OOS University of Delaware

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys! My HS counselor is pretty bad (she's known for it), so I haven't really gotten much info from her. I'm really attracted to University of Delaware, but I'm not sure what my chances are, so please give me any input you can. Here are some stats:</p>

<p>State: Pennsylvania
Highschool: Lower Merion High School</p>

<p>Intended major/minor: Engineering (undecided)/English. I am also planning to do ROTC (still deciding between AF and Army).</p>

<p>Grades
Freshman GPA: ~2.8 (I know it's really low; I was much different back then)
Sophomore GPA: ~3.7 (Not sure if this is right–all A's with one B; CP courses)
Junior GPA: ~4.6 (All A's with 3 Honors courses)
Senior GPA: N/a (All honors courses and two AP's)</p>

<p>Combined GPA: (W): ~3.7 (UW): ~3.5 (Not sure if this is right)</p>

<p>My Freshman year really screwed me up because I was simply immature back then. I began to be much more academically focused in my Sophomore year, and I also lost 70 lbs between those years (I weighed about 175 during my Freshman year and 110 beginning Sophomore year). I have been working, ever since, to gain back those pounds with muscle, which is a goal over this summer.</p>

<p>Standardized Tests
SAT I: CR: 570 M: 530 W: 640 Combined: 1740 (possibly re-taking next year)</p>

<p>SAT II: Lost my ID; missed my tests (Physics and Math II). Re-taking first thing next year.</p>

<p>ACT: Signed up to take in September. Studying over the summer.</p>

<p>Extracirriculars
Guitar: 3 full years; weekly private lessons and daily practice; played at concerts.
Drumming: 1 HS year; private lessons; played at coffee shop, but that was before HS.
HS Band: 1 year of percussion. I decided it wasn't my thing and moved onto guitar.
JV Lacrosse: 1 year; need to make varsity to play my Senior (next) year.
BuildOn Club: Only half a year; I had to leave due to some conditions. Not sure if I should include it on app.
Environmental Club: Joined the end of Junior year; locked in for next year.
Robotics Club: Locked in for next year.
Animal Rescue: Volunteering over the summer; not sure how many hours it will be.
Dog-sitting/Dog-walking: My main job over the summer. It's not a formal job–more of a self-employed job–but it's what I love doing.</p>

<p>I also have begun to write poetry and short stories, but I don't think this counts because it is not through any sort of club or formal activity.</p>

<p>Thank you for your input! You guys are awesome!</p>

2

<p>Well know your freshman year is not going to help you but good job on the improvement. The only thing that worries me is that for the first three years of hs you only took 3 honors classes I think that will hurt you a bit. Try to take as many honors and AP classes that you can handle senior year. Also try your best to get a 4.0 first semester since you will have to send a mid year report. Your SATs are bad but I would suggest you definitely retake them, if you score what you did on writing in all three sections you should be fine. It was a good idea to try the ACT because many people I know scored better on that than the SATs. I may be wrong but I don’t think UDel requires SAT 2’s. Make sure to start brainstorming some ideas and drafts for your essays when the topics come out. Goodluck if you have any questions ask away or pm me and if you don’t mind me asking where else were u looking at applying to?</p>

3

<p>invader71––My major courses for senior year are: Government H, Trig H, Literature/English 4 H, AP Physics C, AP Environmental Science, Spanish 5 (honors language courses are very rare at my school unless you started in honors). Technically I have 4 honors courses through junior year because my band class was honors, but I wasn’t sure if that counted. I will put in my best effort to get a 4.0 my senior year as I did my junior year. Are my SATs really that bad? The average SAT score for UDel is 1795. I know mine were 50 points off from this, but I didn’t think they were flat out bad (of course I could be wrong). I will take the ACT before the SAT since I believe I will do much better on it. SAT II’s are “recommended” for UDel, but I’m not sure how much it impacts my admission. I have begun brainstorming essay ideas as well. As far as where I’m looking to apply, I still don’t have a firm and full list figured out. Along with UDel, I am looking at University of Connecticut and University of Maryland. Like I said, not really a list. If you have any colleges that you would like to suggest, please do! Thanks!</p>

