Hello everyone, I know Vanderbilt will be a reach for me but I wanted to know how big the reach is and if I should even waste time applying.
GPA: 3.83
SAT: (Did not take it but got 1170 by practice. Just took one but will take two more. Shooting for 1280)
ECs:
School board representative (very prestigious only two students chosen for the school district).
Started a STEM club for women only (have over 15 members)
Volunteered over 100 hours with a group
Student leadership
Drama (have directed two winning plays and been to many school plays)
Worked a lot during junior year to help out my mom (family of 5 only mom working due to my dads sickness). Grades dropped a little as a result.
National Honor society, English Honor society, Social studies honor society
May or may not include: Accepted to go to France with scholarship to study but couldn’t go due to family problems.
Strength: Family background. None one in the family went to college before. Worked during my hardest year. Took the hardest classes that the school offer. Took over 7 AP and IB classes, almost all my classes early on were honors throughout high school despite being a recent immigrant. As well as my Ecs. Very low income, my family is in the poverty level.
Essay: Very good essay which talks about what I overcame in my life and why I love learning.
Recommendation: Two of my best teachers (who I love) wrote me scholarship letters (and showed it to me), and they will write my college essays. I think that will be my strength as well.
Weakness: My GPA may not be as weak for Vanderbilt but my SAT is and since I am a senior so I can’t improve much. I think my SAT will make it very hard to get into.
I know I don’t have a chance really and please tell me the truth. I am applying to 9 colleges and I am debating whether to put this as my 10th one. So far I chose 3 reaches, like 4 match and 2 safeties (might add more for safeties tbh). Thank you so much!
Oh and any suggestions you have to improve my SAT, it will be greatly appreciated.