Please~ Chances and Options

<p>What are my chances of acceptance in Rensselaer? Some stats:
GPA: 4.18
Currently a Junior
SAT score: horrible
ACT score: 22
English 22
Mathematics 24
Reading 20
Writing 10 - happy about that..
Class rank: 21/ 197
If this makes a difference? Female, learned English within 5 years, 1st generation to go to college, Asian?
A moderate-strong EC's
Enrolled in all AP/Honors Classes..
5 in Stat, 3 in Spanish.. Next year: AP Bio, AP Calculus, AP Psych..
Does anyone suffer from the same dilemma as I do? Good Grades, terrible standardized test scores? </p>

<p>In addition, what are some recommended college, similar to RPI, WPI?</p>

<p>What do you wish to major in? That will help with people suggest other schools to look at. </p>

<p>As I am sure you are aware, Rensselaer had a record number of applications this year - over 10,000, so I imagine its acceptance rate decreased this year compared to the past. Here's a link with information: </p>

<p><a href="http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2167%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2167&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Being female and first generation to go to college will be a help to you though. Can you take a prep class to try to get your ACT scores up a bit, especially the math score? It may also help to get your application in early. One of my daughter's high school classmates was waitlisted with pretty good stats, but he sent his application in pretty late. Good luck.</p>

<p>Many kids' SAT score rises significantly when re-taken in Sr yr. Get a SAT study book, and focus on that over the summer. Take the SAT in Oct, and apply ED. Get it up to 600 verbal & 680 math, & I think you'll be OK.</p>

<p>hahaseashells: Did you see this thread - WPI is going SAT optional for the class of 2008:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=342278%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=342278&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I want to jump in here for chances thread. I'm more worried about the estimated level of merit aid I"ll get. </p>

<p>Stats:
5/125(ish)
4.03 unweighted GPA
34 ACT (35 Math/36 Science)
800 Math II SAT Subject test
690 Physics
Rensselaer Medal Recipient
2 times student of the quarter for math
All Honors/AP/college classes, accumulated ~38 credit hours thru local college by end of senior year.</p>

<p>bperboy: It is hard to say for sure, but your position was very similar to mine, I was also a medalist coming in last fall with similar stats. I didn't get any merit aid in addition to the medal, I don't think any medalists do given the amount of money already in the medal. I also did not get any need-based aid. However, they did give me my laptop for free, which helped some (~$2000). I am not exactly sure why I got that deal, and haven't met anyone else who got it. I also got a non-RPI scholarship which helped some as well.</p>

<p>But yeah, you should definitely get in (never heard of a medalist who was refused) especially if you apply Early Action.</p>

<p>When you got the laptop free, did you have to inquire about it, or did they just give it to you?</p>

<p>No, sometime around this time in the summer, they sent me a letter in the mail saying I was eligible for a free laptop. At that point all I had to do was accept the offer. The only caveat was that if you left Rensselaer early you had to give it back, but after you graduate you could keep it.</p>

<p>I couldn't find anything online about the deal. I guess you could call them if you really wanted to find out.</p>

<p>This time in the summer right before you started, or the summer before your senior year in HS?</p>

<p>Right before I started.. kindof strange, they could have given more warning. Fortunently I hadn't bought a laptop yet.</p>

<p>Presidential scholars get a free laptop. Maybe that was how you qualified?</p>

<p>Oh ok, yeah, I think that might have been it. I was not a true Presidential scholar, but I think I got some kind of presidential award upon graduation with a bunch of other classmates. The other thing it could have been was that I scored well on the PSAT, and was honored with a certificate from the the national merit scholarship program. I think they must have explained some rationale for it in the letter I got, but for some reason I can't remember exactly what it was.</p>

<p>I actually called up admissions to ask a few other questions, and they confirmed that it is the Presidential scholarship. If I don't get that, I'm going to stick wiht the macbook pro that I got last december, and just buy the extra software.</p>

<p>^^^^^
You might want to reconsider. The required software is extremely expensive. For example the NX5 package goes for $10,000 per license. RPI is able to bundle NX5 along with the other engineering/scientific packages because of the $500M+ PACE grant.</p>

<p><a href="http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=1717&setappvar=page(1%5B/url%5D)"&gt;http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=1717&setappvar=page(1)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Yes, however, I'm going on the assumption that RPI makes the software available separately through this program, just not with the actual laptop.</p>

<p>^^^^^
Rensselaer Mobile Computing Program 2007
Form C - Laptop Computer Decline</p>

<p>
[quote]
TERMS AND CONDITIONS</p>

<p>I have reviewed the minimum specifications for bringing my own laptop computer and agree to abide by them. By bringing a computer of my own, I understand that I will not be able to take advantage of teh Mobile Computing Program. I must purchase and install software and configure network connections. I may encounter software or other incompatibilities. I also realize that I will not be eligible for on-campus support and repair or a loaner machine.</p>

<p>Notes: You may purchase software through the Rensselaer Campus Computer Store. Refer to <a href="http://computerstore.rpi.edu%5B/url%5D%5B/b%5D"&gt;http://computerstore.rpi.edu</a> for specific software prices.</p>

<p>Minimum specifications, if you choose to bring your own laptop computer, can be found at <a href="http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/laptops07/minspecs07.html%5B/url%5D%5B/b%5D%5B/quote%5D"&gt;http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/laptops07/minspecs07.html

[/quote]
</a></p>

<p>You should never make assumptions. Assume = Ass of U and Me</p>

<p>you sound right on track! only you can't get 4.3 unless it is weighted?
most kids I am reading are right where you are. You have a good chance getting in most places but not sure how well you will do on scholarships being 5th in your class? Most go to 1st maybe 2nd in larger schools but your school is very small so top 5 is good but not great for scholarships</p>

<p>My rank is now 4th, maybe move up after this quarter. I'm doing really well right now, but we'll see.</p>