To anyone reading this, I need your help figuring out where I could get accepted to college. I’m applying to all Ivies besides Cornell and UPenn, Howard and Fisk (HBCUs), Wesleyan University, New York University, and five in-state (South Carolina) schools as my safety schools. I’ve never made lower than an A in any of my classes, I’ve taken the most rigorous courses offered at my small, rurally located public school, I am low-income and a double minority (black and LGBT), am HEAVILY involved in my school and community (don’t feel like adding my resume, so trust me) and am currently valedictorian out of about 150 students in my graduating class. As of now, my dream reach school is Yale or Brown, but I’ve definitely punched some safety schools on my list in case everything just goes awry. My ACT is 33 and my SAT (which I’m taking again) is 1450 (which I’m kind of not proud of). I am taking 3 Subject Tests this month, but if those don’t turn out to be at least 730s, then I’m not submitting those to any reach schools. If you’d like any more statistical or qualitative information about me that would help you give me some advice, don’t hesitate to ask, as anyone’s will be greatly appreciated!
First of all, congratulations on an impressive set of accomplishments in high school.
Second, you will likely be accepted to your safety schools.
As for the rest, Fisk is likely another safety, and Howard is a match (I think, their admissions processes differ from many other colleges)
Wesleyan, NYU, and the Ivies are all reaches for anybody, but I would say that you have a better chance than most. Your LGBTQ status likely won’t increase your chances, but being black will. Still, acceptance rates for those colleges are so low than even doubling your chances means acceptance rates in the 10%-20% range, or maybe in the 30s for Wesleyan and NYU.
So while I think that you have a pretty good chance to be accepted to at least one of those reaches, there is still a very real chance that you could be rejected from all of them.
In my opinion, you may want to look at some more matches, as well.
I agree with @MWolf. Would add that NYU is generally not particularly noted for generous finaid packages.
Not sure you need 5 safeties. Two or three should be good.
What do you want to major in?
Maybe Emory or Miami?
Double major. Mathematics; Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
And it’s just been a little tough finding matches because a lot of colleges that I’ve found with score midranges that include my test scores generally have the acceptance rates < 20%; but maybe I haven’t been looking hard enough I guess.
Matches are school with 30-50% acceptance rates. Forget about looking at the score/gpa ranges.
Your reach schools are going to expect the subject tests. Prepare well and aim for 750+.
Yeah, I know on the Math 1 and 2, I killed it (as in I feel like at least a 750) so I’m feeling really good about those.