right track?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>I'm a junior this year, and we just got in our 1st semester grades. I guess this is a "chances thread," but I am also interested in what I should do to improve my chances while I still have time. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>White Male
Mandeville, Louisiana (20 min. north of New Orleans)
I am also Catholic, if that makes a difference in admissions.
Attend one of the top "traditional public high schools" in the state (I know, best in Louisiana, congrats lol)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9143UW, 4.8571W
Rank: top 5% (around 6 or 7 out of roughly 400-450 students)</p>

<p>SAT: 1990 at end of sophomore year (700CR, 630M, 660W)
SAT II: French (written only) 530 [I know, horrible]</p>

<p>I am considering not sending in SAT scores and just sending in mt ACT score,</p>

<p>ACT: 33 Comp (35E, 28M, 34 or 35 R (I forget and don't have the report handy), 34S)</p>

<p>EDIT: AP scores:
American Government- 3
Macroeconomics- 2
(Not the greatest, but I plan on taking more APs this year)</p>

<p>Schedule and Grades:</p>

<p>Pre-HS credits:
Algebra I- P
French I- P</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
English I Gifted- A/A
World Geography Gifted- A/A
Biology Gifted- A/A
Geometry Gifted- B/A
PE (1 sem.) A
Career Orientation- A
Intro to Business and Computer Applications (basically typing)- A/A
French II- A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
English II Gifted- A/A
Civics/Free Enterprise (1 sem. each) A/B
Chemistry Gifted- A/A
Algebra II Gifted- A/A
PE- A/A
Speech I (2 sem. course, but I only took 1st; plan to finish senior year)- A
American Government AP- A
French III- A/B</p>

<p>Junior Year (this year, 1st semester):
English III AP- A
European History AP- A
American History AP- A
World History Honors (highest available)- A
Physics Honors (gifted unavailable, plan to take AP, called physics2, senior)-A
Adv. Math Gifted- A
Law Study- A</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Key Club since Sophomore year
Quiz Bowl since Freshman year
Mu Alpha Theta since this year
Ethnic Food and Cultures Club since this year
National Honor Society since this year
Started a Teenage Republican Club last year, but we were shut down this year for turning in forms like a week late due to people not turning them in. </p>

<p>As far as my writing ability, I think I'm a pretty good writer. I can post samples if anyone thinks I should.</p>

<p>Also, if this makes a difference, one of my dad's best friends has been friends with Thomas Rodi, the Bishop of Biloxi, MS and an alumnus, since they were in grade school. I could probably get a letter of reccomendation from him. </p>

<p>So what are my chances, and how can I improve them? Also, what are your feelings on keeping/dropping my SAT scores?</p>

2

<p>I think Georgetown wants SAT IIs anyway, so you should take more in subjects you're strong in (and retake French) and try to bump up your SAT. However, a 33 is well within their range. Your location and religion will be a huge advantage (note mine ^_^) and if you dad really is friends with Bishop Rodi--and not just an acquaintance--that rec will be extremely helpful.</p>

3

<p>Retaking French really isn't an option; I haven't heard a word of it since the end of sophomore year and I didn't retain much of it as it was then. I do plan on taking 3 or so SAT II's by the end of this year.</p>

4

<p>SATs = important, but honestly, school grades count most of all the stats on your app. SATs, imho and from what i hear, have been counting less and less. maybe not significantly less, but GPA and grades definitely count more. it's really scary how GTown does the whole acceptance/rejection thing. from what i read in an article, they rate each portion of your application..add up each number, find the average. do that to every application. add all those up and find the average of that. then that average becomes a cut off; anyone above that number (to the decimal?) gets in.</p>

<p>REAAAAALLY not sure if that's true...but the article scared the **** out of me nonetheless.</p>

<p>sigh, i'm so stressed out =(</p>

5

<p>woah..wow where did you read that article at? ^^ just curious..</p>

6

<p>^^Same question... I'd like to read that as well, just for curiosity's sake</p>

7

<p>It's in the archives from a few months back; I think it was a Nightline piece.</p>

8

<p>Also, would I stand a better chance EA if Gtown is my 1st choice college? And I think my class rank would be higher because we do our rank with weighted grades, but there is a limit on weighted classes you can take. I have taken more than most at my school and will have maxed out after this year, while others won't until the end of senior year. Hence, I would appear to have a higher rank (maybe 4 instead of 7).</p>

9

<p>lol...how would they know if gtown is ur first choice? o.O;; u could say it..but im sure alot of other kids will prob be sayin the same thing..it's kinda hard for them to distinguish that? o.O</p>

<p>also wuts ur intended school in GU?</p>

10

<p>Georgetown College; I didn't mean that them being my 1st choice would improve my chances. I was only saying because I think it may be restrictive or something if they let you in EA.</p>

11

<p>Actually Gtown being your first choice does affect admissions. Obviously the kids can say w/e they want and tell every school that they are their first choice, but most counselors won't. Most counselors ask the student which schools are their top choices so they can put an additional sentence in their rec about this being one of the students top choices. Colleges don't want to accept people that aren't going to accept them. It'd be like telling a girl, "well you're okay, I'll tell you if I'll go out with you after I hear from these other four girls."</p>

12

<p>..lmao maybe your counelors is that justpicky? but my counselor would NEVER put that this school wasn't my top choice to affect my decision in the first place. My counselor let me read all the letters she sent out to make sure that everything was in order...aren't counselors supposed to HELP you get into college...not decrease your chances...</p>

13

<p>He didn't put this school isn't my top choice, but he omitted the sentence where he specifically said that so-and-so school is my top choice.</p>