<p>Am seriously considering the following colleges/universities:</p>
<p>US Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT)
Furman University (Greenville, SC)
Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC)
UNC Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)
Guilford College (Greensboro, NC)</p>
<p>Here are my stats:</p>
<p>I go to a sucky school. Airport High School in West Columbia, SC... Hardly the best. I'm in the top 25% of my class. Took AP English 4 and that's the only AP I plan to take because I can't fit any more into my schedule.
3.45 GPA uwtd (Yes I know that sucks)
1940 new SAT (590math, 680 verbal, 670 writing)
President-Elect of Model UN (Next year will be my 4th year as a member, recieved outstanding delegate award last year at Winthrop University MUN Conference.)
FBLA (1 year)
Founding member of Airport High School Young Democrats in 2004, organized campaign volunteering for Inez Tenenbaum's US Senate campaign and John Kerry's Presidential campaign as well as community service projects for a battered women's shelter in Columbia
Founding member of Airport High School Students Promoting Equality, aka SPEQ (said like speak, it was supposed to be a gay/straight alliance thingy but we got shut down a week later by the school district.)
AJROTC (Next year will be my 4th year, current rank is Sergeant 1st Class and I have held positions of Squad Leader, Assistant Staff Supply Officer, and Platoon Sergeant.)
AJROTC Drill Team (1st year. We are 2nd place in the state of South Carolina, 10th place nationally.)
Civil Air Patrol, USAF Auxiliary (Just joined a couple weeks ago... Lexington Composite Squadron, chosen as the best unit in the state of South Carolina this year.)
Special Olympics volunteer with AJROTC
Former Staff Writer for 'Starfleet Communique', a quarterly newspaper for the official Star Trek Fan Club (don't laugh, please...)
Chosen as one of about 20 students to be on next year's TV news at school
Was a SC Junior Scholar
Member of Airport High School B-27 club (I got a letter, yay!)
Lettered in 'Extracurricular Activities'
Media Center Student Assistant</p>
<p>I also have alot of JROTC awards that I won't bother you with. What are my chances at Furman???</p>
<p>I you are really interested in Furman, go visit and talk with your regional admission reporesentative. Putting a face with a name can't hurt. Also, consider early acceptance. Furman's ED/EA is a little different than the traditional "if you say ED, you must come here" that other schools have, so check it out. Are you considering joining Army ROTC and a career in the military? If so, talk with the AROTC detachment; the commander may be able to recommend you to the school. Remember, unless you are on an AROTC scholarship, membership in ROTC does NOT commmit you to joining the miltary when you graduate until your junior year when you "join" the upper classmen (sign your contract with the service as a reservist). While the average SAT for Furman (on the old scale) have risen to just over 1300, you are not that far below this average and your GPA is still acceptable. Again, ask your regional admission rep; they will be honest with you. While I am not an expert, I will, however, suggest that you may not be a candidate for any large scholarships at Furman (again, this is clearly just my opinion, so ask the rep), and the tuition has just gone up to over 25K (plus room, board, fess, etc...) for around 33K a year.</p>
<p>If you are still interested, keep posting here and I'll encourage some Furman students (all of whom are on break right now and probably NOT looking at this site) to post and answer your questions.</p>
<p>Good luck with your other schools as well. the Coast Guard sounds like an excellent choice as well. Again, talk to someone from there and evaluate your chances (still apply, in any case, because you never know:))</p>
<p>I don't think the money is a problem. My family doesn't make much money so I'm sure we can qualify for alot of financial aid. Our expected annual contribution is only $5,000 so that'll work out plus I qualify for LIFE scholarship. I've talked to my english teacher, he went to Furman, and he says I don't have a chance in hell of getting in... So, lol, I guess I won't be going to Furman. I'll still apply though, just in case. I've decided against the Coast Guard b/c it is just too much, I've realized I don't have the personal strength that it takes to be a cadet there. I'm going to apply to American University, I think I might get in there. I just want somewhere that has a good reputation and is reasonably well known, so I can get into a good graduate school maybe Northwestern or UNC or something like that. </p>
<p>Anyway, I'll be taking the SAT one more time and I'm going to try the ACT as well in the fall, so I think things should get a little better in that respect. Thanks for the suggestions.</p>
