<p>I'm a junior, so some of this information isn't complete yet (like GPA and officer positions in clubs), but I did my best to estimate everything accurately.</p>
<p>SAT Score: 2280 (800 CR, 730 M, 750 W) on first try, might retake for higher math score
SAT Subject Tests: 790 Biology, 740 World History, and I will take US History, Math II, and English this year
ACT Score: 33 (first try, I may take again for a 34 unless I just submit my SATs and leave the ACT out)
GPA (projected estimate): 4.10-4.15 weighted, ~3.9 unweighted</p>
<p>I have taken every AP and Honors class that I can fit in my schedule, am involved with several clubs and honor societies (DECA, possibly president of my school's Political Awareness Club next year as a senior, Mock Trial, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society), and I will be an Eagle Scout by the time I apply next year. </p>
<p>My district is pretty competitive, and for reference the highest GPA in this year's graduating class is a 4.36, with the top ten ending at about 4.20 or so. I will definitely be top 10% of my class of about 350, and my school doesn't do a specific rank order (although the top students naturally ask around and determine their place, but it isn't an official statistic that's submitted to colleges). We use weighting for AP classes, and a full point is added to each class' grade (e.g., if you get an A- in an AP class, it starts as a 3.6 and a point is added to make it a 4.6).</p>
<p>My school changed its grading policy after my freshman year. Before, a 90 or higher earned you an 'A' and 4 quality points, B+ was 87-89.9 and it counted as 3.5, B was a 3, etc... Now it's:
A+ is 97+, 4.4 quality points
A is 93-96.9, 4 quality points
A- is 90-92.9, 3.6 quality points
B+ is 97-89.9, 3.3 quality points
B is 83-86.9, 3 quality points</p>
<p>All of the A+s that I had before under the old system (and I would have had a lot of them, since I had pretty easy teachers and classes in 9th grade) only count as 4.0s instead of 4.4s, which makes it more difficult for my weighted AP classes and A+s now to carry me significantly above a 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>What are my chances of getting into the following schools? I plan on studying International Relations or similar (possibly double majoring in business).</p>
<p>U Penn, Columbia, U Chicago, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Georgetown, Boston College, SUNY Binghamton (Honors College)</p>
<p>Should I even bother applying to Harvard/Yale/Princeton/Stanford? I think those are probably a little out of my league, but some people have told me that I have a chance and that it's worth the application fee just in case.</p>
<p>My main concern is that my GPA seems a little low for top-tier schools like Columbia and Penn, but my guidance counselor said that colleges realize and understand that students may have had a bad teacher or a harsh class (for example, my only B came in AP Biology but I got a 5 on the AP Exam and a 790 on the SAT Subject Test) on occasion. Do you think it's a major problem?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>