<p>Can you help me determine my chances?</p>
<p>Northwestern, Vanderbilt, UCBerkeley, Boston College, UNC, UMichigan, Vassar</p>
<p>I am first Generation American, and first to go to college. I am also a Hispanic Male.</p>
<p>I have a 4.0 gpa and a 4.7 hpa
Here comes the worst part: I have a 2000 sat score, 700 reading, 650 math, and a 650 writing.
Got 3 5's on AP exams</p>
<p>Went to Kansas Boys State, a premiere leadership and politics program</p>
<p>Officer on NHS
President of Spanish honor society</p>
<p>Vice President of local organization for rehabilitating youth with drug backgrounds
Had a year long internship at a law firm
Vice President of a tutoring organization
President of Students for the Poor (cliche name, I know)</p>
<p><strong><em>!!! I have 900 community service hours !!!</em></strong>
^The thing Im most proud of</p>
<p>I am taking
AP LIT
AP PSYCH
AP ART HISTORY
AP BIO
AP GOVERNMENT
and the mandatory 2 electives for my school</p>
<p>I have been involved in over 4 theatrical productions, and have experience both on stage and behind it</p>
<p>Please give me any guidance you can!</p>
<p>Have you calculated your UC GPA? That will be all important in determining your chances at Berkeley. They might forgive your test scores (which really aren’t bad, although below average for Berkeley), if you meet their GPA standards. The problem with Berkeley and Michigan is that they will both be pretty stingy about financial aid for out-of-state students. UNC is also very difficult to get into from out-of-state, because they have an 82% mandated in-state freshman admission quota.You might have a shot, nevertheless. I think your status as a very high-achieving student from a disadvantaged background will serve you well at many colleges. I don’t know whether it will compensate for Vanderbilt’s notorious preference for high test scores, though. I would apply to Tulane and Emory instead of Vanderbilt and UNC, possibly; you are likelier to receive nice merit aid packages from them. I think your chances at BC and Vassar are very good. Northwestern is a reach with your scores, but not an unreasonable one considering all your other attributes.</p>
<p>I think you’re in excellent shape! You can really use the fact that you’re a first generation American citizen to your advantage… Colleges love diversity nowadays. Your scores and gpa are decent and your course load is extremely rigorous. You’re a great contender for the schools you’ve listed!</p>
<p>Agreed, you have a great chance at most of these schools!chance back</p>
<p>Have you visited these schools? It can be a real culture shock for first gen students to go to a large campus where many people have wealthy, college-educated parents (Vandy, NW, BC). Sometimes a smaller school can make the transition easier. How about considering some small liberal arts colleges – many of which give merit aid? And have you factored in the realities of getting back and forth from school? How supportive are your parents of your ambitions? Are your friends going away to college, or staying local?</p>
<p>As a first-gen minority male from Kansas with decent scores, you will be a hot prospect at many, many colleges. Please take the time to make sure you choose somewhere where you can be successful.</p>