Should I apply to Selective Colleges>

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi I'm a low income (my sister is the only working adult in a household of 4 and will soon be moving) Hispanic immigrant student (just finished junior year) who arrived to the United States about 5 years ago. I obtained straight in both my Sophomore and Junior Years in all of my classes. My core classes during these years include:</p>

<p>AP World History (got a 5 on the Exam)
AP US History
AP English Language
AP US Government and Politics
Pre Calculus
Algebra II Honors
Chemistry I Honors
Biology I Honors
English II Honors</p>

<p>The first three years of my live here in the US were hard because of the common obstacles: language and culture. Therefore I struggled academically in my freshman year. In classes like Basketball (got a c in this class) and Soccer, Geometry Honors, Algebra I Honors, Earth Space Science Honors, French I (in these classes I got B's) The only good class I got an A, ironically, was English I Honors.</p>

<p>My extracurricular include</p>

<p>Thespians Club: Here I volunteer as a sound Technician and recently was awarded the Cappies Awards for best sound with my other fellow sound technicians for the play It’s A Wonderful Life were I was in charge of sound effects. In my first year (Sophomore year) as in the club I was placed in charge of body microphones and the sound board.</p>

<p>Math Club: I volunteer as math tutor for students in Algebra I through Pre Calc</p>

<p>Public Library: Here I am part of the Teen advisory board were members meet to discuss new library policies and how will the upcoming events be managed. I also volunteer as Teen Room Host and by shelving books.</p>

<p>I am in the Mu Alpha Theta Society, The National English Honor Society, and The National Society of High School scholars and I have been asked to be part of a committee chair on the Thespians club at my school.</p>

<p>Next year I'll be taking</p>

<p>AP Calculus AB
AP Physics C
AP Microeconomics
AP European History
AP Spanish Language
AP English Literature</p>

<p>I am 50 out of 484 in my class and have a 3.7 GPA (Un- weighted) and a 4.5 weighted GPA.</p>

<p>I'm planning to apply to the University of Chicago, Dartmouth, and University of Florida but I don't know If I'll make the cut for these schools please write me back to let me know your opinions and other college recommendations you might have.</p>

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<p>Oh i almsost forgot I took the SAT anf got an 1850 and the SAT and got a 23, I’ll be retaking those tests along with the SAT II subject tests in Math level II and World History, also think of taking the SAT Spanish Language exam.</p>

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<p>I don’t think your current test scores put you in the running for UChic or Dartmouth. Take a look at the mid- 50th percentile SAT scores to find a school where your numbers fit–a good place to start is the US News and World Report Guide to Colleges. Check your library or buy a copy at a magazine stand. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>What is your State GPA? That’s the one closest to the UF GPA. I don’t think you have a good shot at Chicago/Dartmouth but you’ve got a very good shot at UF.</p>

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<p>Even as a URM, Chicago and Dartmouth will be very tough with an SAT score below 2000 and not being top 10%. However, there are many schools with selectivity between those and Florida you can look at. What do you want to study?</p>

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<p>actually i am in the top 10% and I’m planning to studedy Mechanical Engineering with a minor in history. Also I’m a Questbridge College Prep Recipient and will be retaking the SAT.</p>

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<p>^ if we go by your rank in your original post you are 50/484 which is 10.33%</p>

<p>Am I doing something wrong here? (I’ve never calculated rank before).</p>

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<p>I actually think you stand a pretty good chance as a URM. If you can get your SAT up to 2000 and SAT subjects 650-700 you should have great chances.</p>

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<p>Questbride also has some very good schools you would stand a much better chance of being matched with.</p>

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<p>I don’t plan to apply through the questbridge college math process but rather through their regular decision program because it gives me enought time to take the required tests and show that I am an Outstading candiate. As for my GPA yes i know it low and it puts me at 10.33% however if rounded doesn this put me in the top 10%< at least near it> also when it comes to GPA i know a kid in my school who only took 2 AP’s in his entire high school career to this point < AP Psychology and AP Chemistry> the rest of his classes are regular nad honors doesn’t this put me at an advance to some students who despite having high GPA’s haven’t taken challeging classes. thankt for the recommendations by the way.</p>

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<p>please let me know more</p>

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<p>Colleges will not round and being top 10% is key because that’s a part of how they are ranked. Most top colleges have fewer than 5% who were not top 10%. Being a URM makes it much more likely that you could be in that 5%, but still pretty tough. Doesn’t sound like it would be hard to become top 10% though.</p>

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<p>Are you by chance the first in your family to attend college? If you are, then you’ve hit the trifecta. Raise your SAT a couple hundred points and you will have some excellent options. Apply to schools that are searching to bolster their diversity, and you will have a lot to offer.</p>

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<p>Unfortunate ly i am not first generation however my parents never attended college in this country on my sister has.</p>

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<p>aslo please take into accound this is after my junior year i ahven’t started my senior year and it is most likely i will exell once more in my classes, doesn’t this mean that my rank will go up and thus increase my classes for the college i’m applying.</p>

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<p>If you end up becoming a QuestBridge finalist (You really should try out for the College Match Program…I am! It’s the only way to be able to use their application, which gives you a head up), you have a good shot at making some major schools during either the Match process or the Regular Decision process. Just try to boost those standardized test scores a bit and write some fantastic, personal essays!</p>

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<p>Will colleges lok at my senior curriculum and grades before basing their decision weather to accept me or not? Besides like i meantioned some people and applicants may have high gpa and class ranks however they haven’t taken as much regirous classes as i ahev and they have mainely excelled in more Honors anmd REgulars evern when AP classes were offered at their schools like the student I menationed earlier. How would thi help me. Once again thank you foe the feedback.</p>

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<p>yes xavier110 i will try the questbridge college match scholarhsip only that i wont do it through the match process but regular decision so it gives me time to boost my GPA and SAT scores. Do you have ny recommentadtions for schools atht are quesbridge partners that i should apply. PLease let me know</p>

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<p>Well, you already said you like Dartmouth & UChicago, which both are involved with QuestBridge. What are you most interested in? An urban area? A small/large school?</p>

<p>Liberal arts colleges are interested in men (since women tend to outnumber them in applicants), so you could be competitive at schools like Vassar, Amherst, Wesleyan, etc.</p>

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<p>well as for Liberal arts I’m applying to Bowdoing Williams and Wesleyan for univesities i am interested in research universities near big cities as well located particlarl i the west and North East that fit me and that are strong in engineering. I also would welcome considereation for southern reaseach schools outside of Florida. once agin thank you for you feedback.</p>