<p>Sure- rather than releasing all admissions decisions at once (April 1), rolling admissions schools release decisions as they make them, so the earlier you apply, the earlier you will get your decision. I think I heard from Vermont in early November. Actually- I just looked at your list- UMichican is also rolling.
BTW, these are not binding as an early decision would be- you can still apply to another ED school.</p>
<p>I see. I may just do that. </p>
<p>Regarding UMich: I don't think I shall apply there. My folks are a bit skeptical of my moving to state almost halfway across the country. Yes, I'm an East Coaster, if you haven't noticed.</p>
<p>Apologies for the early bump, but now panic is beginning to kick in. It's the end of July, and I need some tips on how to improve the GPA (well, that's an easy one, considering that I have gotten As), standardized tests, and to be accepted into these "Reach" colleges. I can't believe I'm only in "Reach." That's not giving me any confidence whatsoever. The pressure's on. Here's some more info.</p>
<p>AP courses next year:
English Literature and Composition
Spanish Language (AP Spanish V in my school)
Chemistry
Calculus BC</p>
<p>Honors Courses:
Classics II: The Greek Playwrights
Social and Familial Justice, Issues, and Situations (Our school's almost sociology class)
Philosophical Theology Seminar II
The (Name Deleted for Safety) Humanities Seminar: An Insight into the Molded Mind</p>
<p>The Good News: You look like a solid student. Your grades certainly aren't shabby (although college admissions are made with unweighted GPA, not weighted, so you'll need to find it on a 4.0 scale). Your ECs are decent and well-rounded.</p>
<p>The Bad News: The stuff above, that's not enough for top colleges. It's great for a lot of schools, but for Princeton, Yale, Amherst, Williams, even getting into the Middlebury tier, your stats leave something to be desired. These schools look for not just good students from good programs but for great students. You'll need to break the 2000's SAT and 30's ACT-wise (at least!) and if your school ranks, break (at least) top 10%, probably top 5%. Even though your school sounds rigorous, as an applicant with a few B's, you still look less appealing than a straight-A student from a not-so-grand public. It's not fair, but it's college admissions.</p>
<p>For next year, just work on A's in all your classes, and maybe pick one EC to polish up with leadership positions and some extra hours a week for the CommonApp. There's not a whole lot at this point that you can do to make yourself attention-grabbing to elite colleges--honestly, I'd shave the Ivies and top LACs from your list so you can spend more time on honors program essays--but (especially if you boost your SATs), you're a good contender for schools like Bowdoin. I'm not too qualified to comment on other schools on your list, however.</p>
<p>Yeah. I'm a better ACT taker. I can easily get into the 30s. My first time taking them, I got a 28, and bombed the Science section. If I improve that score, my Reading score just a tad, and dominate the English and Math like I always do, you could see me with a 32-36 easily. </p>
<p>It's not fair at all. I hate to be blunt, but some of these students just apply to these schools, wait till the last minute to say, "No," and when I'm waiting for a decision, I'm denied because some jerk-off (sorry to use such terminology) decided it'd be funny to screw around with someone else's dreams of attending college.</p>
<p>And I'm into the LAC's (if what you mean is "Liberal Arts Colleges"), because that's what I'm interested in. Now you're telling me I have a very little chance of being accepted?</p>
<p>"It's not fair at all. I hate to be blunt, but some of these students just apply to these schools, wait till the last minute to say, "No," and when I'm waiting for a decision, I'm denied because some jerk-off (sorry to use such terminology) decided it'd be funny to screw around with someone else's dreams of attending college."
