What colleges can I get into with my stats?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hey peeps, just wanted to see if you guys know any good schools I could get into. I already applied to the University of Florida and I think I’ll get in but I want to send out a few more to keep my options open. I don’t know about that many colleges since my parents are immigrants and no one in my family has gone to college. Help me out by suggesting good schools for a pre-med student (probably bio or neuroscience major)

GPA: 4.0UW/5.18W (+0.02 honors, +0.04 AP/Dual Enrollment)
Class rank: 1/250
ACT: 32 Composite/35 English & reading/26 math/31 science
AP: Enviro - 4/World History - 4
SAT: 1410/750 Reading & Writing/660 Math
SAT II: LIT 710/BIO E 670/Math 2 550 (this was my third test and I wasn’t feeling it ugh)

My extracurriculars are decent but nothing extraordinary:
Student Gov VP 9th grade
Volunteering club 9-10
Random volunteering at different places 9-12
Paid mentoring job 10
National Honor Society Member 10-12
Babysit the kids of a family friend during the summer because both parents work full-time and can’t afford daycare. 8-12

I haven’t won any huge awards, just the Harvard Book and school academic awards for high GPA. I got a community service certificate from my volunteer club. Oh, BTW I took all my junior and senior year courses at a local public university. I got all A’s so that’s why my weighted GPA is so high. When I graduate high school, I’ll have an associate of arts (AA) because I got more than 60 college credits.

I’m a Hispanic female (US citizen) if that matters. I speak English and Spanish as first languages. My family’s income is pretty low (under 25k) so I’d like to go to a college that isn’t too expensive or provides good aid/scholarships. Location, public/private, and size aren’t important. I’m open to suggestions as long as I have a reasonable shot of getting in (I don’t think I’m Ivy League material lol). Comment some reaches below as well. I may as well apply if I can get the fee waived.

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Hey purple girl, hope this finds you at the right time. Well to start off, the fact that you have accomplished this much with your family’s income being what it is is amazing, that is certainly something to be proud of. Not only that, but it is also something that will be favorably looked upon by colleges. I do not know if you already have, but if you haven’t , please file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It’s super quick (under 20 min) and with your income, you will be no doubt given huge amounts of aid from them. Honestly given the amount FAFSA should give you, you should have your pick of universities without having to worry about the cost (sounds great, right?). That being said, let’s delve into your stats/ ECs.

Well, in terms of GPA you’re literally perfect haha, there’s nothing more than any university could possibly want from you in terms of grades, so you got that part of the application checked off and then some well done! Just make sure you don’t let your grades slip! As far as APs are concerned, while AP scores are not a factor in admission, the amount you take certainly is, but honestly the only thing that can really trump AP is if you take the courses at an actual college, which you did so great job!

As far as standardized test scores go, those are great as well! If you had a choice to submit an SAT or ACT to schools, I would most certainly go with your SAT. Not to say your SAT isn’t good, as a 1410 still places you in the 95th percentile, but a 32 ACT is a highly respected score that many students could only dream of getting. A 32 ACT puts you in the 98th percentile, and is the on the lower end for some of the Ivy League Schools, yet right in their average range for others! In essence, your scores are great! If you want to try another test, I would recommend trying the ACT, as every point after a 32 (33, 34, 35, and 36) are in their own separate leagues. However, if you just want to go to a public university, your GPA and ACT alone will get you close to a full ride! Now, onto extracurriculars.

As I said before, your family’s income being what it is, your stats alone will be enough to win over the hearts of most admissions committees, considering how high your numbers are. And while we’re being honest, the Harvard Book Award is nothing to scoff at, be proud of that achievement! I say the combination of volunteering club to help those like yourself and babysitting to help support your family is more than sufficient in terms of activities outside the classroom for a student in your position. Now onto the overall “chances.”

Honestly my friend, you’re have a chance of getting in ANYWHERE. And I’m not talking about a crappy shot, I’m talking a decent/great shot at 99% of the universities here in America. Saying that you’re not Ivy League material simply isn’t true, I know kids who’ve gotten into Ivy league schools with way worse stats than you, so you definitely have a great chance! My advice, do your research, and take your pick. You’ve done the hard work and succeeded, now let the choice be in your hands. Find where you want to go, and if you don’t want to go there, you be the one to turn them down. You ought to be incredibly proud of everything you’ve achieved, and you’re going to do great no matter where you go!

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@sasukeuchiha33 Thanks for suggesting the FAFSA. I didn’t know I could get that much aid! You were really helpful!

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@sasukeuchiha33 : unfortunately regardless of how low income you are, federal aid you get through fafsa is very limited: the 5.5k in loans all undergraduates are limited to and up to 5,800 in Pell grants. Considering most instate colleges cost 20-25k a year, it means lower income students are often stuck. The number one source of aid are the colleges themselves, and out of 3,700 colleges in the US, only 60-80 ‘meet need’. All others ‘gap’, meaning you must position yourself in such a way you’d qualify for merit aid.

@purplegirl2k17 :
Look if fsu CARE is still open, as you’d get extra financial aid.

Did you get your application fee waivers from your guidance counselor?
On commonapp , click 'request fee waiver’and check the reason (income, federal lunch program).

Apply to 100% need colleges. Many will proVide out with excellent financial aid, often without loans.

An issue is deadlines, but off the top of my head you can still apply to Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, UPenn, Dickinson, Macalester, St Olaf, Earlham. Look at deadlines for Grinnell, Carleton, URochester, Vassar, Davidson.

If you’re into science and math Harvey Mudd (a top engineering school, but with good balance with other subjects) has a 1/3 deadline. You need to be taking (or, have taken before senior year) calculus to apply.

Try adding Colby quickly right now, as their deadline is Jan 1st so you’re cutting it close, but they’re trying to attract more lower income and minority applicants, and you’re both. They have excellent financial aid and don’t require supplements so if your common app is ready it should be a snap.

Upenn is the priority (deadline is tomorrow).