What are some good schools that I can actually get into? I'm really struggling to schools.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Small private alternative/independent high school based on the Socratic method.</p>

<p>GPA: (UW) 3.93 out of 4.00
ACT: 32, math 32, reading, 35, science 30, writing 30, essay 09.
SAT IIs:
- Math 1C 660 (I blew it...).
- Literature 750.</p>

<p>Courses:
- 19 academic Honors courses.
- No APs offered
Senior Year course load: All Honors. Most difficult offered. Calc/Phys/BritLit.
Rank: Valedictorian (1 of 4) </p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<ul>
<li>Started surfing P.E., that met state standards.</li>
<li>Member of schools leadership team. (3 year)</li>
<li>One of the few student members allowed on their schools WASC committee. (3 years)</li>
<li>Co-Founder and T.A. of my schools graphic design program.</li>
<li>Coalition for Compassion: A non-profit that helps with the homeless around San Diego. (200+ hours).</li>
<li>San Diego Mini Maker Faire volunteer.</li>
<li>Qualcomm/UCSD STEAMconference.</li>
<li>Peer Mentorship program: Paired with another student struggling with disabilities. (400+ hours over 4 years)</li>
<li>Night of Excellence fundraiser 2013; I assisted in raising over $40,000 for my school.</li>
<li>Night of Excellence fundraiser 2014; I assisted in raising over $10,000 for my school.</li>
<li>Polar Bear Club: Swam 4000 yards 3 days a week in preparation for the 4 mile open ocean swims every month.</li>
</ul>

<p>Common App Essay: Risky, talks about my rough middle to high school experience, learning disabilities, teachers purposefully failing me, thought I would never go to college...</p>

<p>Supplements: Were ok... I think pretty generic, but written very well.</p>

<p>Teacher Recs: I read it absolutely amazing, 10/10.
Counselor Rec: Amazing, she said it was the best she has ever written for a student.</p>

<p>Awards:
- I got ELC for the UC schooling system.
- Validcitorian? if that counts.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: White Male...
Income: High</p>

<p>I really need some quality schools please! Thanks so much.</p>

2

<p>A few questions…what part of the country are you leaning towards? More pastoral or more urban settings? What major? And you mention that income is 'high" but will you need financial aid?</p>

<p>You’re a strong candidate…and the surfing/polar bear is very cool… Have you applied to no colleges EA and you’re now focusing on RD? </p>

<p>P.S. There are only <em>4</em> kids in your entire class? </p>

3

<p>If you can change your Common App essay, do that. When I saw that it was “Risky” and that you talked about “teachers purposefully failing you” tons and tons of red flags went up. Don’t write about that or say that.</p>

<p>As for what schools to apply to, you are going to have to provide information here regarding what type of school you are looking for and what you can afford.</p>

4

<p>@suzy100 I didn’t mean risky as “being unsafe”, it is just written as a topic that kids would probably shy away from. I think that my essay explains who i actually am, that I overcame adversity, and that i will strive for the future. I don’t think that colleges are looking for perfect students that have never seen actual struggle. But, I guess Il find out if it works, haha.</p>

5

<p>Have you considered Northeastern? Boston College? Tufts? Bowdoin? </p>

6

<p>northwestern, boston college, emory, dartmouth, nyu, uf, wake forest, uva</p>

7

<p>What type of school environment are you looking for? Prospective major?</p>

<p>Also, agree “teachers purposely failing you” sounds risky. Even if it were true, I’d think I’d have a hard time believing it if I was an admissions officer.</p>

8

<p>University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Los Angeles
Wake Forest University
University of Virginia
University of North Carolina
University of Michigan
Boston College
Emory University
The College of William & Mary</p>

<p>Since you live in California, I’d say your chance at UCLA is pretty good, and UCB probably isn’t too shabby either. I think you’d probably get into Wake. UVA, UNC, W&M, and UM can be a little crazy when it comes to OOS but I think you’d make the cut. The others I’m fairly certain would accept you or at the very least place you high on the waitlist.</p>

<p>The only thing that troubles me is that you said your essays were generic. Other than that, I think you’re a pretty solid applicant for all of the schools I mentioned, as well as many others. </p>

9

<p>Another I forgot to mention is Carnegie Mellon University.</p>

10

<p>@shawnspencer I honestly don’t know what I would like to do, for sure math and science, possibly engineering. Also my essay is not about teachers purposefully failing me, that was just an example. My essay is about my overcoming of adversity. Also, just wondering, what colleges have research based programs?</p>