Need an adult opinion

Parents Forum
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<p>Hey adults of CC, im totalling stressing my senior year becaus eof my sat score.</p>

<p>I got a 980 ( i said 1010 because i dont want to get laughed at for not even reaching 1000 :( )</p>

<p>This test pressured me and i studied and have taken it twice. I'm not the greatest standardized test taker but I do farely well in class if i try. Senior year im taking 2 ap's and been pushing math and all advanced course and pull 5 a's and a c in math. Math is my weak subject.</p>

<p>HEre is my stats and im scared of not getting into any of these schools. ANy ideas on colleges or opinions of me getting in. I'm stressing and going to go bald at 30 if i keep it up.
From Alaska:
Hey Ccers,</p>

<p>Im just a person who worries way to much. I always think of the negative side and have been worrying so much this year that I am hardly having any fun my senior year. My current gpa is a 3.1 and i reside in Alaska and am white. I have taken the sat twice neither with great luck. 940 and 980.
I am in the top 50 percent and have improved over the years.
EC's:
•Football: 2 Years Varsity, Lettered
•Soccer: 10 years of competitive /recreational, 3 time Memorial day tournament participant (Texas)
•Golf: 7 Years, Recreational, Attended Multiple Camps and Clinics.
•Local church volunteer for youth group along with 8 years of student learning and active participation. (got letter of recomendation from church leader)
•Two time gold medal winner: Anchorage Youth Ski League
•25 hours/week as a Lifeguard for 13 months+
•Adept with various computer languages and computer software ex. Webpage Design and knowledge of HTML, PHP, Perl.</p>

<p>So being from alaska, decent ec's, 3.1 gpa and 2 letters of recomendation I am looking at applying to these schools. I was wondering if you guys can give me any idea of how it is looking and if there is a chance. I want to go pre-dental and become a dentist. Also thinking of going business as a backup. </p>

<p>List of Schools:
Arizona State
Arizona
Gonzaga
Florida State (Might be a super reach but being from Ak might help??)
Montana State Bozeman
Texas atm (dad went there)
TCU (Texas Christian)
Washington State
Western Oregon</p>

<p>Please let me know guys and help me get some stress out Thanks
Zac</p>

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<p>Hi Zac - I have responded to you several times --- I think you have a shot at some good schools but some of the ones on this list are going to be high reaches for you. As an out of state student, you will need higher stats for some of these schools than in-state students do. And, as I said before, you need to read the minimum requirements for each of these schools very carefully because some have higher SAT scores/GPA/class rank minimum requirements that you do not meet. </p>

<p>I predict that you would have a somewhat easier time with private schools like TCU and Gonzaga than you will with the public schools. The publics are going to be more numbers driven and they do not usually care about geographic diversity. Their main mission is to serve the students in their state so being from Alaska won't give you much of a boost. The private schools will be much more likely to take other things into consideration than mere numbers, such as your recommendations, extra curriculars, and being from Alaska. </p>

<p>I've mentioned the University of the Pacific to you before - they have an excellent pre-dental program, one of the best on the west coast. I think you would have a good shot of getting into the Uof P as well. Several other west coast schools might also be worth a look: the University of Portland, Linfield, (both Oregon), Albertson College (Idaho), Carroll College (Montana), Chapman University (Calif), Whittier College (Calif). All of these are solid schools that would be good matches, or even safeties for you.</p>

<p>On the east coast, I'd suggest you take a look at Juniata College and Washington and Jefferson, both in Penn. They have excellent pre-health programs and you would have a shot at both schools. Goucher College in Maryland has a very good science program. Although your SATs are low, they would be interested in you because you are a male (they need males!) and from Alaska.</p>

<p>If none of these options appeal to you, you might also take a look at the site that Emerald mentioned to you - <a href="http://www.fairtest.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.fairtest.org&lt;/a> - for a list of schools that make submitting SATs optional. There are some excellent schools on that list as well.</p>

<p>Finally, most of the schools on your current list are Rolling Admissions - that means that they make admissions decisions as applications come in, first come, first admitted. Once they've filled their class, it becomes harder to be accepted, especially with weaker stats. These schools have already been accepting students since the beginning of October --- it is important that you find out the specifics of minimum requirements for each school and get your applications in to them as soon as possible. </p>

<p>I hope this doesn't discourage you --- you have some great schools on your list and you never know how things will turn out. But I am concerned because I don't see any real safeties on your list at present. Add one more school that is a safety --- perhaps even the University of Alaska --- and get your applications in ASAP. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Zac, I just finished going through the admissions sites of the schools on your list.
That being said, I would say of the public schools on your list, you best have a shot at Western Oregon and Montana State. </p>

