What are my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, I would like to see what my 'chances' are for a few schools...some of them are obvious reaches, which I'm aware of, but I wish to have no illusions.</p>

<p>Basic information:</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Race: Caucasian
Location: Huntsville, AL
Graduating class: 2010
Home-school student</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 Unweighted</p>

<p>ACT: 28</p>

<p>(I would include information about the classes that I have taken, but I don't have accurate knowledge of the classes, so I can't say at this moment. But for the moment you can assume that I am up to grade level in all classes, and past grade level in all social studies-related classes.)</p>

<p>Awards/Honors/Things of significance: I attended the 2008 American Mock Trial Invitational, a national mock trial program, where I won a performance-based award (best witness). My home-school mock trial team has been selected to attend other national mock trial programs, and was invited last year to attend a mock trial seminar of sorts from Harvard University. Also, I was selected to attend the 2009 Congressional Academy for American History and Civics (which I will attend next week), which is a National Honors Program, of which two students from each state are chosen to attend.</p>

<p>Extracurricular:</p>

<p>(When I say 'class' here, I would like to highlight that these 'classes' are not taken through curriculum and that they hold no pertinence in respect to my GPA and my grades within the academic year -- they are voluntary 'classes' which are taken outside of my home, under my own will to further educate myself.)</p>

<p>200+ hours of community service, Government Club Treasurer (wasn't eligible to run for position of President due to unfortunate discrepancies), Shakespeare Class, Civil Rights Class, Economics Class.</p>

<p>Other possible things of relevance: as I said, I'm a home-school student, first generation, my father died when I was 5 years old, and lower economic bracket.</p>

<p>Colleges:</p>

<p>Vanderbilt University
University of Virginia
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Hillsdale College
Wake Forest University
University of Connecticut
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Tennessee
Middle Tennessee State University</p>

<p>Major: either political science or a subfield of history.</p>

2

<p>Just to let you know polsci/history are very competitive majors. You might have slightly higher chances if you apply for a different program. But do what you want…this is America. I’ll chance you for the stats you gave.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt University -low reach
University of Virginia - high match
St. Mary’s College of Maryland - match
Hillsdale College - in
Wake Forest University - in
University of Connecticut- in
University of Alabama in Huntsville -not familiar
University of Tennessee - not familiar
Middle Tennessee State University - not familiar</p>

3

<p>I’m going to second the above poster. A male wanting poli sci/history is not orginal at all. Normally these programs are super tough to get into. Try applying as an english major to up your chances.
That being said…let’s look at your schools
Vanderbilt-low reach…very doable
UVa-higher reach
Wake Forest-match
UA Huntsville-safety-why not apply to Tuscaloosa</p>

<p>unfamilar with rest</p>

<p>get that ACT to a 30 to sincerely help your chances</p>

4

<p>Vanderbilt-high reach
UVa-high reach
Wake Forest-reach
rest are most likely in</p>

<p>Don’t underestimate Vanderbilt; it has an acceptance rate below 20%.</p>

5

<p>I appreciate the responses. However, I must ignore the criticism of ‘originality’; I don’t wish to major in either Political Science or History for vanity’s sake, but because these are two of my legitimate interests, and two things which I’m quite passionate about. Perhaps I’m not following something correctly in the intent of that criticism? … I wish to go to these schools because of my passions, not alter my passions so that I may attend these schools, which seems wholly unreasonable to me. But again, I appreciate the external evaluations (and please do correct me if I have not properly understood the foundation of your criticisms).</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Zedd8291</p>

6

<p>I think (and correct me if I’m wrong) that they’re saying that if you apply saying that you want an English major, then you will get in more easily and then it’s very easy to switch to what you want later after you have already gotten in, but that was just my interpretation.</p>

7

<p>that’s exactly what i’m saying
if you apply as an English major as a male you will be more likely to get in as there are fewer males in that field
once you get accepted, simply change your major</p>

8

<p>Ah, then your point is understood and most certainly appreciated. :)</p>