<p>So, I’m deciding whether I should bother applying to BC. My ACT is within the middle 50%, but my GPA is pretty low. I’m hoping my saving grace is the fact that I started and now run a social media marketing firm. I don’t want to pay the $80 to apply unless there is a chance I’ll get in. </p>
<p>ACT: 31
Weighted GPA: 3.6
UW GPA: 3.0
ECs:
Started and run Social media marketing firm
400+ hours of community service
2 jobs (one of which is frequent)
Captain of state finalist volleyball team
Hooks: I’m Catholic, so maybe that will help?
High School: Top ten public schools in
Illinois</p>
<p>Schedule: All honors and AP classes
Grade Trend: Slight dip junior year</p>
<p>@JackRedBlueGreen:
Here are some questions I have when reading your opening post.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Why did you start your social media marketing firm? If you weren’t applying to colleges, would you have done it?</p></li>
<li><p>How have you grown from having started that business, and how will that growth make you more of a person that BC would like to have in their class mosaic?</p>
<ul>
<li>What did you do for your 400 hours of volunteering? Were you just a warm body, or did you make a difference? How did you make a difference?</li>
<li>Will your letters of recommendation support the character in you that you will be conveying with the above points?</li>
<li>Can you explain why your Junior year grades dipped? (that’s when they should be rising).</li>
<li>What do you know about BC and the qualities it values?</li>
<li>How will BC’s student body be enhanced if they admit you? [And don’t just say because you started your own business, as that will show you don’t get it.]</li>
<li>What are your “2 jobs”? How do they help define you?</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>
<p>You don’t need to answer those questions for me, but you should be prepared to cover many or most of them in your application.</p>
<p>Other thoughts.
Being Catholic won’t add value.
BC’s middle-50% of admits have an ACT of 30-33. So your 31 puts you below the midpoint. Can you burn your weekends studying for the ACT and then retake it? How badly do you want it?
Coming from a top ten public school in your state won’t add value unless you can show how it’s made you a stronger candidate in areas that the adcoms are looking for.
If you look through the BC decision threads in this BC forum, you’ll see that BC does admit “some” with an academic profile like yours, but those usually occur when there’s something else in the application that is really strong.</p>
<p>You’ll never know if you don’t apply.
All the best.</p>