I’m a senior, I’ve already applied to all of my schools. I applied to quite a few (probably around 30, excessive, I know) but I am mostly focused on New York schools because I want to go into a political career and I feel New York has many opportunities for that.
So I’ve been mostly an A’s and B’s student. I’ve taken mostly honors, some AP. The only basic classes I’ve taken are in math.
Junior year, I did not do too well in Chemistry Honors, I got b quarter 1, c quarter 2, c quarter 3, and then a d quarter four. My GPA used to be 4.0, 4.1 and now it’s a 3.5 because I did not do well Junior year - got more B’s than A’s and of course, the chemistry.
My SAT is 1200 and ACT is 25. I am retaking my ACT in hopes to get it up to a 30.
I have pretty decent EC’s. I’ve worked on over a dozen political campaigns and smaller campaigns within my community. the rest of my EC’s are my volunteering. I had some small leadership positions in my youth group and at school. Mainly just campaigns and volunteering. I also have a job and im training in management.
My other schools are GWU and georgetown.
I know Columbia and georgetown are out of reach but I want opinions on the other schools.
@avocadotoastyum - you applied to 30 schools? You only listed 4. Who helped you with your list? It seems poorly chosen because your stats are too low for NYU, Fordham and Columbia. The New School accepts much lower stats kids so you have a chance there. If you retake the ACT now it’s too late for it to affect this years’s apps. Did you apply to any CUNY campuses?
Agree with @CaMom13. Other than new school, all the schools you mentioned above, were at least investigated by my daughter. I don’t know about new school, but I’m sorry to say I don’t realistically think NYU (unless you are applying under HEOP?), Fordham or GWU are likely at all. Your GPA might be borderline for those depending on your school, but your standardized test scores are just too low. Do you have matches/safeties?
I chose my list and researched it thoroughly. I was hoping my extracurriculars would make up for the low GPA. I retook my SAT twice, there’s nothing I can do about that score and I studied extremely hard the second time and I got the same score. My essay was pretty good. I had it proofread by multiple people and edited it several times and it was one of the best essays I’ve written for all my schools, same as my supplementals. I did apply to one CUNY and a SUNY. My other schools are state schools and some liberal arts schools but I am not worried about those because they’re not high on my list but because of how low my stats are, I applied to a large amount so that I could have options and I only chose schools I could possibly see myself at. I’m just really hoping the holistic approach to apps will give me a leg up over my scores because when my extracurriculars are all listed out with descriptions and my positions, I’ve done quite a bit. I don’t know though. I am being very realistic, I know where I do and don’t have a chance. I just wanted an outsider perspective, so thank you for replying.
@CaMom13 I do have safeties but they’re in-state safeties and I don’t see myself going to any of them. I have a couple of state schools from other states that are safeties/matches. For GWU, I thought I’d have a little bit of a chance because I am within their middle 50 for SAT and I did spend a week there over the summer with a political program where I met with the Senate and DNC and such and I did put that on my app for GWU.
Pulling for you @avocadotoastyum but the combination of having relatively low junior year grades and low scores is going to hurt. Your SAT is below the 25th percentile for GWU and the dip in your grades Junior year won’t help you going test-optional. I think you need to look hard at the schools that fit your stats and maybe reconsider how you could make them work for you. Success in college is not about just getting in somewhere - it’s about making the most of whatever opportunities you get. I do hope things work out.
Hi yummytoast–So. Again, like most (if not all) here, I don’t have a crystal ball and have no idea which schools may accept you. I feel your anxiety, but I see something different from other posters in your record. I see an A/B student who, like every other single human being on the planet, has a weakness. Yours happens to be chemistry. Tell yourself over and over that no one is good at everything. It is OK. I assume that you don’t intend to major in chemistry–probably political science or government from your interests, and for which chemistry is irrelevant (and math, too, so I’m not concerned with your math SAT score). You’ve shown a passion and it has engulfed you. Most kids just go through the motions.
The trick is finding the school that sees that, too. I don’t know which one that will be, but one will exist. I will say that if your english/reading scores are higher than your math, it will help tell your “story.” It’s possible that GW is that school (or American, if you applied there). Have you tried Albany? Wondering if schools near the state capital may have more focus on attracting kids with an interest in government. Good luck.
@RayManta thank you very much, you relieved some of my anxiety. My English and writing scores are much higher than my math. I do intend to major in Political Science. I was hoping for exactly what you said. My essay focused on my passion for politics and all the campaigns I’ve worked on over the past 7 or so years and I’m hoping that the hours I spent doing that and volunteer work will make up for the lack of excellence in math and science. I did apply to American and Albany. Thank you for your reply.
@avocadotoastyum have you shown demonstrated interest to American? It’s important to them. If you haven’t yet, start signing up for webinars etc if they’re still being done.
The biggest weakness on your application imo is not your chem grade but your SAT/ACT scores. I believe you would be better served applying test-optional where possible.