<p>Hi, all! Right off the top, I apologize because you guys are probably tired of answering this question, but I would love to go to ND and would like to know what my odds are of getting in. I am soon going to be starting my junior year of high school and have been looking at some colleges and I really think this is the one for me. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>--GPA as of now: 98.7 out of 100 (I think that transfers to about a 4.0 on that scale)
--I haven't taken the SAT or ACT yet, but plan on doing so soon. However, I never do that well on standardized tests, so I don't have my hopes high on doing brilliant.
--I am taking two AP classes this year and plan to take more my senior year. Several of my classes from the last two years have been honors. I am pretty much taking the toughest classes I can.
--I am number 7 in my class of well over 200 students.
--I'm editor-in-chief of my school newspaper.
--I'm on the leadership team and am section leader for my school band (which includes marching, pep, and concert bands).
--I hope to be part of NHS this year.
--I am a pretty good writer, so I think I would be able to write a pretty good essay.
--I have a few teacher that would be able to write me some pretty good letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>If there is anything else that you would like to know, just ask. I really would value someone's opinion. Also, if you don't think I would be able to get in, do you have any suggestions of other schools that I can be looking at? I would really like to stay in Indiana (this is where I am from and plan to live the rest of my life).</p>
<p>It is a county school. The majority of my classmate don't aspire to be that much. I was not aware that this statistic was unusual. That you for informing me.</p>
<p>Coming from a non-competitive high school doesn't help (valedictorians get shut out of good colleges all the time), but pull down 5s on your AP tests and rock that SAT and you will have a good shot. And work in somewhere that you want to be a part of the Band of the Fighting Irish, the oldest college marching band in the country.</p>
<p>The valedictorian thing is very overrated, quite honestly. From what I have read time and time again, highly competitive universities are looking at percentile ranges, rather than numerical ranks. Hence, #4 or #5 in a class of 100 is statistically identical to a valedictorian. So the fact that valedictorians get rejected is not all that big of a deal, and no reason to stress (i.e. "wow, if the VALEDICTORIAN got rejected, I'm toast!"--no, you are not...) Same holds true for those perfect or near perfect ACT/SAT scores (i.w. "wow, if they turned down a 35, there's no way I'M getting in!").</p>
<p>Admissions is looking at the big picture. You are more than the sum of your part. That's why the essay is such a huge deal. Again, for the overachievers out there, it isn't a writing competition, nor is it another chance to let the adcons know how smart you are--they already know how smart you are. It is rather, a chance for them to get a glimpse between the lines of your resume, to find out what kind of a person you are...what makes you tick. Be yourself. If that self is a person of character and depth, who appears to show the kind of emotional maturity that indicates you can really add to the campus and classroom environment, you have just upped your chances considerably.</p>
<p>Thanks for these tips. I just started school a few days ago and I'm studying really hard in my AP classes in hopes of getting a great score. The program has had a pretty good passing rate on the AP test in the recent past (mostly 4s and 5s,from what we are told) so I hope that I follow this tradition. I'm planning on taking the SAT this fall in preparation for taking it again in the spring. Also, I'm thinking about taking the ACT in December.</p>
<p>I do hope to be part of their band, so I'm also hoping to participate in a few honor band this year to help me become a better player.</p>