^^Why waiting lists exist...^^</p>
<p>I think he's saying about the LAC's that you'd have little chance at the absolute top ones, but you would have a chance at others that may be a little lower in ranking (why he said Bowdoin)... though it is interesting to note that Bowdoin is ranked just one or two lower than Middlebury (to which he said "even getting into the Middlebury tier, your stats leave something to be desired") according to USNWR</p>
<p>Actually, colleges take into account the "jerkoffs". Don't worry, they don't hurt you, though they are good scape goats!</p>
<p>Your unweighted GPA is a 3.478 on a 4.0 scale. This is a bit low for top schools, though definitely not bad. Offset this with better standardized tests... To me, at least, it seems schools will more readily doubt the validity of a GPA than a standardized test.</p>
<p>I feel like I'm always recommending princeton review crap for the act, but it's definitely worked for me. (let's see... can we say 4 point composite improvement? 9 point improvement on science.)</p>
<p>Let me summarize. You REALLY need to buy a princeton review book asap, read all the "silly" and "stupid" (actual words of friends) strategies. They've got ACT scores much lower than they could have. Practice, but don't practice too much. Pace yourself, and use Process of Elimination. </p>
<p>I had to seriously bug my parents for the $20 to buy yet another reveiw book (on top of the 4 AP books, SAT books, etc etc) and I can say it was the one of the best $20 I've ever spent.</p>
<p>I wish PR paid me; I sure do deserve it, but I have a lot to thank them for, too.</p>
<p>Buena suerte!
feel free to PM if you need any other help</p>
<p>I have the prep books, thisdude. I just didn't prepare enough. I will get to work on that immediately. And my GPA is that low unweighted!? Man, I really need to improve my cumulative GPA. God, the pressure's on. I hate being the above-average student because these overly studious, no-life-having, constantly working, straight-A students who have the money to go to college anywhere decide to apply where I am and get in, whereas the person who has the work ethic and knowledge cannot get in because I had too many B-pluses Junior year. Why is it that it's a bad thing even if I did a good thing by taking two extra courses? These aren't electives: these are EXTRA COURSES! God, now I'm getting really nervous. I hate being told that I can't do something, but the general consensus seems to be that I should consider the C-List schools.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Holy Cross?</p>
<p>"...but the general consensus seems to be that I should consider the C-List schools."</p>
<p>"Have you looked at Holy Cross?"</p>
<p>My point exactly.</p>
<p>I am sorry you took it that way. HC is a very good Northeast school, Catholic, with great athletics.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don't care about athletics that much. Religious affiliation is not something I really specify in my search, either. I do have school spirit (loads of it), but academics come first. Educational value is of prime importance, and I can't be given acceptance to those schools that have the best in the nation.</p>
<p>Bump because I can't edit my post, strangely. </p>
<p>What do you guys recommend I do to get into college? What must be improved? What must be tweaked? I need to get into those "Reach schools" ASAP.</p>
<p>Second-paged is a no-go for me. Courteous bump. Guys who have already commented me: continue with the advice on how to get into these "Reach schools" and ask for more info, if necessary. Guys who haven't, read my info, which is scattered about in every page, and chance me. Thank you.</p>
<p>Have you considered looking at Boston College because it helps if you're Catholic there and they are a good school. If you raised your SAT scores a little and scored good on the SAT II's I can definitely see you as a match for BC.</p>
<p>BC is a college, but with a high-school personality. I've been there, I have friends who go there. It's a big name, yes, but the idea of going to yet another high-school is iffy. Why not BU? It's lesser-known, a lot better in my opinion, and just as acceptable, no? </p>
<p>I don't know; I'm the first in my family to do this sort of thing. And what's with the obsession over the SATs? I'm not sending those scores; I'm only sending the ACT scores because all colleges I'm looking at accept either. Why send the crappy one if I could easily send the decent one that will be tremendously improved?</p>
<p>BC is ranked higher than BU by 32 spots according to the US News college rankings from last year.</p>
<p>I don't know. I think BC's a bit overrated, in my opinion. Besides, one of my favorite authors teaches one of my favorite subjects over at BU. </p>
<p>Narrowing down colleges is difficult, wouldn't you agree?</p>
<p>Yeah it's really difficult I'm kind of similar to you with a little bit higher GPA and better test scores and everyone is saying I'm reaching too much, but I figure admissions is a crap shoot at a lot of higher colleges so maybe I'll get lucky and get into one. All you really need is one good safety that you know you can get into and you'll be happy at even if you get rejected everyone else. If I were you I'd spend time trying to find a good safety. I'm lucky because I have a good safety in my home state (Penn State).</p>
<p>You are not similar to me. You have a higher GPA and better test scores. And I do have some safeties in mind, Penn State being one of them. Fairfield and Catholic are two others.</p>