<p>Hello, I am in the process of applying to colleges and would appreciate some advice on which schools are reaches/matches/safeties for me, as well as whether it makes sense to retake the SAT IIs given I didn't do as well as hoped (just got results yesterday).</p>
<p>Female
Major preference: Biology
GPA unweighted 3.94
Top 5% of class.
National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist (finalist pending)
IB Diploma Candidate
Most rigorous IB classload...currently taking physics, biology, chemistry and 2nd year calculus.</p>
<p>SAT: V: 760 M 760 W 720 Total 2240 (98th percentile)
SAT II: Math 660 Biology 660 Spanish 640</p>
<p>National Honor Society president
Violinist, 4 yrs HS orchestra (state champions), All-City orchestra
Key Club
Peer Mentoring
Elementary School volunteer
Track and Field (pole vault) Jr. and Sr. years.
Part-time job (Sr. year)
Fluent in spanish.</p>
<p>I applied to Columbia early decision, visited the campus, and have interviewed with an alumnus. I'm looking to apply to 6 of the following schools, and would appreciate advice on whether these are appropriate judgements by me, whether there are other better reaches/matches/safeties given my interest in a strong biology program, and whether I should retake the SAT IIs (I am hoping the testing is behind me!!)</p>
<p>Hopeful Match
Columbia</p>
<p>Reaches (30-50% chance of acceptance)
Princeton
Williams</p>
<p>I hear what you're saying. Let's say I scale back my expectations to say:</p>
<p>Reaches: (15-33% chance of acceptance)</p>
<p>Matches: (50-75% chance of acceptance)</p>
<p>Safety: (90-100% chance of acceptance)</p>
<p>Do these sound like reasonable schools to apply to given I want to apply to two schools that are reaches and I have a small but possible chance of accpetance, 3-4 schools that I'm likely to be accepted at, and 2 schools I'm highly likely to be accepted at?</p>
<p>Should I retake the SAT II to increase my chances at the reach and match schools?</p>
<p>I'd agree with huskem. Your percentages are way too optimistic. Columbia a match? I highly doubt it. In all honesty, I think that Columbia, Williams, Middlebury, and Princeton are all big reaches (your chances are probably at or below the acceptance rates). Also, until you can improve on your test scores, Tufts, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins may prove to be on the reach list as well. UC San Diego and Macalester are solid mid-ranges I'd say. You may consider researching a few slightly less selective schools. Good luck with all that.</p>
<p>I don't mean to scare you, but this is the reality of college admissions these days. I'm not saying you have a 0% chance at those reach schools, but the fact of the matter is that when you look at the applicant pools for all of those schools, you are probably no more competitive than 80% of the other kids.</p>
<p>Again, good luck with your college quest :)</p>
<p>UCs place a hugee weight on SAT IIs, so definitely retake them if you have the chance...get the math over 700, and you try to pull up that spanish score (esp if you're fluent!). </p>
<p>lol your sn reminds me of the M.E.A.T. club my friend started at school. "Men Eating Animals Together" =D</p>
<p>flopsy: I am not a CA resident. Does that change my chances with the UCs?</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I'll scale back my expectations a bit, plan to retake the SAT IIs, and look to add a school or two that are safe matches into the mix.</p>
<p>That makes Berkeley a reach since you're out of state, and San Diego is probably a match. Sounds like a plan though. Good luck on those SAT II's and with your college quest</p>