So Worried - Chance Me?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I've been worried about getting in forever. I have specifically chosen schools that are not TOP ranked but are still prestigious. But I'm so worried. I'm a junior. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>African-American Female
Non-competitive private online high school (accredited)
Unweighted GPA: 3.6 ish
Weighted GPA: 4.4 ish</p>

<p>Academic Courses (all through high school)
H. English 9 (A)
H. Government (A)
H. Algebra II (A)
H. Biology (A)
Spanish II (A)
H. English 10 (A)
AP European History (A)
H. Precalculus (B+)
H. Trigonometry (B+)
Spanish III (A-)
H. Chemistry (A-)
H. English 11 (A)
H. Geography (A)</p>

<p>Current Courses:
AP English Literature & Composition (A)
AP U.S. History (B)
AP Environmental Science (A-)
Calculus (C+)
Spanish IV (A)</p>

<p>Future Courses:
AP Statistics
AP Biology
Physics
Japanese I
Freshman Composition (@ the local college)</p>

<p>SAT: 2080
Math: 650
Writing: 750
CR: 680</p>

<p>I just took the SAT again on 03/14 and am almost positive my scores went up. I would say at least 20-30 points, but I won't know until April. I'm planning to take the U.S. History, Literature, and Math II subject tests. I should do alright on them.</p>

<p>Awards:
Technical Writing Award
numerous academic awards from school (I really can't remember off the top of my head...)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Freshman Council Speaker of the House (9)
Student Government (9, 10)
Sophomore Executive Board President (10)
arts Summer Camp (9)</p>

<p>Volunteer Hours:
Community Organization (maybe 50 hours a year?)</p>

<p>Here's what I'm worried about:</p>

<p>A.) I switched schools in my junior year (one school for 9 and 10 and another school for 11 and 12).</p>

<p>B.) I work 20-30 hours a week because my family is below the poverty line (and also because I pay for my own private school) so I don't have time to volunteer or go to extracurricular activities.</p>

<p>c.) My teacher recommendations will come from my 9th and 10th grade teachers because I go to a distance learning school. I don't really "know" my current teachers.</p>

<p>Here are the schools I'm considering:
American University
Boston University
George Washington University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Columbia University (this is just for kicks and giggles - there's no harm in applying to at least one school beyond my reach)</p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

2

<p>Columbia might not be as much of a reach as you think...
I'd say you're good for the rest of them.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for chancing me.</p>

<p>My biggest worry is that I don't have a "niche" and I don't have any extracurricular activities, really. But when my academics are all typed out like that, I guess they don't look bad.</p>

4

<p>applicannot</p>

<p>if you wrote your situations out, included it in ur application, you would really have good chances.</p>

<p>you are already doing well in such situations, so colleges will take in consideration how well you will do when you are well stable</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

5

<p>I think you can apply to more colleges in the Columbia range and have a good shot.</p>

6

<p>I'd actually say Columbia is a reach for you, as well as other schools of the sort. It's important to note your situations in interview/essay.</p>

7

<p>Thanks. I think Columbia is definitely a reach for me. I'm not really interested in all of the Ivies anyway, so I probably wouldn't apply. However, Columbia has a loan-free financial aid program (so if I got in, because my EFC is 0, I'd pay absolutely nothing and graduate $0 in debt) so I thought I might as well throw at least application fee that way. I'd much rather go to GWU than Columbia anyways. GWU is my top choice, but I would not at all be disappointed with American or Boston. I would probably be crushed if I didn't get into any of those three... I mean, I purposefully chose schools that chose about 50% of applicants (AU and BU are actually at like 56%).</p>

8

<p>Ah, I meant to say low reach. You have a decent shot at Columbia because of your situation, etc. It's nice to see people able to overcome obstacles and still do well in school, while others may be in the same pool but don't have as extreme of obstacles as you might have. </p>

<p>Sorry.</p>

9

<p>Don't be sorry! I appreciate your advice. I don't necessarily feel stressed, just anxious. It is kind of cool that I have a unique situation (I left my really crappy public high school for an online high school, but since we have pretty much no income I work 20-30 hours a week to pay for it myself), but it kind of sucks because I don't have ECs or any other "hook" really. I like to see posts from both sides - that I might be okay and I might not be. GWU, American, and Boston are my favorites. Virginia Commonwealth as a safety isn't half bad, and considering I get four application fee waivers (thank god), it couldn't hurt to throw $50 out there for a CHANCE at a free ride to an Ivy.</p>

10

<p>Believe it or not, schools would rather see someone working a steady job for years over some ECs. Volunteer work is in the same area, but you might not have sufficient amounts of time to do so. With your situation, it's understandable for why you have a job to support yourself to get schooling at a prep school.</p>