4

<p>No your SATs aren’t bad at all lol but it’s always better to try to be above the average but most top colleges are getting even more competitive each year. That is a solid senior year schedule that will impress the colleges. I was actually accepted to both UMD and UConn this past admissions year and would suggest both. I will actually be a freshman in the fall at UConn so if you have any questions I would be more than happy to help and UMD was my other top choice and I have visited numerous times and would be able to help with any questions. Both schools will be harder for you to get into than UDEl, especially UMD with about an average 4.0 weighted gpa and about a 2000 SAT. So far colleges are u looking on staying on the east coast and if you don’t mind me asking about how much are your parents will or can pay for college because most oos publics are quite expensive without aid and scholarships.</p>

5

<p>Yea UMD might be a bit of a reach. As far as UConn, Naviance says that the average weighted GPA is 3.62 and average SAT I is 1749––so according to them it’s easier than UDel (unless their stats are off). As far as location, I don’t really have much of a preference, but as far as setting, I don’t like large cities–I enjoy more of a suburban setting. I haven’t talked to my parents about specific amounts of money, but they are willing to pay, for the most part, as much as they need to if they think it is a good college where I will succeed.</p>

6

<p>Oo ok well naviances are different by schools cause for UConn the average SAT is almost a 1900 but we have alot of people that score high on the SATs so it doesn’t necassarily correlate to UConn’s average but I think it’s closer to 1800’s. Yeah definitely talk to your parents about what they can afford to pay without having to take out loans especially if you are considering going to grad school. UMD was my top choice but I didn’t get any aid so I choose UConn because they offered me a nice scholarship so I would be paying 20 grad less than at UMD. Since your in PA I would suggest you look into Penn State( I personally didn’t like it after I visited for an acceptance day but everyone I know who goes there loves it), UPitt( it’s actually not in the city but like a five minute drive it has it’s own sort of town), temple and Drexel you won’t have a problem getting into either of them. Rutgers is a pretty good school it is my state flagship but I had no desire to stay in jersey. Syracuse but it is pretty expensive if you don’t get a decent financial aid package. University of Illinois and Purdue both have great engineer programs but they are very competitive and would prob be reaches. UMD also has a great engineer program so if you get in look into it and apply priority for UMD and early action for UConn.</p>

7

<p>Get your SATs to 1850 and you will have a wonderful chance IMO.</p>

8

<p>All I have to add is Lower Merion HS is one of the top in the entire state and beyond. That ought to help your resume at Delaware. Plus, I find it hard to believe that LM has a guidance counselor that is “pretty bad.” They send kids to all sorts of great schools, so I think they know what they are doing!</p>

9

<p>Raiderade––Thank you for your input! How about ACT’s? What score would give me a good chance, in your opinion?</p>

<p>Surfcity––I was probably being a bit harsh, but even when I mentioned to one of my teachers that she was my counselor, he said, “that’s a shame”; and she’s known by many students for being bad. When I went to have a meeting with her, she didn’t really get me anywhere; she just went through the Naviance search, which I had already done–she barely looked at my grades. Also, after our meeting, it seemed that she forgot who I was. I probably just have to get to know her a bit better, and I’m planning on meeting with her several times at the beginning of next year–I’m sure she’ll actually be good once I get to know her better!</p>

10

<p>UD does NOT require SAT2s; my D got in this year without ever taking one. I do think your current SATs are low but most people go up a bit, hopefully you will too. Definitely try the ACT,as many people find it easier for them. I wouldn’t worry too much about that Freshman year GPA, what is more important is the upward trajectory you have been showing, which schools like to see. Keep it up. </p>

<p>Your ECs and sports look a bit light to me and mostly (although you didn’t go into detail) as though you started them in your Junior year with an eye to college. The hs/ band drumming is too light and guitar is not in school, unless you have something impressive to show in the concerts. Whatever you’ve done longest or most I’d emphasize. It may be too late to get any leadership positions but if you could that would help. If the late starts in ECs was tied to the emotional and physical changes you made after Freshman year, you might be able to tie it all up in and with an essay. A recommendation from a teacher talking about that and how you’ve changed and become active would help.</p>

<p>You said that you are interested in Engineering, the robotics could help there especially if you could show some achievement in the club, but my guess is if you want to major in Engineering, your math scores and classes also need to improve.</p>

<p>Alternatively if your poetry or short stories could get into a school literary journal, or you could get a position in one, you might want to go that way. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>