<p>I'm a high school junior at a relatively difficult Texas private school, and I intend to apply to the following schools (listed in order of favorite schools first):</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Virginia (if I get in, will probably attend)</li>
<li>Georgetown University</li>
<li>University of Texas</li>
<li>Duke University</li>
<li>Tulane University</li>
<li>Emory University</li>
<li>Vanderbilt University</li>
</ol>
<p>I have a 3.78 GPA unweighted, a 2170 SAT (760 CR, 680 M, 730 W), and a 34 ACT with 36 English, 36 Reading, 29 Math. My high school does not rank. I will have taken 4 AP's by the end of senior year. My favorite subject and one of my intended majors is Spanish; I am president of our Spanish club, I'm currently taking Spanish IV and I will take AP Spanish next year. The rest of my extracurriculars include things like being a two-sport athlete, 60 hours of community service and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, so they're nothing special. However, I will be spending my senior year in Spain with School Year Abroad in order to become fluent in Spanish and see what it is like to live in a foreign country. I was one of four students to receive a merit scholarship with this program in a class of 65. Could you please tell me what my chances are with each school? Thanks.</p>
<p>How many AP’s are your peers taking? If you have a similar number to them, you’re good. If not, 4 AP’s is light. Your GPA is pretty low, and that will definitely hurt; grades are more important than ACT. Your ACT score is good and won’t keep you out of any school, but it also won’t guarantee you admittance (no score can do that). Given what seem to be bland activities, I’d say:
UVA, GT, Vandy, Emory: Low Reach
Tulane, UT: Match
Duke: Reach</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Virginia high match</li>
<li>Georgetown University low reach</li>
<li>University of Texas high match</li>
<li>Duke University reach</li>
<li>Tulane University low reach</li>
<li>Emory University low reach </li>
<li>Vanderbilt University reach</li>
</ol>
<p>Focus on your GPA and then your chances will increase. Do something worthwhile this summer and you have a better shot at some of these schools. Good luck!</p>
<p>I’d say that Tulane is a match, even a low-match for this student. I would agree that her AP load is a little light, but that all depends on what her school offers. Her unweighted GPA and test scores were higher than my son’s. He was accepted at Tulane under their non-binding Early Action program, but without any scholarship awards. If her curriculum is the most rigorous available at her school, then she has an excellent chance of a scholarship offer from Tulane.</p>