<p>3.5 unweighted
4.06 weighted
520 math 670 reading 710 writing
top 33%</p>
<p>senior year schedule:</p>
<p>AP U.S. AP Euro AP Psych AP Lit Environmental Geo with Univ. of Maryland Consumer Math</p>
<p>160 volunteer hours have held a job since I was 10
Cross Country Indoor and Outdoor Track every year. Sportsmanship award in XC each season. </p>
<p>Turkish-American Jew caucasian</p>
<p>Looking to major in English and Film and be a novelist and screenwriter.</p>
<p>Reaches:</p>
<p>USC
Illinois
Notre Dame
Michigan</p>
<p>Matches:</p>
<p>Loyola Marymount
Pittsburgh
Iowa
Ohio State
Delaware</p>
<p>Safeties:</p>
<p>Michigan State</p>
<p>List is top heavy, with some impossibly high reaches. As you may know most school discount the writing score; Your math score doesn’t help (700+700 >>>>>>> 800+ 600) OOS + low rank makes it quite difficult for you to gain admission to good public schools.</p>
<p>I’m an English and Film double major. What math do I need to do? I know how to read and write which is all I need to do and all I can do.</p>
<p>You don’t necessarily need to have stellar math scores if you’re not going into a math-oriented field (i.e., engineering or economics), but your math SAT score DOES matter. Whether it makes sense or not, whether you like or not, doesn’t matter. There’s the whole “if we let you in you’re bringing down our average SAT score” and the whole “we’re going to let in the strongest students we can, and SAT scores help us compare students from different schools across the country.” And many if not most B.A. programs require you to take at least one math course regardless of your major. </p>
<p>I agree with the above poster that your reaches are HIGH reaches. My recommendations:
-Look for schools that are SAT-optional. These schools focus heavily on the essays. Since you are a strong writer, this may work out well for you (although I believe most of the SAT-optional schools are private). </p>
<p>-Take the SAT again. Your verbal score is very good; if you can afford to take a prep course or get a tutor, it may be worth it to you. </p>
<p>-Consider looking for schools with B.F.A.s in creative writing. You wouldn’t have to take math courses, and your math SAT wouldn’t hold as much weight. You will be judged largely on your talent–but keep in mind, when you’re in the job market, some companies prefer grads to have B.A.s. (This is assuming you do not become a famous novelist or screenwriter right away.) </p>
<p>As far as your last comment, I’m sure there is more that you can do than read and write–and I would recommend going into college with an open mind. Writers need topics to write about, and there’s so many interesting things to learn. For example, I am a writer (professionally, an associate magazine editor), and I wish I’d taken more history courses, as I am now interested in writing stories based in early American history. </p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Not to sound hostile but you two have made me seem incompetent like I can’t get into any good schools. I know i’m not spectacular but these grades and scores aren’t that bad?</p>
<p>History has actually always been my strongest subject since 6th grade…so I guess I can interpret too but that comes with reading and writing.</p>
<p>But ok thanks for the suggestions. Can you suggest some lower reaches? But based on the SAT averages of at least Illinois and Michigan they shouldn’t be super reaches? Michigan’s 25th percentile according to The Insider’s Guide 2009 Edition is 1900 which is what I got.</p>
<p>What schools offer BFA’s in Creative Writing? I heard Iowa is really good. Isn’t a BFA what you get for film also? I don’t plan on being employed for writing just film.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>dude…i would say the USC and Michigan would be reaches and Notre Dame maybe a bit higher reach because of its growing popularity recently. but definitely not out of your ballpark. Having a bit higher SAT scores wouldnt hurt but with what you have you stil have hope. I would say it will come down to your essays, recomendations, and ultimately if you have something special they want in there class.
people on here can seem to be a bit arrogant and demeaning at times but just shrug it off. keep in mind that the people on here are ones you are competing with to get into college so naturally they are going to be harsh. don’t take anything personal and keep your head up. Your accomplishments are above the average in the nation. i mean a 670 is pretty far above average in the real world. maybe not on here but people seem to forget that this is a nerd niche where everyone is uber smart</p>
<p>Iowa is recovering from that flood, which did extensive damage. I would investigate how much damage before I applied if I were you.</p>
<p>You should just be realistic. Your math score is average. Completely average. That is what you got in life. No doubt you will make up for it with your great verbal skills, but you need to be philosophical and realistic about your math. Stop being hostile, how is that supposed to help? Notre Dame is a stretch for my kid, and her math is quite a bit higher, all her scores are higher. I wouldn’t waste my money on the application, if I were you. I’m not.</p>
<p>Why not do as was suggested, and take a prep class and re-take the SAT? Lots and lots of people do. </p>
<p>I know it’s annoying when you think you are finished with your list and then hear these answers. </p>
<p>You should take the attitude that people here are just trying to be helping by telling you how it is. Because people ARE trying to be helpful. I certainly am.</p>
<p>I don’t think I made you sound incompetent at all–in fact, I pointed out your good verbal scores and told you you probably have more abilities than just writing. </p>
<p>But what I WAS trying to say is, you need to be realistic. Yes, your SAT scores may be adequate ON PAPER to get you into a school like Michigan. But remember that state-run schools are typically much harder to get into as an out-of-stater than an in-stater. And your ECs, while good, are not stellar. If you were a track star who would bring home a national championship for the glory of Michigan, they might be more likely to overlook your 520.</p>
<p>Not every film degree is a BFA–many are B.A.s. Check out the schools on your list (just visit their Web sites) to see what kinds of programs they have. And remember that some top screenwriters/directors either didn’t go to a top film school or barely have high school diplomas. Choose the school that’s right for you and that has classes that will help you fulfill your dream.</p>
<p>Yeah but the best one of today…at least in the horror genre, John Carpenter, went to USC.</p>
<p>OK well thanks for the advice everyone</p>
<p>You can’t (or shouldn’t) base your college choice on where ONE very talented director went to school decades ago. Yes, USC has an amazing, world-renowned film school, but just because Carpenter went there doesn’t make it a hotbed training ground for the next generation of horror filmmakers. Chances are that with Carpenter’s talent, he could have gone to any of a number of schools and still been successful.</p>
<p>It doesn’t seem like any school fits me! Loyola Marymount would be good but I don’t know about their English Department…and Michigan State would be good but they don’t even have a film program separate from their English Dept. Iowa would be great if they didn’t lose 230 million dollars in damages from that flood</p>