<p>Take a look at this site where you can plug in any SAT/ACT and get a list of possible schools:
What colleges can I get into with a 30 ACT score?
<a href=“http://www.collegesimply.com/guides/30-on-the-act/#.U6ncHPldWSo”>http://www.collegesimply.com/guides/30-on-the-act/#.U6ncHPldWSo</a>
Of course there are big factors that it doesn’t consider (like GPA, major, OOS/in-state) but at least it’s a quick way to tell if you’re in the ballpark.
From the site: “We’ve analyzed the reported ACT scores for all U.S. colleges and found 286 colleges where a 30 places you within or slightly above the middle fifty percent of admitted students. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t apply to more or less selective colleges as safety schools. This list is only intended as a guide to where you may best fit in with academic peers based on our ACT score and a recommendation of colleges likely to accept a 30. Keep in mind this list solely considers test score. You will need to also demonstrate a high school GPA commensurate with your peers at this scoring level if you hope to be granted admission.”</p>
<p>@crepes thank you! I looked at the website and found it exceedingly helpful! Thanks again!</p>
<p>My post coincides with what @crepes says - with less info, but same basic perspective. As many CC posters have said, admission standards and merit aid varies vastly and sometimes doesn’t seem ‘fair’. Not sure what I have said that is ‘condescending’. Just sharing info and my perspective. You know a lot more as a HS senior than I did - before internet, limited HS advising, rural area, etc. When you are 28, you may look back and say ‘boy I didn’t know as much as I thought I knew at 18’ - or you may think advice on CC should be all positive, encouraging, to the way you want things to be.</p>
<p>It will be very interesting to see where your journey takes you. </p>
<p>I have friends that have allowed their student to seek out all the options they want, then the student finds merit at their first choice school isn’t there, or they are on wait list, etc. No crystal ball. My parenting style is different; my DDs did not have distractions during senior year of juggling many applications, essays, visits, etc because they had their first choice in state with automatic scholarships. IMHO, it is doing enough for the future while taking full advantage of education (and other activities) in the present.</p>
<p>With a hook, you can get in pretty much anywhere </p>
<p>@anniebeats would being an underrepresented minority be a hook?</p>
<p>Yes indeed!</p>
<p>A 30 ACT is not likely to get you into any of those schools without a 3.0 average at least, and without Cs unless you are a very desired athlete or have some very unusual situation. As the GPA creeps up, and the courses are college prep with some honors, possible AP in them, the list increases. As I stated above, all of those schools are reaches even with a high GPA. With URM status, strong course load, some will slip into match category which I define as having a 40-60% acceptance rate for such candidates. UGA weighs GPA pretty strongly as well, so if there is a low GPA here, it can quash these options.</p>
<p>@cptothehouse Yes, I understand. I do have a very strong course load and my GPA is high. Its good to hear that this combined with a 30 ACT score could possibly get me into my desired schools. Thank you!</p>