Tips for raising my chances?

<p>Hi, I'm pretty worried and stressed out about getting into a good college. My parents haven't been making it any easier on me either, but I was hoping I could get some advice on what I can do to better my chances of getting into a good college. I just finished Junior year and I'm graduating as a senior in 2008.</p>

<p>I haven't received my 4th quarter final grades yet, but my 3rd GPA was 93. The SAT Is scores I received is Math - 570 Critical Reading - 590 Writing - 590.</p>

<p>With my scores right now I don't think I can get into any of the colleges I am looking at. But I am taking the SATs again and I did take three SAT IIS, Physics, Math I, and U.S. History. I think I scored decently on them, but I wasn't prepared at all when I actually saw the tests (especially physics). I also realize I am really going overboard with the colleges that I want to get into, but I am willing to do whatever to reach these goals.</p>

<p>Schools I'm looking at -
Boston University
Cornell University
University of Virginia
NYU
University of Pennsylvania
Dartmouth College
Columbia University
MIT</p>

<p>I'm still not exactly sure what career/major I should be looking into, but as of now I'm thinking something with business.</p>

<p>So please, if there is anything you can tell me to help me get into these schools it would be very helpful.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading, Eric.</p>

<p>You need to raise your SAT. About 50 points per section for even the least competitive school on your list.</p>

<p>The easier option, and probably the one that makes more sense is to change your list. Keep one or two of your current schools (all reaches for most kids and HUGE reaches for you) and start afresh.</p>

<p>Because you want to major in business, your chances at NYU and UPenn plummet even farther, as the b-schools are even more competitive than the overall institution.</p>

<p>My advice? Keep the dream alive. If you love a school apply there and work your butt off. But don't bank on it. Unless you raise your scores or there are some important pieces of information about you that you have not posted here, the odds of you getting into any of those schools are slim.</p>

<p>My guess would be that the closest match on your list is BU. I think you should be very careful that you have a number of matches to which you apply, as well as some true safeties (and love them - be happy if you end up going there).</p>

<p>With your grades and SAT's, you can find some fine schools that you will love by researching the admitted stats. If you do well wherever you go, you can get into a wonderful graduate school or get a good job from there (and it does not have to be a top tier school).</p>

<p>My turn! hehe</p>

<p>Well, I'm gonna be a junior in August. I so far have a very crappy SAT score. I have ~1550. I am the top 5 in all of my classes. Freshmen and sophomore year, I had a 4.0 GPA, weighted it should be ~4.17. I have 5 clubs that I am in and I am an officer in one of them.</p>

<p>What do you think my chances are to get a 2000 my the 2008 March test date? What should I do?</p>

<p>Also what are my chances getting into:
University of Southern California
University of California- Berkeley
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
New York University
Farfetch: University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities sophomore year: (All I am planning to continue till graduation)
Operation Smile
Honor Society
American Cancer Society (officer next year)
Key Club
Kids to Kids</p>

<p>Community Service:
So far I have >100 hours just in sophomore year, and I am planning on doing >250 hours by the end of junior year.</p>

<p>Class took and planning on taking:</p>

<p>Freshmen- no weighted class
English I
Chinese 3 Honors
PE
SRC/ IC3 (Required class)
Geometry
Art</p>

<p>Sophomore- one weighted class
Modern World History
Chemistry Honors
Chinese 4 AP
English II Honors
PE (Mandatory)
Algebra II/ Trig Honors</p>

<p>Junior-4 weighted classes
Modern American History
Chemistry AP
Chinese 5 AP
English III Honors
Journalism I
Math Anaylsis/ Calculus I Honors (counted as AP)</p>

<p>Senior- 4 or 5 weighted classes
History AP (not sure what yet)
Physics (Honors maybe)
English IV AP
Journalism II
Calculus II AP
Statistics AP</p>

<p>My cousin went to USC but don't know if that's considered as alumni or not.</p>

<p>Ya, BU seems like your surest bet. </p>

<p>My advice: Retake the SAT. Find out what you really want to do and pick reach schools following that intended major.</p>

<p>Chance me please. I'll give you an imaginary cookie. ^_^</p>

<p>flh91, can you stop doing that to everyone else's thread and get your own. Thank you.</p>

<p>opps, sorry</p>