<p>This is just the rough outline of my statistics, so I don't expect but a rough chancing. I am looking into more selective college in my area such as Vanderbilt, Duke, and UVa.,; but feel free to give me chances on some of the ivies. I am trying to decide whether I should apply to some of them or not.
Thanks in advance! </p>
<p>ACT scores: 29 sophomore year, 31 junior year, am taking it in a week, aiming for a 33+</p>
<p>Major extracurriculars, activities, and clubs:
- Eagle scout
- 8 years martial arts (2nd degree black belt), occasionally teach some classes
- 4 years ultimate frisbee (captain this year)
- 4 years marching band
- 4 years concert band ("sit-down" band)
- Key Club
- National Honor Society
- Designed both trumpet section t-shirt and ultimate frisbee jersey senior year
- Coder/programmer/webmaster as hobby. Have created multiple websites and forums in the past. Current project in the works.
-Part time job: host at Olive Garden</p>
<p>Senior year course load:
- AP Calculus
- AP Economics
- AP Language
- AP Statistics
- AP Physics
- Marching Band
- Concert Band</p>
<p>Thanks, again. I may be forgetting some stuff.. bleh.</p>
<p>I currently go to Vanderbilt. As far as I can tell, you’ll be a good candidate, but I don’t know if you’ll get in. Most students here show something that resonates who they are. For instance, in high school, they created a project that addressed an issue or problem they saw in the world, and really dedicated their efforts to growing and successfully executing that project. (That’s just an example btw). Others did something more on the down low but still expressive of them - like leading their high school on a national victory in a sport/academic competition. Your ACT is decent, but on the lower end of what students here have. </p>
<p>I would say you have a fairly good chance, but if you really want to solidify it, emphasize a quality you have and make it apparent (while still maintaining what you have right now!)</p>
<p>Duke would be a reach given no “standout” scores, GPA, or ECs and the demographic working against you. The school only admits 11% of applicants anyway, and those on the lower end of their core ACT range (30-34) are often recruited athletes, etc. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, always worth a shot - a compelling essay and amazing rec letters can make a difference. IMHO, you need that big jump in your ACT that your aiming for to make it worth your while to invest the time/money/effort into visiting, writing essays, paying app fees, etc.</p>
<p>There is no point of sending both scores to schools that do not superscore, so check first. Pick schools you would be happy at rather than just picking by rankings is my opinion. All schools are very different.</p>