Not What You May Think

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>First of all, what you are about to see is way below average for here, but good for me. I'd like for you all to tell me whether my schools are reaches/matches/safeties if you can. My schools may seem all over the place, but they are not and there are a lot, but this is only a general list.</p>

<p>SCHOOLS
Virginia Tech
University of Miami
University of Tennessee
University of Kentucky
University of Iowa
Indiana University - Bloomington
DePaul University
University of South Carolina - Columbia
University of Delaware
Penn State - University Park
University of Pittsburgh
University of Alabama
Geroge Washington University</p>

<p>ABOUT ME
Going to be a senior
Live in PA
Upper Middle-Class
I plan to major in chemistry and hopefully go to medical school.</p>

<p>CLASSES
9th grade - 4 Honors
10th grade - 4 Honors
11th grade - 4 Honors, AP Calc BC
12th grade - 1 Honors, AP Spanish Language, AP Chemistry, AP Euro History</p>

<p>STATS
GPA - 4.12 W / 3.77 UW
Rank - 65/551
SAT - 620 M / 440 V / 580 W (1640/1060)
ACT - Planning to take in Sept.</p>

<p>ACTIVITIES (also for 12th grade)
Tennis (9-12) (Varsity 11-12)
NHS (11-12)
SHS (11-12)
Bowling (6-12) (Captain 7-12) (Not for high school)
Altar Server (5-12) (80+ hrs)
Volunteering at Hopsital (9) (50+ hrs)
Attended National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (Summer between 11-12) (Awesome time)
Madel U.N. (9) (Club was discontinued)
Attended spanish camp for a week (Summer between 10-11)</p>

<p>AWARDS
Spanish Academic Award (10,11)
Latin Academic Award (10,11)
Varsity Tennis Letter (11)</p>

<p>So this is a little long and I hope I put everything down. If some of you could give some advice, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Virginia Tech :Match
University of Miami : If FL, reach
University of Tennessee :Match
University of Kentucky :Match
University of Iowa :Match
Indiana University - Bloomington :Match
DePaul University : ?????
University of South Carolina - Columbia :Match
University of Delaware : Probably In, UDel is gettin hard to get into
Penn State - University Park :You should be fine in state
University of Pittsburgh :See above
University of Alabama :Why?
Geroge Washington University :Reach</p>

<p>Ranking them:</p>

<p>University of Miami
Geroge Washington University
Penn State - University Park
Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Delaware
Virginia Tech
University of Pittsburgh
University of Iowa
University of South Carolina - Columbia
University of Tennessee
.
.
.
University of Kentucky
DePaul University
University of Alabama</p>

3

<p>I agree with jPod. University of Miami & George Washington University would be reaches. Both are quite selective in part due to some excellent programs in the sciences and political science/international relations respectively.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, the location. Being right next to South Beach and in the heart of D.C. is always a BIG plus in the minds of many students.</p>

4

<p>Finally, someone who actually needs help, not someone who has a lack of self-confidence.</p>

<p>University of Miami REACH
Geroge Washington University REACH</p>

<p>Virginia Tech MATCH
University of Delaware MATCH
Penn State - University Park MATCH
University of Pittsburgh MATCH
Depaul University MATCH</p>

<p>Indiana University - Bloomington SAFETY
University of Alabama SAFETY
University of Tennessee SAFETY
University of Kentucky SAFETY
University of Iowa SAFETY
University of South Carolina - Columbia SAFETY</p>

<p>You have a good list, apply where you want. It would be nice if you added a financial safety (although Penn State works because if you don't get in they just ask if you want to go to another PSU campus), but it's not necessary.</p>

5

<p>Thanks to all of you who replied. Obviously there are some schools that I'm going to have to eliminate, so your responses definitely have helped.</p>

6

<p>Miami and GW are pointless unless your SATs go wayyyyy up. What about American?</p>

<p>Other than the reaches, your list looks pretty good.</p>

<p>I'd so somethin like this:</p>

<p>Virginia Tech MATCH
University of Delaware MATCH
Penn State - University Park MATCH
University of Pittsburgh MATCH
Depaul University MATCH</p>

<p>Indiana University - Bloomington SAFETY
University of Iowa SAFETY
University of South Carolina - Columbia SAFETY</p>

<p>Then eliminate another safety, and one or two matches.</p>

7

<p>Chemistry Rankings</p>

<p><a href="http://www.stat.tamu.edu/%7Ejnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html#area28%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html#area28&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>16 Indiana 3.99
18 Penn State 3.95
47 South Carolina 3.24
67 VPI 2.90
73 Delaware 2.80
76 Iowa 2.72
78 Tennessee 2.65
97 Alabama 2.26
99 Kentucky 2.20
138 Miami 1.67
163 George Washington 0.93</p>

<p>Depaul doesn't have a ranking. I'd think twice about applying to Miami or GW, just based on overall reputation of their Chemistry department and the fact that you don't have a good chance at either school to begin with.</p>

<p>Also, consider the overall perception of the school through the US News peer assessment score</p>

<p>Pennsylvania State U. – University Park* 3.8
Indiana University – Bloomington* 3.7
University of Iowa* 3.6
George Washington University (DC) 3.4
University of Pittsburgh* 3.4
Virginia Tech* 3.4
University of Miami (FL) 3.2
University of Delaware* 3.2
University of Tennessee* 3.1
University of Kentucky* 3
University of Alabama* 3
Univ. of South Carolina – Columbia* 3</p>

<p>You have a good list, although i'd trim off Depaul, Miami and George Washington. I think you're golden if you can get into Penn State, great overall school, great chem program, and in-state tuition. Can't beat that.</p>

8

<p>I suggest that you retake the SAT because your verbal score is very low for most first and second tier colleges. For virtually all colleges, the v SAT score is the most important one because whatever a student majors in, they'll have to do lots of reading and writing. This even is true of engineering and math majors. Study for the SAT because that can help a great deal.</p>

9

<p>I know that Miami and GW are reaches, but I absolutely love the schools and I was planning on applying EA to Miami.</p>

<p>I also am going to take the ACT and am hoping for a good score. </p>

<p>And some of the schools I might not apply to, depending on if I get into some other ones (Like the schools with the rolling admissions)</p>

10

<p>bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

11

<p>Thanks A2Wolves6. I think what I have is pretty decent and really that is all what matters to me.</p>

12

<p>Do EA to University of Miami but you will need to increase your SATs by A LOT. If you increase your SATs there is a good chance that University of Miami and GW will become a bit more within your range</p>

13

<p>So what should I eliminate from the matches and the safeties?</p>

14

<p>University of Miami REACH
Virginia Tech MATCH
University of Delaware MATCH
Penn State - University Park MATCH
Indiana University - Bloomington SAFETY
University of South Carolina - Columbia SAFETY</p>

<p>That looks good.</p>

15

<p>If you want to apply to those schools, do it, you don't have to eliminate a school just because you don't need more than one safety. I applied to 3 safeties and there were a few more I still wish I applied to. I had one reach school and 3 matches.</p>

16

<p>Thanks jPoD, that was almost the exact list that I was thinking, although I am also going to apply to the University of Pittsburgh since it is an instate school.</p>

17

<p>Np man. We're pretty similar. It's good to find someone else who isnt applying to just top 25s :)</p>

18

<p>get that verbal score up to about 550, and you could get into Miami and GW</p>

19

<p>Does anyone know of some other good chemistry programs that might be in my reach?</p>

20

<p>SUNY Stony Brook has a good chem program, very good premed, and you have a decent shot to get in there. Your GPA is good for them, SAT slightly below average.</p>