My Chances... Please help me

<p>I have really bad SAT's: 1810; CR-680, M-520, W-610. I have a 3.8 gpa, with 3 honors/AP classes: french, english, and biology. I got a 5 on AP US history. I have a bad rank 36 of 188, b/c we have a lot of kids who take dumb class and get like 4.0, and we have a really tough top 15 kids that take all on honors/ ap b/c our science and math honors are linked, so i can't take honors science. I go to a sort of competitive Catholic Highschool, that feed about 4-5 kids to Notre Dame, b/c we were founded by the Holy Cross brother and a lot of our faculty are ND alums.
Awards-
Outstanding Student in French 1, Honors French 11
Ranked in the top 10% and 9% in the nation on the National French Test
Scholastic Honors 9, 10, 11,12
Highest Honor, High Honor roll all four years</p>

<p>I have great EC's
Student Council President, Freshman, Soph, Junior Class President
Two-time Varsity Wrestling Co-Captain
JV Mock trial captain that advanced to states, #1 in districts (soph), Varsity Mock Trial- Outstanding Witness at Districts
Musical- Lead Sophomore year, in the chorus freshman year
Model UN Nations- Founding Member
Good Samaritan Hunger Center- 120 hours of service
French Club
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership
Kodak Young Leaders Scholarship at University of Rochester
Accepted as a candidate at Northwestern and Georgetown to study Government and Politics (Financial Reasons)
Ohio Young Democrats and Junior Statesmen of America- member</p>

<p>Extra Stuff:
dad was shot, single parent, african american, brother is autistic</p>

<p>Peer Counselor, Frederick B. Douglass Award for Humanities and Social Sciences at University of Rochester, African American Catholic Leadership School candidate for Univ of Notre Dame, Holy Cross Student Leaders Conference at St. Edward University,HOBY Youth Leader at Mt. Union College, Student Leader Conference at Hiram College, National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, National Scholar, Intern at Omnova Solutions through American Chemical Society, City of Akron Proclamation Award received from Mayor, Chivalrous Knight, top 20%, low income, work-study for high school, watched autistic bro, great recc's, essay will be ++, amazing speech writer, political buff, and amazing at interviews</p>

<p>The good news is you have a shot. The bad news is its only because your black. (I'm sorry if that came across the wrong way, but AA will definitely help you.) Get your SAT scores up to 2000 and its a match. 2100 makes you a shoe in.</p>

<p>Yeah, normally you would have no chance at all. Then I read that your dad was shot, your african american, and have hardship stuff. Well, I would say you're in. You may even be able to get into HYPS if you play the cards you have been given. Yes, this is a game.</p>

<p>Would American University be a better match? I see where you are coming from that AA will help, but I would rather go to a university where my race isn't the only thing that got me in, but my credentials. My friends have been making fun of me that I am only going to get into a good school because I am black, and I usually laugh it off. I really want to prove them wrong, and if means going to a lesser school I am willing to do it. Or should I just scrap that idea, use my black card, and play up my hardships to get in? I want to hear what you guys think, you seem to be a neutral perspective on the whole thing? And any good test prep book, I mapped out a plan using the Kaplan SAT book. Is there another book that I should use instead? By the way, thanks for your honest comments.</p>

<p>Yeah i'd say American would be a match even if you were white. On the other hand, if i were african american i'd play up my minority status as much as i could. </p>

<p>Considering your an urm, i think American would be a good match/safety for you. Good luck.</p>

<p>Don't go to a college to prove something to your friends. You'll regret it.</p>

<p>You dont want to be in a college where you are out of your league. That will just be stressful and really damaging, look for where you fit in. American is a great match for your stats, and is in DC.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all of the great, and honest advice. I'm going to visit both Georgetown and American, soon. Right now, my heart is set on Georgetown. I have wanted to go there forever, and I think I will apply EA. Although, I am scared because Gtown has a lower EA admittance rate than it's RD rate. Once again, thanks for being so blunt and honest. It puts things in perspective.</p>

<p>You could theoretically apply to GU EA, then GWU-EDII. George Washington might be a higher match for you than American, but still in DC.</p>

<p>Have you heard of Howard University? It is also in DC and is an all black college. Also a good college.</p>

<p>Howard is ok, nothing really stood out to me. I didn't like the campus. I think I have a list of where I want to apply. Anyone is welcome to comment. My list- Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University, NYU, Miami U of Ohio, Ohio State University, Princeton (Woody Woo), Brown, Dartmouth, Boston University</p>

<p>I have two safeties, a couple of matches, and a lot of reaches. I like to have options. I am I going way out of my league with my list or is it pretty even? Help.</p>