Reach?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Florida
1

<p>I am a rising senior and have been worrying about applying to colleges in the north for a valid reason, My SAT and ACT scores are not sufficient. I've decided to concentrate on the southern region to boost my chances, but also apply to some semi-competitive northern schools. I'll most likely submit my ACT score, which is still low, over my SAT score...here's my list and some of my credentials.</p>

<p>Resume.</p>

<p>ACT - 26, Most likely will reach 27-28 after next re-test.</p>

<p>-Brief transcript - freshmen and sophomore gpa 3.3/4 unweighted, 3.65 weighted. All honors, 3 dual enrollment courses. I will make my junior gpa distinct for the weight it holds. 3.8/4 unweighted, 4.45 Weighted, 4.3 first semester, 4.9 second semester. 4 Advanced Placement - three 4's and one 3. one dual enrollment. Current cumulative unweighted 3.5/4, weighted 3.9. Most likely final GPA 3.65-3.7/4, weighted 4.2</p>

<p>Advanced Placements
U.S History
U.S Government
Literature
Language
Calculus AB
European History
Spanish
Microeconomics
Biology</p>

<p>Sr. year - 5 Advanced Placement, 1 Dual Enrollment.</p>

<p>To me, my academic schedule has been rigorous since 9th grade. When I graduate i will have over 25 academic classes. I've taken 8/11 Advanced Placements offered at my school, and will be taking one online.</p>

<p>-EC (in school)
Student government - member 04-08, 07 President Jr.Class, 08 treasurer
Overall Student Council - Member 04-08, Sergeant in Arms 08
Health Occupations Student of America - Member 04-08, treasurer 07, President 08
International Club - Member 06-08, Founder, President 06-08
Speech and Debate team/club - 06-08, Vice President and Co-Captain 07, President and Captain 08
Key Club - Member 05-08, Vice President 08
Spanish Club - 04-08, Secretary 07, forced merger with International club
Spanish Honor Society - 07-08
Interact Club - 05-08, President 08 (?)
National Honor Society-08 (?)
Cross Country- team member 07
Freshmen Basketball team - 04</p>

<p>(?) - denotes possibility,but very likely.</p>

<p>-Volunteer Experience
Parrish Medical Center - 06-08, over 200 hours.
Mariner Nursing home - 04-05, 50 hours
Library - 04-05,over 50 hours
Soup Suppers - 04, over 20 hours
Key and Interact clubs are service clubs, over 20 hours
Chinamya youth mission - 05-07, over 20 hours. Vice President of Commitee</p>

<p>-Work Experience
ARIA Corporation stock and financial analyst - 05-07working under financial planner doing stock research, client managing, tax management, and miscellaneous work. 10 hours a week.
Fathers Office - 06 - 5 hours a week</p>

<p>Awards
110% Award Athlete (9th grade basketball)
1st place HOSA Medical Terminology District and County levels
2nd Place County Science Fair
1st place Regional speech</p>

<p>Thats my complete resume, with some obvious altercations it will be the one i submit with my applications.</p>

<p>As for my personal rating for EC. I would say I exceedingly outperform the students at my school. Basically, I standout and are somehow unique.</p>

<p>Additional Information
-Indian, Asian Background
-1st Generation
-Male </p>

<p>My essay will most likely by solid, I'm pretty expressive writer.</p>

<p>I dont know if it will help, but applying early and for summer B might be an option.</p>

<p>Comments would be greatly appreciated, I've been a gator for years and I would love to get accepted.</p>

2

<p>Are you instate?</p>

3

<p>Yeah...it doesn't matter if you're in-state or out-of-state. You're in. Pick your dorm...but not in the honors college, which requires a 1400 SAT, which you supposedly don't have.
Also, if you did badly on those AP's,(not 4s and 5s), which I doubt, AND are out of state, then you might be on the brink. Are those AP's up through junior year or including senior year? If not including seniior year, definitely in anyway.</p>

4

<p>Instate. Those AP's are all the ones i took and am going to take this year, so total = nine. </p>

<p>Did you read my ACT score? 26, hopefully 27/28 if retested.
That's my major concern. I have the EC, rigority, and potentially well-written essays.</p>

<p>Would Alum recs help?</p>

5

<p>Ok I think graj08 is still looking at UF's admissions stats from like 5 years ago. It helps a lot that you are in state, but the biggest issue is, as you know, your scores. IMO if you break 29 you've got a great shot, like around 80-85%. </p>

