What Are My Chances!?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone =) I'm new on this forum, sorry if it's not in the right category or something. I am currently a junior in high school and I'm thinking about college. These are my choices in no particular order...</p>

<p>Reaches:
1. Harvard
2. Columbia
3. University of Chicago (ADORE this school... it's been a dream of mine for so long<3)</p>

<p>^^ I know these are really ambitious, but hey, that's why they're reaches!</p>

<p>Matches:
1. University of Miami
2. University of Southern California
3. University of Rochester (LOVE their curriculum!)</p>

<p>Safeties:
1. University of Texas
2. University of Vermont
3. Boston University</p>

<p>^^Not really sure if these are safeties or not.</p>

<p>My School Stats:</p>

<ul>
<li>4.0 GPA. weighted (I have no idea how 0.o) I'm predicting it may fall to a 3.9 in my senior year.</li>
<li>2130 on the SAT (700 Writing, 750 Critical Reading, 680 Math)</li>
<li>APs: World History, Biology, Psychology, English Lit. & Composition, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Comparative Government & Politics. So 8 total.</li>
<li>Math is my weak spot, writing (journalism and short fiction) and biomedical sciences are my passions. I also enjoy all of social studies in general, especially history, international studies, gov./pol.</li>
</ul>

<p>EC's:</p>

<ul>
<li>Captain of fencing team.</li>
<li>Also on competitive cheer, volleyball, basketball, track & field, and equestrian teams. Not in one year of course haha, like spread out over the years.</li>
<li>10 years of classical ballet training.</li>
<li>Senior editor of school paper.</li>
<li>Captain of debate club.</li>
<li>Founder of writing club. I've also won writing contests and won my school oration competition.</li>
<li>Photography club.</li>
<li>Glee club. A few solos at competitions.</li>
<li>Musical.</li>
<li>Science Olympiad.</li>
<li>Tutoring and babysitting elementary school kids.</li>
<li>About 300 hours of volunteer service at a pediatric hospital and the library. At the hospital, I usually help deliver food trays, push wheelchairs, read to them, help with the therapy dogs, sit (as in babysitting), stuff like that. And at the library, I read to the kids, organize books and magazines, and help people find books. Basic stuff.</li>
</ul>

<p>Questions!
- How much of a chance do I have getting into these schools?
- Other schools you would recommend? Especially safeties and matches.</p>

<p>Thanks so much! Have a nice day =)</p>

2

<p>Do you need financial aid? What state are you from?</p>

3

<p>Thanks for replying :slight_smile:
Yes, I’ll need financial aid. I come from a single-parent family and we have a dependent living with us (my grandmother). We are in the $40,000-$60,000, so I’m hoping I will qualify. And I’m from Texas.</p>

4

<p>Your SAT may hurt you for your reaches. The rest looks fine. I hope your essay focused on that ballet, because that looks special.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, I don’t test very well. I usually run out of time. I was thinking about retaking it in order to have a better grade, but I’m not sure. Do you think if I do well on the subject tests it will help me some?</p>

6

<p>If you need aid, BU and UVM can not be safeties. Neither meet need nor are they generous aid schools. A safety means you can get it and afford it.</p>

<p>At the more selective schools, course rigor is very important. Have you taken your school’s hardest courses? I’m not seeing the harder APs. Do you have a rank?</p>

7

<p>I don’t have a rank, unfortunately. And as for APs, what exactly qualifies as the hardest courses, math and science ones? I don’t do very well in math (B+), and I figured taking one of the Calc, Stats or Physics APs would hurt my GPA. That’s why I was interested in the customized curriculum at Rochester. For other schools, does my intended major have an impact on admissions? For example, if I do well on the social science courses but not too well in math, and my intended major is something like biology, will they consider turning me down?</p>

8

<p>For your first group of schools, you would be expected to take your school’s toughest classes in every subject.</p>

9

<p>For Chicago, raise your SAT score or try ACT. And, try to get 750+ on SAT IIs.</p>

<p>Then, essay essay essay……</p>

<p>Write creative and funny supp essays and show your passion for learning (very important) and passion for UChicago (Why UChicago? essay).</p>

<p>Your “low income” and “single parent” stuffs might help you. (What about Questbridge program?)</p>

<p>It is a reach school (expect very low admit rate next year) but anything can happen.
I really hope you get into UChicago.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

10

<p>Waitlisted (my top choices :’( ) George Mason University Virginia Commonwealth University For all the waitlisted people, I know the pain. They like you, but at the same time they don’t embrace you! I’ve heard that it takes miracles to get off a waiting list! I really want to go to GMU!!! Wanted to get opinions from you all about my chances of getting accepted. PLEASE HELP! Thanks in advance :slight_smile: H.S. Gpa- 3.5 SAT- 1370 (I know it’s low) E.C- honor society, biomed, orchestra, art society, njrotc, sga, math honor society, drill commander of njrotc Career goal- Brain surgeon Intended Major- neuroscience, or biology</p>