<p>I'm not going to lie and tell you you're a shoe in, but there should be special rings of Hell dedicated to people like your English teacher. Don't listen to him. Your stats are at least in the ballpark (taking the SAT a few more times will probably help, maybe the ACT as well). Good EC's, the ROTC background will be helpful. No guarantees, but I wouldn't rule Furman out. If anything, I would say Chapel Hill is a much longer shot due to out of state considerations. I like Winthrop, and I think you have an excellent shot there - my brother in law is an English professor and Winthrop and loves it. Guilford is also a very good target. Have you thought at all about Elon, College of Charleston, UNC-Asheville?</p>
<p>Elon, no... CoC? No, it's too much of a party school for me lol. And I haven't looked into Asheville, I was figuring it'd be the same as like a satellite of USC.. Cause I know all the regional USC branches are less quality than the Columbia one, so I figured it'd be the same for UNC or any other university. But I'll check it out, now that you've mentioned it. I haven't even heard of Elon though, is it good?</p>
<p>Elon is good. Located just outside the NC Triad area (Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point) I pretty much hate the USNEWS stuff, but in the absence of anything else . . . </p>
<p>Elon is ranked 6th among Southern Master's Universities. For comparison's sake, in that same category CofC is 11th, Winthrop is 29th. Reputation is that it's somewhat preppy, a lot of rich white kids, etc. But I think all private colleges in the south have the same rep! Greek participation is high (25%), but that's not as high as a lot of other small southern schools. SAT 25-75 percentile range (old test) is 1070-1250, average GPA of 3.6 -- so you're certainly well within their numbers. </p>
<p>I hear what you're saying about UNC-A, but I do think that it has apretty good reputation and is not necessarily considered "just a satellite". In that respect, I think most of the UNC branches have a better reputation than the USC branches -- don't know why, it's just a feeling I have. Having said that, I'd be lying if I tried to tell you that UNC-A was regarded the same as UNC-Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>By the way, the Gay-Straight Alliance experience sounds like a great essay topic. Does the school board understand that if they permit any extracurricular clubs they don't really have any right to shut down this one?</p>
<p>I went to Airport High my freshman and sophomore year, and I'll be a freshman at Furman in the fall. Do I know you by any chance? Send me a message on AIM. My screenname is 'and ken was like'. I look forward from hearing from you.</p>
<p>Um sure I added you. Can't believe you went to Airport. Where did you go after that, BC? I know somebody who will be a sophomore at Furman next year, Sunny Hart, you know her? :P </p>
<p>Elon is that good? Wow, I've never even heard of it lol. I've been discussing with some people from CC and I've kinda revised my list. Here it is:</p>
<p>Furman
Tulane
American
Winthrop (safety)
Guilford (safety)</p>
<p>Do those all seem like good choices, and what do you think about my chances at Tulane and American?</p>
<p>Tulane's probably a reach, but you're in the ballpark. American looks like a solid match. So based on your list, I would say:</p>
<p>Winthrop - Safety
Guilford - Safety
American - Target
Furman - Target, maybe a Target/Reach
Tulane - Reach</p>
<p>Do American and Furman have good fin aid programs? Cause that's a big factor in where I go.</p>
<p>Sorry I didn't check back sooner. It looks like you have been given good advice. I really like the remark about "circles of hell for your English teacher." Don't listen to poor advice. If you let Furman know that it is sincerely your dream school, they will hear you and it will make a difference!!! Your SATs are only part of the equation, and I still think a positive remark from the AROTC commander can't hurt either. </p>
<p>Anyway, one more addition concerning UNC-Ashville. My stepson went there are loved it. It was a wonderful place for him to grow and learn, and he is now a very successful young man with a business degree from UNCA that has served him well. His wife also graduated from there and equally loved her experience. It is not a "satellite" of UNC. It has a completely different atmosphere, with it's own mascot and personality, and gives you a small LAC experience within the NC university school system. Take a look. It is also a very pretty campus. </p>
<p>As for Furman, I still think you are in the ball park, especially if you apply early decision (if you check with the Furman Financial aid department, you will find them very helpful and they will explain how their early decision works, which is a more fluid commitment....with respect to finances...than most ED school programs).</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>