<p>Don't worry so much about whether or not the recs are from alumni. Get someone who knows you the best and will help you stand out in their eyes. </p>

<p>AP's don't make a difference with UF's admissions so don't worry about those. If UF is your number 1, kill yourself for the 29. Good luck</p>

6

<p>My daughter is currently a sophmore at UF. Her SAT score was 1050(writing was 600). Her ACT score was 23! She had a 4.7 weighted/4.0 unweighted....200 volunteer hours....many awards, ECs.</p>

<p>We were told at preview by an admissions counselor to remember that SAT/ACT score is only 10% of UF's consideration. He said that AP classes were extremely important to them....SAT/ACT Test scores were only about 10% in importance. We were floored....and encouraged considering my daughter's test scores. She currently has a 3.9 gpa after her first year at UF.</p>

<p>Your resume sounds wonderful. Don't put too much importance on the test scores. Your other achievements look great.</p>

7

<p>I was told around the same thing. however, as I am only really considering the honors college, where they said that test scores mattered more. That being said, a 26 falls right about 40% on UF's 25-75%, and I think that the AP's and the ec's push you pretty far over. </p>

<p>Do you have an SAT score? If not, consider it. There are many people I know who do better on the SAT simply because it is a test of aptitude, and the ACT is a test of knowledge. If you are naturally smart but lazy, take SAT. If you are naturally not that good at taking tests but rather hardworking, take the ACT. I personally found the ACT easier, but I think I just got lucky that day.</p>

8

<p>Yea, it seems the ACT seems like a better bet for my knowledge, considering I'm a terrible test taker. But, I've heard of numerous instances where an ACT score of 25 and strong ec's take you pretty far. </p>

<p>An ex-admission officer told me that same stat, standarized test scores are only 10% of the overall.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the comments so far. </p>

<p>I'm just in limbo about taking the test once more, or applying early with my current credentials.</p>

9

<p>I hate to be the downer but this is a STATE school. The adcoms say many things, that doesn't mean that they are all correct. Most of admissions at UF is numbers and that's a fact. GPA and SAT/ACT are what determine your fate in the hands of the admin officers. My intention isn't to put someone down. I just don't want people to go around thinking that some EC's and nice essay will excuse a poor test score, at least not enough that one should be confident.</p>

<p>Again, get that score up. Try the SAT. I went from a 27act to a 1380/1600, and that was after thinking that the ACT would be my test. You just don't know sometimes so there is no reason to apply so soon in your case.</p>

10

<p>CShah-</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I think that Vincanity1 is correct. Although UF does have a large admissions staff, the sheer number of applications they get makes them take many people just because of their stats. This is not to say that you can't get in(I think you will) but to say that when an admissions officer is tired, and you're the 500th application he's read, his eyes wander to statistics. </p>

<p>But don't let that get you down, you've got excellent ec's:)</p>

11

<p>Right now maybe a 50% chance.</p>

<p>Get those ACT scores up</p>

12

<p>I agree with SSobick</p>

13

<p>I still say about 75%.</p>

<p>Make sure you express tons of interest in your essay or talk to an admissions rep on a tour and tell him things like "Florida is my #1 choice"</p>

<p>They love that stuff.</p>

14

<p>Most likely I'd love to get my ACT a semi-respectable score of 28-30, would a score like that increase my candidacy even more or should i try my shot at the SAT again?</p>

15

<p>Why can't it be both?</p>

16

<p>It couldn't be both because they're two different tests. SAT is more about aptitude, while the ACT is about knowledge and understanding. Also, I'm just better at the ACT and I'm pretty sure if I study I can easily bump my score up 2-3 points.</p>

17

<p>What I'm saying is, why can't you retake both?</p>

18

<p>I would rather concentrate on a test that would be better suited for my knowledge. I wouldnt mind taking the SAT if I could see a significant improvement, but after getting a - 600 CR 540 Math and 600 Writing with hours of studying, and a 26 without not an hour of studying, I would rather take the ACT. But both might be still an option.</p>

19

<p>It's your choice but I was in your situation with SAT practices and real ACT's. I took the SAT without having studied for it and it turned out great for me. Study for whichever you prefer but I definitely think you should take both.</p>