So do miracles happen at Syracuse

Colleges and Universities A-Z Syracuse University
1

<p>I realize that I may be a long shot?...but I also realize that Syracuse had an 8% increase in admissions last year. Could you give me your opinion on my chances for admission. Thanks</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<ul>
<li>SAT: 1540 540 CR, 460 Math, 530 Writing</li>
<li>GPA: 3.5 current/3.2 cumulative (upward trend)</li>
<li>Rank: N/A (around top 40%)</li>
<li>I'm a Track 1, Honors student
Student Council (President)
Mock Trial (Captain)- 3 yrs
Youth Ministry (leader)-4 yrs
Student Ambassador -3yrs
Middle States Committee - 2 yrs
World Affairs- Model Senate 1 yr
A.S.S.I.T - 1 yr
Hooks: African-American, First generation college
Strengths: Leadership, Ec's, Rec's, Essays, hooks , Hands-on experience with communications.
Weaknesses: Grades, SAT</li>
</ul>

2

<p>ehhh -__-</p>

<p>Those SAT scores & your rank mannn.</p>

3

<p>Wow. Well, I suppose the fact that you are first generation may help, but those scores and stats are way below the average. I think the decision will largely depend on how clearly you expressed your fit with the school and how good of a case you made for what you bring to the table outside of your grades. As in, what kind of a person are you and what can you uniquely add to the student body.</p>

<p>Also, keep in mind our opinions are purely speculative regardless of what we say. I mean, we can give you our opinions, but we honestly know nothing more than you do. There are always exceptions at every Tier 1 school and people with lower stats do get in occasionally. We can say what we think, but ultimately it will depend on your individual application and how the admission committee sees you in the context of the rest of the applicants. I mean, many students with 4.0 GPAs, 2200 SATs, AP and honors courses, huge extracurricular lists, etc. get rejected just like people with low stats for many reasons. It’s so unpredictable, so don’t stress yourself too much. </p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

4

<p>thanks alot</p>

5

<p>“I mean, many students with 4.0 GPAs, 2200 SATs, AP and honors courses, huge extracurricular lists, etc. get rejected”</p>

<p>First of all, I doubt this is true. If anyone with those stats got rejected from SU I’d call the admissions office right away. If anyone at those stats got rejected at a slew of more selective universities than SU I’d also think a call to the admissions office would be warranted, so this is nothing against SU, just the fact that very few of those kinda students would get rejected from an institution outside of the top 20 universities. </p>

<p>Your app is actually not too bad, if you keep in mind that SU’s common data set avg. admitted GPA would be slightly inflated due to some admitted applicants not being on the most difficult academic track at their school. Your GPA is not that bad considering you are on the honors track at your school. Upward trend is also helpful. Students from my HS who went to SU had similar rank and GPA as you. Perhaps my HS is unusually strong, I don’t know, but just saying.</p>

<p>Secondly, you have excellent ECs and I assume SU is more holistic in their admissions than larger publics.</p>

<p>Finally, AA and first generation are HUGE hooks that shouldn’t be discounted.</p>

<p>The only issue I can see with your app is your SAT scores. Those, indeed, are well below average. I think they would raise a major red flag and the question is, are you a junior? If so, please take them again! Study a lot! A student with a fairly solid GPA and on the honors track should not be getting a 460 in math and measely 500s on CR/writing. There is no reason for that except being totally unprepared? I assume you could easily pull your SATs up to an acceptable range if you start taking practice tests like mad and hit the Princeton Review books to learn tips and strategies for those types of problems you consistently get wrong.</p>

<p>With more formidable SAT scores I would say you are totally in at SU. But again…those SAT scores are a red flag…460 is like out there bad dude…no offense…I know you are capable of better is all :P.</p>

6

<p>Thanks umcp11, you’re absolutly right. Unfortunatly I am a senior, and cannot take the SAT again…I went to a terrible public grade school and the math program was awful. As for the CR and Writing sections…just a week before I hit a 600 on each practice section on the princeton review test, so I know I have potential to do better.</p>

7

<p>The SATs are in the same zone as they want it to be, but your gpa might be the thing that will destroy you. My GPA is high, but SAT scores are low :(. Syracuse cares more about the GPA than SAT.</p>