<p>Your story is inspirational. Everybody's story can be inspirational, but yours is already in the making. But hey, it does not matter if you go to-- say-- Columbia, or any of the sort. A school where you can succeed is what really matters-- on second thought, what really matter is the graduated program that you go to (if you plan to, assuming that you do). You can perhaps transfer to Columbia after a year or so at another school.</p>

11

<p>I have read that some schools like working students. It's my one comfort at night! I am not saying I am anything special, but I work hard! I'm not trying to gloat or anything, but sometimes it's really nice to know that colleges look at "real" kids too. I agree. I see a lot of students on this board looking at the Ivies and other top schools. My schools are on the top 100 most selective list, but they're still realistic. I love Washington, DC. I'd be completely thrilled if I got into GWU. Volunteer work wouldn't be hard for me (I do have a few rare nights off, like tonight) if I had a car - lol!</p>

<p>Cast, you've been so helpful here. I am definitely planning on going to grad school. Actually, I'd love to be a professor. This might sound cheesy, but I've always loved being in the sphere of academia. Until I got to my terrible public high school, I actually loved school. But, being a professor basically means getting a PhD, which is a long ways off. But hey, I'm up for a challenge.</p>

12

<p>What's your intended major in college? (Sorry, I must have missed this somewhere).</p>

13

<p>Actually, I'm not really sure.</p>

<p>For a long time it was linguistics - something about the science of language pulled me in.</p>

<p>But as for now, I'm kind of between majors. I know that I will be applying undeclared. I'm thinking any one of the following:</p>

<p>International Relations/Affairs/Studies
Political Science
Geography (as a minor or double major only)
Urban Studies (as a minor or double major only)
some language (as a minor or double major only)</p>

14

<p>Washington's a great location. If you are a really politically active individual, then a school with people like yourself will be great. </p>

<p>Here's what I found:
1. University of California, Berkley
2. New York University
3. George Washington University <--
4. Georgetown University <--
5. Columbia University <--
6. Harvard University
7. University of California, San Diego
8. University of Wisconsin, Madison
9. University of Washington <--
10. Sarah Lawrence University</p>

<p>The</a> Top 10 Politically Active Schools</p>

15

<p>I live in Maryland, so I'm not far from DC. The city is fantastic (and the metro is great because I am basically the only junior without a license - when is there time to learn something new!?). That's an interesting list. Princeton Review ranks American as #1 most politically active. Politics is something I have fallen in love with over the past few years. Georgetown is a major reach for me, but my half-sister went there. I am really excited about being "close to the action". I am thinking about applying to George Mason (which is right outside DC) as a low match/safety. I'd apply to Howard if I thought I'd like it there at all (for some reason that school just turns me off). Since I'm in state, UM College Park (also right outside of DC) is a mid- to high-match for me, maybe even lower than that (I am trying to be tough on myself so I choose colleges I'll actually get in to versus colleges I have no chance at).</p>

16

<p>George Mason is basically a commuter school; you won't find any social life outside of the buildings itself.</p>

17

<p>Yeah, I've read that. I read that it was trying to turn around, though... but I am looking at more traditional college, though. I really need to find another safety. I'm going to apply to six schools, probably. I am having a hard time finding safeties that I like. Would I be going to far to ask your favorite fall-back schools?</p>

18

<p>I'm not sure if my list will appeal to your intentions, but it doesn't hurt to copy and paste. I can't really say I have fall-back schools at this time, considering that I took the ACT (but disliked the score). I'll be prepping all summer and doing other things in that respect. Here's my list:</p>

<p>-Boston College
-Boston University
-Villanova University
-United States Naval Academy
-United States Military Academy at West Point
-Penn State UP
-University of Chicago
-University of Pennsylvania
-James Madison University
-UCLA
-UC San Diego
-Case Western Reserve University
-Clemson University
-UCONN
-University of Delaware
-Drexel University
-George Washington University
-University of Washington
-Georgia Tech.
-University of Georgia
-Haverford College
-Lehigh University
-University of Rochester
-Rutgers New Brunswick
-University of Scranton
-Syracuse University
-Temple University
-University of Virginia</p>

19

<p>Great schools, but not all fall-backs! I actually live right next to the U of D (Delaware) and if I didn't live 15 minutes away, I'd totally go there.</p>

<p>Syracuse, Temple, and Penn State aren't bad. I have been contemplating Penn State, actually. They keep sending me stuff about their honors college, but I'd rather attend with the masses like everyone else. I am visiting Boston over my mom's spring break. I have heard some people don't like it, but I am fascinated by it.</p>

20

<p>If you're up to classes with ~100+ students, then Penn State UP is the potential school for you. Boston will be a great school and area for your-- I think. I haven't visited yet and not sure when I'll get a chance. I'll be visiting Case Western (because my sister was admitted into their nursing school and invited to the invitational on April 3rd), and during the summer, I'll be making a visit to USMA at West Point. I still need more visits!</p>