senior anxious about college

Applying to College
1

hi! current senior in high school. I go to a highly rated private school in California, and I’m super stressed about college. i’m really worried I won’t get into my schools, as I don’t have the highest GPA, and because everyone at my school really really smart, I don’t stand out much…

Before I get into stats, my school doesn’t do APs so I don’t have any of those, my GPA is calculated starting in 10th grade, and in my school’s profile, the average gpa is a 3.74, and they don’t rank.

Here are my overall stats:

GPA: 3.5 (weighted AND unweighted. idk how that works lol but it’s worked out like that even though i took 2.5 (one honor was only second semester) honors last year. However, my projected GPA after 1st semester senior year (based on my hopes) is a 3.70 weighted and a 3.61 unweighted with 2 honors. Overall, I have a B+/A- average and an upward trend.

ACT: 32, 32, 33. english: 36, 36, 35. math: 26, 23, 28 (not really my strong subject). reading: 33, 36, 36. science: 34, 31, 33. writing: 11, 8, 9. I’m only submitting the first and third scores.

SAT II: Literature 730.

ECs: girl scout since 1st grade, did a “doctors without borders” trip for dentistry, volunteered at the boys and girls club for a summer + was on their fundraising board for that following year. president of a club that partners with a national charity, president of club about intersectional feminism + social justice, editor/president of school’s literary + art magazine. I’m on a teen committee promoting better mental health discussions for teens in our area. I’m currently doing a design/marketing/sales internship at a tech start-up that combines my passion for graphic design with my passion for providing education to others. I’ve also been on my school’s spirit committee since my freshman year.

SAT Subject Tests: I’ve taken the literary one so far and I got a 730. I’m taking the Math II (which I’m not expecting to do great on) in two weeks, and I’m also taking the US history one.

College List (difficulty according to my counselor):

Likely: GW, CU Boulder (EA), IU Bloomington (EA)

Possible: BU, SCU (EA), Tulane (EA), UIUC (EA), UC Irvine, UW Seattle, UC Santa Cruz, USD

Reach: Cal, UCLA, UC San Diego, USC (my DREAM school), UT Austin, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Emory, NYU, Wake Forest, WashU, Vanderbilt.

I want to go into college for either business (concentration in marketing) or psychology (got an A in my psych class). My letters of rec are from two of my favorite teachers (history and english), and they know that I care more about truly learning than getting amazing grades. I’m also getting a rec from my internship.

Sorry if that’s a wack amount of info, this is my first post on here and I didn’t really know the protocol, sorry! So yeah, I’m just very very worried about not getting into any of my reaches, especially USC, because that’s my favorite school. I wanted to know if you guys could reassure me in any way, give me some tips on how to present myself, just comment on this I guess? I don’t really know how CC works but giving this a shot. anything at all is appreciated. :slight_smile:

2

Budget? Are you and your parents fine with being full pay at any school on your list?

3

I will comment on the UC’s. You need to calculate your 3 UC GPA’s: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Your lack of AP’s and attendance at a competitive HS will be taken into account when reviewing your application.

For the private schools, you should determine your UW GPA since this will be important in gauging your chances. Private schools have their own weighting system not usually published (unlike the UC’s).

You have competitive test scores and good ECs. Only 3 UC’s have Business schools: UCR, UCI and UCB. UCR would be a good option as a possible Safety school but it is not direct admit into the Business program.

UCI’s Business Admin is highly competitive so I would put that school in to the Low Reach category.

If your UC GPA capped weighted is below 4.0, then UC Santa Cruz is a good target school. If your UC GPA capped weighted is above 4.0, then UCD, UCSB and UCI would be possible.

The other UC’s would be Reach schools including USC.

You need to make sure your parents are willing to pay OOS costs to many of the colleges on your list and get a handle on your budget.

I would also suggest since you are a CA resident, that you consider some of the top Cal States for Match/Safety schools especially for Business (Marketing) such as Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, Cal State Long Beach.

Best of luck.

4

As long as you would be happy to attend your safeties, there is no point in worrying about not getting into your reaches. I think your list is okay, but you have too many reaches. 12? They aren’t raffle tickets. If you don’t really like your likelies, ask your GC to help you find others. GWU isn’t a likely, unless your school has some established relationship. Personally, I think most of your reaches are out of reach.

Your list has no LACs. Are you not interested? You will perhaps have more realistic options if you add one or two. There are some fantastic LACs that might love a student with your stats. Skidmore in NY and Dickinson in PA come to mind.

5

Have you considered Occidental College? Its Los Angeles milieu might be attractive to you and your stats fit well with their class profile for GPA and test scores: 3.69 unweighted GPA and 30 median ACT score. Claremont McKenna might worth your while to consider; its middle 50% range for ACT Composite is 30-34. Grinnell, liberal vibe in Iowa, might be a match.

Your test scores are fine, as you scored strongly in English, reading, science and writing. A 730 in SAT 2 literature is quite good. I agree that UC Santa Cruz is a good target; also do apply to the other UCs. Your stats are good, so put together the rest of your applications, and most importantly, apply.

6

DePauw and UPugetSound with their honors business programs would be good targets. American U is a better target than GWU.
Remove a couple from NYU Stern, Emory, Vanderbilt, WashU, GWU, UT.
Add some from cal poly SLO, SDSU, CPP, UCR?
What about Whitman? Fordham?

7

Hi, yes they are! I’m very grateful that my parents are fine with paying all the costs.

8

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate all your help, I’ll be sure to take it all into account.

I’m very grateful that my parents are fine with paying all the costs.

9

My school does have a good relationship with GWU, and my college counselor, who works with me very closely, says that I should be able to get in.

Unfortunately, I’m not interested in LACs, but thank you so much for your help!

10

I did look at Oxy but unfortunately didn’t feel like I’d enjoy it there. I also looked at CMC but felt that it was too small.

Thank you!!

11

Thank you!! I’m still debating whether I’m applying to a few of my reaches, but everything is else is pretty much set in stone, as my goal is to have all my apps done by end of December. I’ll think about taking those reaches off. Thank you!

12

Add some matches and safeties then.
Look into all the names suggested on this page, as you might find one or two that will interest you.