What are my chances of getting in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

Georgetown is my dream school- I hope to go into a career of foreign service, so SFS has been my number-one for years now, haha.

A bit about myself-
I’m 15, graduating high school this year (skipped the 7th and 11th grades)
I come from a very large family; I’m the oldest of seven children
My family and I have had to move nearly constantly (longest we’ve stayed in one place is about two years)
While we do well for ourselves, we are under the poverty line for a family of three, let alone nine (previously homeless)
I live in Ohio- no connections to any extended family whatsoever, so no connections to GU either
I’m very active and vocal about certain social issues- feminism, education reform, overhaul of unions, BLM, socialization, etc.

Leadership/Extracurriculars- (no activities for 11th grade, as I did not have an 11th-grade year)
Editor/photographer for novel My Country of Origin (my mother’s novel, but still, haha) (9th)
Speech team (Domestic Extemp.) (9th)
Created a Speech and Debate team at next school (10th)
Brought attention to false Health-class curricula; helped correct it (9th)
Participated in CivicWeek (Politics & Urban Affairs) (summer before 12th)
Robotics (Build team, Design team) (10th)
Participated in Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley (10th)
Member of Quiz Bowl team (10th)
Drama/Theatre club (10th)
Member of the National Society of High School Scholars

Tests- (GPA 4.0 UW throughout high school)
Two AP tests so far, will take more this coming May- AP Eng. Lit. and AP Eng. Lang., 4 on both (worth mentioning that I didn’t take the class, just took the test to earn credits)
ACT- English 35, Reading 33, Science 29, Math 25- comp. 31
SAT (will retake)- Critical Reading- 740, Writing- 740, Math- 540 (go ahead and say ‘yikes,’ I won’t be mad)
Will take SAT Subjects

I’m definitely worried about the seeming brevity of commitment to my ECs, but there’s nothing I can do about that. Some schools have things, some don’t. I’d say my essays are very good (you know, if I do say so myself) and I’m applying Early Action, so they’ll make of that what they will I guess! Thanks for your help!

2

I am worried about my daughter’s 650 math on the SAT and hoping her 31 math on the ACT (33 overall) will make up for it. If you don’t fix your math, I’m going with no shot at all. You absolutely need to just pound on that math. Also, I would NOT EA because I wouldn’t want to send them those scores without better ones going at the same time. Georgetown is one of the few schools out there that gives no preference at all to EA students.

3

SFS is wildly competitive. You test scores are on the low end, and along with the limited time for ECs, it is long shot. Subject tests also don’t always go as one hopes on the first attempt. So apply… but what other schools are on your list? (My D1 applied to SFS several years ago, did not get in).

4

You’re absolutely right, I know the math at this point will kill me. I am hoping to study and improve.
American is my second choice (along with a few others). I’ve heard different accounts of its reputation for competition- what are your opinions on it?
(Also, I forgot to mention in the original post that I’m ranked 1st in a class of 350. Do either of you think that will help?)

5

^^ I strongly disagree with these posters above me. It’s something I’ve seen with parents in general (and not trying to be stereotypical here), but y’all are way too concerned with scores. (Probably because it’s standardized and it’s an easy way to compare your kid to others).

Look, yes it’s competitive, and yes it’s difficult, but you are not the sum of your test scores. I’m applying to GU SFS EA as well (hope we both make it haha!). I recently read a book by a former admissions officer at Duke; basically scores on tests are just one of the many factors taken into consideration (and usually they are biased by income, so they aren’t even that important in the grand scheme of things). They also look at diversity, class rigor, extracurriculars, and recommendations. I’m sure Georgetown is similar.

You’re very young first off, and they will likely take that into account. You also have had a very difficult upbringing (especially with your family having to provide for so many siblings) from what I take, and that does matter because it shows the admissions committee your perseverance and your personal situation.

I think one of your more challenging situations is that your extracurriculars aren’t very coherent in that there is a wide variety and it is perhaps a bit difficult to tell what it is that you are the most passionate about (although you mention social issues). I would try to compile your application from that angle, which is fitting for SFS.

Anyways, I think you are a great applicant! Do your best, and if it doesn’t work out, don’t worry. College is just 4 years of many yet to come.

6

This ^
Thank you so much, really needed that break back into reality. While I am going to try and improve my test scores
(as it helps one’s application get noticed in the first place), I’m hoping they put more merit on the experience I can bring to their school. That’s actually the angle I’m going with more than anything; that I’ve seen and lived through things that many other students have only read about in a book or a Twitter hashtag, so I can apply that to working out solutions for other people.
Also, I’m wishing you the best of luck! Maybe we’ll meet on campus this coming fall! :smiley:

7

The math scores are your weak point, but your other scores are great. You sound like a very interesting candidate, so you need to really shine in your essays.

Look at this list of schools that meet full need. You need to attend a school where you will receive terrific financial aid or where you will receive a guaranteed merit scholarship.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2015/09/14/colleges-that-report-meeting-full-financial-need

If you are female, look at the women’s colleges.

8

@Foolsgold345, you may need to do a little more research into Georgetown before you make such blanket statements. If you think parents are overly-concerned about test scores, we are not more concerned than Georgetown itself. Take a look at pages 5 and 6 of their Student Profile: https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/xani81o0z2iq0anudhge … it is nothing but test score breakdowns. No school I have ever seen has a more test score and class rank focused admission profile than Georgetown. OP was ranked first in class, so that should help because they also love high class rank, but the emphasis on testing is pretty clear. For example, in SFS, they took 7 out of 68 (10.3%) kids with a math in the 500s who were in the top 5% of their class (1 of 16 below 500). No other school has that kind of detail.

If OP is First Gen or URM, that will help. Otherwise, I’ll go with the 10.3% from the Georgetown Student Profile.

9

Daddio3, txstella, intparent and Foolsgold345, I wanted to thank you all for your help those few months ago! Just found out that I’m officially a Hoya! :smiley:

10

That is great news!

11

Congratulations! Did you take the SAT again? If so, what were your finals scores?