Really interested in UW (University of Washington) and Boulder, but that’s another topic. What are my chances to get into UW? I know I will get into Boulder. I am currently a sophomore in HS.
- 3.65 weighted GPA first sem, 3.83 second sem. I will have probably over a 4.0 junior year as I feel like my load is a bit less.
- Forgot about PSAT, but I feel like I will do decent on SAT. What is a score I should shoot for when I take it?
- I play soccer and am heavily involved in Relay for Life.
- 2 AP classes this year, and another 2 junior and senior year. I may take a 3rd junior year, but will it make that much of a difference?
Thank you for your time!
Are you in state or out of state? I think UW (like most public universities) has a tendency to be a little bit more lenient with in state applicants versus out of state applicants.
That said, you could try to improve your GPA to improve your chances. And remember to look at your unweighted GPA too, as I believe UW will look at your unweighted. It says on the UW website that the middle 50% GPA of accepted freshman falls within the 3.64-3.93 range, and I believe that’s unweighted.
The fact that you play soccer is great–keep that up. Also look around town to see if you can do any volunteer work over the summers. Find something you enjoy doing. I love science and history, so I’m planning to volunteer at the local Natural History Museum this summer.
About your AP classes: I would say that an extra AP class senior year DOES make a difference, especially if it’s in a challenging course such as Calculus, Computer Science, etc. I’m also looking at UW, and I’m a junior this year taking 3 AP classes with a planned 4 next year. Don’t hesitate to pile on the work is what I’ve always been taught. If worse comes to worse, you can always drop a class if it’s too much.
Finally, the SATs. UW’s website states that this is their SAT range for the middle 50%:
Critical Reading 540-660
Math 580-700
Writing 450-660
So if I were you, I’d make a goal of 1900+ to be safe. But remember, higher scores mean the possibility of merit scholarships, so don’t be afraid to push for a higher score even if it’s “good enough.”
To answer what your chances are… I think that because you’re a sophomore you have a lot of time. Get involved in some volunteering over the summer if you can, and try to get a leadership position on your soccer team (captain, etc.). Also try to get a good score on your SAT and try to push yourself with AP classes and you should have no trouble getting accepted when it’s time to apply! Good luck 