Thank you to everyone that replied! I haven’t checked in for a while, and all your comments are very helpful. I just want to clear a few things up.
- I really don't know as of right now what I'm looking for in a college. This spring break, my family and I are going to take a road trip to visit a ton of colleges, so I'll hopefully have some idea after that.
- My college costs are being partially covered by my extended family, as well as my parents. The closest estimate I can really get right now is that they will cover up to 40-50k a semester, and I will have to cover anything extra myself.
- My GPA is the way it is because I had an awful sophomore year. I ended my freshman year with a 3.8 GPA. My sophomore year I dealt with social issues and mental health issues, as well as simple apathy towards my classes. I ended that year with a C average, which messed everything up. As of right now, I have 5 As, 1 A-, and 1 B. I am taking 3 AP classes. (Comp Sci, US History, Psych)
- I am a very good test taker and a fast reader, and due to a ton of free time last summer, I was able to study a ton before taking the September ACT. (My second time taking the test.) I then scored a 36 (and was ecstatic!)
- My top choice right now is (super reach) UChicago, but my chances of acceptance are so astronomically low that I question whether it's worth the $40 fee to apply.
- I know my HS counselor is great resource to help me with all of this, but he's been focused on seniors up until the EA/ED dates, and hasn't had an opening to talk with me.
- All I really know about SAT subject tests is that they are shorter tests on a single subject that a lot of top schools require as part of the application process. I plan to find out more about them from my counselor when I can finally get a meeting with him.
- @mamaedefamilia I recently learned about CWR from a friend's parent, after looking at it a bit on Naviance I will definitely be looking into it!
- @oldschooldad Wow, thanks for all the advice. I will try my best with my ECs, and hopefully will be able to make them into something memorable. If not with them, then maybe something else!
I have a few more questions. Thank you all for answering my previous ones.
- How “holistic” really is the application process? Will my application be read differently because of my lackluster GPA?
- How much can essays “make or break” your application. I consider myself a pretty good writer and believe I will have at least decent essays. Will essays be able to at least somewhat make myself at least somewhat more competitive in an applicant pool?
- I am aware that HS GPA is used to measure potential success in college. Can any of you recommend ways I can demonstrate that I will be receiving my diploma with flying colors at the end of my college education that could potentially somewhat make up for my GPA?
- I’ve discovered that for my situation there is a somewhat “blurred line” between matches and reaches. (ex: I consider Grinnell, Colorado Coll, and UW Madison, and Case Western “matches,” but they all have very low acceptance rates, and I could easily be denied from all 4 of them.) What really makes a school a “match?”
- What should I look for on a college visit? The majority of my college visiting will be done over spring break and in the summer, but I’m visiting Carleton next week and have no idea what to expect.
Thank you all again for providing me with all this feedback. I know that I’m only a junior, but this entire process is very daunting to me, especially considering that my friends all love to flaunt their 4.0s and 3.9s. Thank you all so much for taking the time to help me out.
Happy thanksgiving!