What Schools Should I Be Looking Into?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi guys, high school junior here about to finish his first semester, just wondering what schools you guys think I should be looking to apply to.</p>

<p>Right now my GPA (UW/W) is 3.7/4.1</p>

<p>My SAT Scores (I took the December one, so I don't know for sure) should be, based off my practice scores, around 2100-2250.</p>

<p>My ECs include 3 years of Varsity Swim, 5 years working for a club that holds bake sales for pediatric cancer, and I started a jazz combo group to perform at nursing homes and at benefits for kids who are either a) suffering from a life threatening disease or b) are having difficulty paying their medical bills.</p>

<p>My weaknesses would include: A C+ I'm about to receive in my first semester of AP Chem (everything else this semester is As), and my sophomore year, which featured 6 Bs. However, my mother died in the summer leading into my sophomore year, and I plan to write one of my essays about how she influenced me so much and how losing her was difficult, but eventually made me a stronger individual, and brought me closer to the people who truly care about me. </p>

<p>I'm a caucasian californian.</p>

<p>Do you think I have a shot at any of the following: UCLA, UCB, Northwestern, UCSD, BC, Pepperdine (both of my parents went and fell in love there), Tulane, UVA, Vandy, or Duke? Are there any colleges that I should add or take off of that list? I plan on majoring in Political Science.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to read all of this and hopefully respond!</p>

2

<p>I think you have a good shot at Tulane and Pepperdine. Maybe consider LMU, Santa Clara, USD? You might find Northwestern, Duke and UCB to be reaches. I don’t know about UCSD, UVA, or UCLA.</p>

3

<p>If you can afford it, I’d add American University in Washington DC as a match, and George Washington University as a reach. DC is poly sci central, the internship capital of the world. And jobs in poly sci start with connections and relationships - the faculty, the alums, and even the student body.</p>