it clearly shows an upward trend after the difficult period your 10th grade year. I wouldn’t worry so much since you are explaining it.</p>

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<p>Any other thoughts, comments, CHANCES?</p>

9

<p>I didn’t read the post thoroughly, just glanced, but the SATs are a bit on the low side. 700+ on each section is idea (remember writing doesn’t count)…</p>

<p>I’m surprised you’re SAT math score is so low compared to your SAT II math score, maybe you want to retake it… though the 34 ACT is strong…</p>

10

<p>Yeah, I took the Math II subject test this past June and ACT this month, which are a much better indication of my academic ability. I took the SAT I for the second time in March and scored 2040, so it’s been a while. That’s why I’ve been debating if I should retake it for the third time in October (I am registered but was going to decide whether or not to retake it based on my ACT score). Any suggestions/advice?</p>

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<p>Bumping…</p>

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<p>my friend got into and is currently attending McDonough as a freshman..he scored a 32 ACT and 1480/2280 SAT…caucasian kid…idk, your profile looks pretty good. Honestly, yes, the gpa is borderline but also the FA factor. It’s too bad you have to apply b/c colleges definitely prefer no FA whether they say so or not.</p>

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<p>Yeah, you’re right about the FA factor, but isn’t there also the positive aspect regarding the fact that I come from a low-income family? As opposed to an applicant from a well-off background that has more opportunities for prep classes or tutors, for example, I can’t afford any of these opportunities and have to be independent instead. Just a thought.</p>

<p>Does anyone know how Georgetown, or any other top universities, view the financial aid issue, in terms of admissions?</p>

14

<p>If someone could answer the above question, it would be greatly appreciated. :)</p>

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<p>Honestly, if you don’t get into their program, there is a community college nearby that is highly looked at by Georgetown. Many international students attend that community college and then transfer to Georgetown, and get in. Assuming you get high grades.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the info, HulkHogan. I’ll look into that.</p>

<p>Bump!</p>

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<p>Up…</p>