<p>I'm having an incredibly hard time finding matches & safeties. It seems like every school I'm interested in is a reach.</p>
<p>Help?</p>
<p>I know my stats are lower than probably everyone's on CC, heh. Excuse for GPA: lazy underclassman years. Excuse for standardized test scores: I'm just a poor test taker when it comes to ACT & SAT.</p>
<p>I'll keep this simple.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.44 unweighted, 3.5 weighted (only 1 AP class my junior year -- I'm taking 3 AP classes next year) -- if this makes a difference: 3.2 frosh year, 3.1 soph year, 3.9 junior year
Class Rank: 26% unweighted, 27% weighted. My school is very competitive. I'm 173/658.
SAT: OUCH. lol. CR: 540, M: 610, W: 640 (essay- 9). I'll be retaking it; I'm prepping this summer.
ACT: Composite - 26. E: 29, M:26, R: 28, S: 21
AP Human Geogrpahy: 5 (I don't know if this is even taken into consideration - but I'm proud of it regardless?)
Extracurriculars: This is where I can shine. I'm active in quite a few clubs that I won't bother to name, but my "big" role is editor of school paper. I was entertainment editor my junior year and i'm editor in chief senior year. I calculated my hours that I spent working on it if I'm asked -- it was about 22 hrs/week for maybe 9 weeks.
Work experience: Was a cashier soph+junior about 10 hrs a week. Looking to work 10 hrs a week for the summer as soon as I go and fill out an application lol.
Volunteer experience: Special Olympics, Retirement Home, Shelters... I'm pretty well-rounded in this area.
Awards: Quill and Scroll, hoping for NHS...</p>
<p>I'm looking at.... Augustana (IL), Macalester, Knox, Beloit, Denison, Grinnell, Lawerence, Kenyon, Kalmazoo, University of Chicago (streeeeeeeeeeeetch), Illinois Wesleyan, University of Chicago.</p>
<p>If you could suggest any other midwest schools that kind of fit into the mix I have listed... tell me anything about the schools above.. or just tell me if I have ANY chance at ANY of them-- I'd be grateful. Thank you!</p>
<p>I raised it from a 3.2 to a 3.4 -- and considering it's the summer before senior year, there's really not much time to raise it. Either I send in Early applications and they see a 3.44 (well, I'm taking a summer course but I think the highest it'll go will be a 3.48) or I apply regular decision -- if it's after my school's first semester (mid-end of January) -- and risk all the benefits that come with early decision. </p>
<p>Any insight on that? Early decision with my stats now or regular decision with (calculated if I got straight A's- which is likely) a 3.53 unweighted and something like a 3.6 weighted?</p>
<p>And I'm guessing I'm going to get somewhere from a 28-30 on my next ACT from the practice tests/preparation I've been doing.</p>
<p>the gpa is not good enuf, and unfortunately it will seriuosly hurt your chances unless you have a good reason to explain why its so low. the high ACT score of 30, if you get it, could greatly increase your chances, though, at kenyon and grinnell</p>
<p>Augustana (IL) - safety
Macalester - match/reach
Knox - match
Beloit - match/reach
Denison - match
Grinnell - reach
Lawerence - reach
Kenyon - reach
Kalmazoo - match
University of Chicago - reach
Illinois Wesleyan - safety</p>
<p>Your grades aren't that bad. Your scores need to improve though. If you can pull yourself to above 650 in all areas I think your chances will improve.</p>
<p>If you apply to Michigan State from OOS, you will definately get in. MSU has trouble finding out of staters.</p>
<p>The upward trend is certainly looked at so make that first semester count and your GPA will not hurt that much. Try the ACT again .I agree with Renin's assesment of chances. Carolyn has done a lot of research on some great midwest colleges such as Earlham, try a search. There are some great descriptions of visits on here. You will have some great choices and if you pull of a great 1st semester and raise scores just a little it will even add to that.Best of luck!!!</p>
<p>Hey you know what? If you can impress with your EC's and that is your strong point, if you have something unique and different to offer, you just might get into U Chicago. </p>
<p>Just looking at the action report form my school, U Chicago has rejected valedictorians but accepted people who have B averages but have something they are looking for, like performing arts, sports, etc. and show lots of interest in their school and also wrote some great essays.</p>
<p>But just looking at your test scores, it is a big reach right now.</p>
<p>that's what i'm hoping! heh. i do want to be somewhat up to par, though.... but i think my selling point for uchicago would be my essays. i can write and i have the time to perfect it. i also have a teacher who LOVES uchicago and me lol -- he'll write me a killer rec.</p>
<p>not to mention that i'm looking to major in one of their departments that probably could do with a few more students -- as far as i know, their geography department is dwindling.</p>
<p>it's still such a major stretch.... but for some reason i just feel like i should try it anyway... no harm in trying, i guess.</p>