<p>I am a junior from NJ. (Female and white)
As of now, I have a highschool UW GPA of 3.6, and a weighted of 4.39, but these are expected to go up senior year to a 3.7 and 4.42 respectively.
My grades have gotten progressively better over the course of highschool and my GPA is brought down by poor grades in history (B-, B, B+), but I plan to pursue a career in the sciences or math
I have taken all honors classes and 2 aps (stat and english), and i am taking 5 more aps senior year (bio, physics, english, calc bc, spanish)
Projected SAT scores (based off psats)
Math: 740
Reading: 680
Writing: 730
Total: 2150</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars
Soccer: 3 years
Winter Track: Three Years
Spring Track: Four Years, Captain for one year
Clubs: Model UN (advisor for one year), Spanish Club, Chemistry Club
Volunteer Work: EMT 300+ hours, Food Pantry ~60 hours
Jobs: Soccer Referee (since 8th grade), Lifeguard (since 9th grade)</p>
<p>What are my chances at the following:
University of Virginia
Georgetown University
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Dartmouth (Early Decision)
Emory University
Vanderbilt University
California Institute of Technology
McGill University
Bucknell University
University of Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University
Washington University in St. Louis
New York University</p>
<p>Also, would it be a better idea to apply early decision to UVA instead of Dartmouth?</p>
<p>Apply early decision to your by-far favorite school; if you don’t have one, don’t. It’s a loooooong time from November to September, plenty of time to regret your decision.</p>
<p>CalTech and Dartmouth are reaches, but maybe you’ll get into Dartmouth ED? I wouldnt count on it though. CalTech is a high reach, I’d say. Most of them are high matches/low reaches, but McGill, Vanderbilt, and Emory are probably matches. I think UVA ED is the better option, as you’re much more likely to get in and it’s still well-regarded. Good luck and happy trails in life!</p>
<p>I’d say you’ll get in to most of your schools, especially if you get those SAT score; however, the Ivies and Cal Tech may be a bit of a reach, but you can definatly do it.</p>
<p>Alexis, you’ll get answers from other HS students, but there are college students (like cgb), alums, college staff and parents who have all been through it and actually have some experience! E.g., at some schools, GPA + test scores + class rank can count for as little as 20% of admission criteria. Even at schools with high numbers requirements, the numbers themselves don’t necessarily mean so much.</p>
<p>i like dartmouth best, but if im not going to get in, i want to apply to uva because i like it almost as much. So does it make sense for me to do Dartmouth or do I have no chance and should I do UVA as my early decision school?</p>
<p>If the difference is truly marginal then go ahead. I, for example, made a similar decision between Duke and Stanford. I felt that Stanford had a tiny bit of an edge but also that I would likely be rejected and halve my chances to Duke (which I liked nearly as much) in the process. I ended up applying to Duke early decsion and getting in and I don’t regret it at all. However, that’s just my personality. I’m not particular and knew I wouldn’t regret it.</p>
<p>Just stop and consider how you would feel if you got into UVA ED. It honestly depends on you, both are great schools.</p>
<p>I think your strategy is right, don’t waste your ED on a school you won’t get into. This myth perpetuated here is crazy. Every good college counselor will tell you to use ED as a tool to get into the best college you can/</p>
<p>Having studied what it takes to get into Dartmouth ED, I unfortunately don’t think you would. My DS applied this year with near perfect scores and val status knowing he was no shoo in. He made it, but most of his friends with 2300 plus, high ranks and impressive ECs did not. When you’re from NJ the bar is especially high given all of the very competitive candidates. They’ve entered the under 10% realm and it will be as unforgiving of anything short of near perfect performance as HYPS have been these last several years.</p>
<p>UVA, however, no longer has ED. You could wait for RD or choose another school where you have a solid chance or ED.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t some good college counselors tell you to use ED as a tool to get into the college you like the best where you have a decent (say, 50/50 match) chance?</p>
<p>You have good chances, try and get high test scores and you will be well qualified for many of those schools. I say just think about whichever one you want to apply ED to for a while, maybe visit each a couple times, talk to students, etc. Make sure you LOVE it</p>
<p>University of Virginia
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
You’ll get into these schools pretty safely.</p>
<p>McGill University
Bucknell University
Washington University in St. Louis
New York University
You shouldn’t have a problem getting into these schools, but it’s a close call. Make sure you shine in your essays, but don’t expect financial aid, especially from NYU, because they rarely give any money to anybody.</p>
<p>Georgetown University
Dartmouth (Early Decision)
Emory University
Vanderbilt University
California Institute of Technology
University of Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University
These are reaches. They aren’t hopeless or anything, but you should try to bring up your SAT scores. As for the Early Decision dilemma, only apply ED to the one school you want to go to more than any other, to the extent that you’d reject any other offers. Personally, I think it’s risky to use ED as a tool unless you know that you’re 100% dedicated to that school.</p>
E.g., at some schools, GPA + test scores + class rank can count for as little as 20% of admission criteria. Even at schools with high numbers requirements, the numbers themselves don’t necessarily mean so much.</p>