<p>If you were my son, I'd suggest dropping at least one of the "reach" schools where you do not meet minimum requirements for out of state students (Texas A&M, U of Arizona, Florida State) or where you fall way below their accepted stats for out of state students. Instead, I'd add at least one other match or safety private school. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>zac, first, do not stress until you read carolyn's comments.</p>

<p>second, I can't even respond because you don't listen</p>

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<p>Carolyn,
Im dropping ATM and FSU.
Are You talking about the pacific in oregon or pacific in california?</p>

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<p>Oh btw carolyn,
My 2 that i really want a chance in are MSU and WSU.
Know anything about washington state?
Alright I was wondering and i dont want u of alaska anchorage to be my super safety.
If you have any others for bus/pre-dental that might make a shoe in.</p>

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<p>Anybody else?</p>

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<p>I'm guessing that Carolyn means U of Pacific in CA, which is reputed to have a good pre-dental/pre-pharmacy program.</p>

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<p>Zac, The University of Pacific in California, which I have mentioned to you before, has one of the strongest pre-dental programs on the west coast. They also have their own dental school. You're just below their mid-range of stats but they are looking for geographic diversity so you might have a bit of an edge. Pacific in Oregon might also be worth looking at - they have a decent pre-health sciences program but I don't know anything specifically about their pre-dental program.</p>

<p>I did some research for you - here are three more suggestions for you to investigate in addition to the schools I have already mentioned above and in our other conversations:</p>

<p>California State Humboldt - In Northern Calif. Strong science programs. 9% major in bio/pre-med/pre-dental. You'd be solidly in their mid-range of accepted students. </p>

<p>McMurray University in Albilene - You'd be solidly in their mid-range. 9% of their student major in bio/pre-med/pre-dental, they send approx. 6% of their graduates on to dental school. They also have a decent business program.</p>

<p>Texas Lutheran University <a href="http://www.thu.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.thu.edu&lt;/a> - You'd be solidly in their mid-range. 11% of students study bio/pre-med/pre-dental. They have a good pre-dental advising program, send about 2% of their students on to dental programs. They also have a decent business program.</p>

<p>RE: Washington State U. Admitted students stats (remember, these include in-state students, out of state students will tend to be higher than the average overall.) Average GPA 3.4 24% of accepted students were in top 10% of their graduating class, 61% were in the top 25%. Median SATs (25-75 percentile) Verbal 490-610, Math 500-600, combined 990-1210. As you can see, you are below their median GPA and 25 percentile SAT. As an out of state student, you may get in but it will be tough. When they get to students with stats in your range, they will take in state students over out of state students first. I'd say you should consider it a realistic reach - you have a shot, but it's far from a sure thing. If your high school course work includes more than their minimum requirements (i.e., more than 3 years of math, 2 years of language, or 2 years of science) that might give you a slight boost. </p>

<p>I've already commented on your chances for Montana State U - AGain, I'd be sure to check on what type of pre-dental advising they offer and the statistics for the students who go on to dental school.</p>

<p>As always, the best of luck to you - I hope you get into every school you apply to!</p>

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<p>California State Humboldt - In Northern Calif. Strong science programs. 9% major in bio/pre-med/pre-dental. You'd be solidly in their mid-range of accepted students. </p>

<p>McMurray University in Albilene - You'd be solidly in their mid-range. 9% of their student major in bio/pre-med/pre-dental, they send approx. 6% of their graduates on to dental school. They also have a decent business program</p>

<p>I looked on princetonreview and collegeboard and cant find any info on this school.</p>

<p>Edit: Also I looked at university of the pacific and get this
<a href="http://www.pacific.edu/admission/academics/accel_programs/dental/index.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pacific.edu/admission/academics/accel_programs/dental/index.asp&lt;/a>
Like
Requirements for Consideration – 3.70 unweighted high school GPA (on a 4.00 scale) and either an ACT composite score of at least 31 or a combined SAT-I score of 1350 (with a minimum verbal score of 630)</p>

<p>And says deadline is dec. 1?
Am i going to have to change majors cause of my gpa/sat?</p>

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<p>ANother Post: I was now wondering Carolyn. I'm not set on pre-dental so could you give me 3-4 match/safety business schools.</p>

<p>Also i was researching pepperdine a private religious school. Ranked #8 in facilities and heard all good about it. Dunno If i have a shot there.
Hit me back up on reply or email
<a href="mailto:aktargac@Hotmail.com">aktargac@Hotmail.com</a></p>