8

<p>My SAT scores are pretty much exactly the same as yours, except for the math section. Its just something about standardized test that gets me. I just got my acceptance letter to Syracuse about 2 weeks ago. But your EC and other credentials are really good. Well you still have time to get that GPA up. and retake your SATs. With a bunch of studying you will definitely be able to get that score into the 1700+ range. good luckkkk!.</p>

9

<p>still haven’t heard anything getting a little nervous…</p>

10

<p>same, i haven’t heard back either! like 4 of my friends heard back but 3 others haven’t. but yeah i have around the same GPA as you (3.3 UW) but my SAT is 1730</p>

11

<p>I got accepted and my SAT score is quite similar as well. Keep working on that GPA. I have a 4.3 so you need the extra something to make up for the lack in test scores. I also have a little bit more community service and clubs experience. Overall, I think you have a good shot if you take a couple APs/Honors and boost your GPA.
Here is a copy of my ‘Chance Me’ post from months ago. I felt the same way and I know it helps knowing ‘SATs arent everything’.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.4
Rank: 8/317
SAT:
Verbal:500
Writing:510
Math:480</p>

<p>Courses: My school only has a four block schedule.(im only including AP’s and honors)</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP Literature- B,B
AP Biology- B, A-
Pre-Calc Honors- C, C-
(However, I took another Math course, which I received A+'s across the board)</p>

<p>Junior Year final grades:
AP Language/Composition- B
World History II Honors- A-
Chemistry Honors- B-</p>

<p>Sophomore Year final grades:
English 10 honors- A
Biology honors- A
U.S History II honors- A</p>

<p>DUAL ENROLLMENT:
Semester 1: Psychology 101- C+
Semester 2: English 111- A
Semester 3: English 112-A-
Semester 4: U.S. History 151- B+</p>

<p>Clubs:
National Honors Society(11,12)- Vice President
Gay-Straight Alliance(10,11,12)- President (11th,12th)
Key Club(10,11,12)- Editor (12th)
Drama Society(12th)- Assistant to director/ actress</p>

<p>Student Council- 10th, 11th, 12th
Mentoring freshman- 11th, 12th
Girls mentoring group- 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
GREEN(Environment) Club- 12th</p>

<p>Sports:
JV volleyball- 9th</p>

<p>Volunteering:
Peer mediator to middle school students (10th, 11th)
Help teach journalism class to 7th graders (9th)
regularly assist in my community whenever asked</p>

<p>Work experience:
Public library- aid (Sept 2007-Nov 2008)
Tutor at local school (Dec 2008- present)
Massachusetts General Hospital intern-Research assistant (summer intern 2009)
Research water quality in community- (September 2009-present)</p>

<p>-Taking two math courses senior year so Im totally prepared=160 minutes of math (first in my school’s history)
-IEP(Learning disability)
-Won 1st Place in City Regional Science fair, move on to States and International</p>

<p>Hope I helped!</p>

12

<p>bigtalker0007 - depends on which school you applied to…my D had similar stats, slightly higher GPA, first generation AA as well, she was accepted to the School of Visual and Performing Arts for communication, she purposely did not apply to NewHouse for fear her stats weren’t up to par and now that she is in, she can transfer or dual major with NewHouse if she should decide to which is much easier to do from within, her friend got rejected with the same stats because she applied directly to NewHouse…sometimes a little strategic planning goes a long way…</p>

13

<p>So… I applied to Newhouse (I now realize that was a mistake). Luckily I also applied to the college of arts and sciences.</p>

14

<p>lol same here! Newhouse is a pathetically huge reach for me, and I put that as my first choice. I also put down Whitman and CAS for the 2nd and 3rd thankfully as well. :-O</p>

15

<p>bigtalker0007 & runnergirl15 - NewHouse is tough but dont go by what I said hopefully both of you will prove me wrong!! D friend that was rejected didnt put a 2nd or 3rd choice hoping that would show the admissions team how serious she was about NewHouse, that strategy may have back fired for her…I’m sure you guys will both hear soon with good news!!</p>

16

<p>Thanks CollegeBoundNYC…I love your optimism</p>