Hey guys! Thanks for taking a look at this. I am interested in the competitive UNC Chapel Hill…I know it’s tough but I want to know my chances. In addition, do you have any suggestions of specific schools I should apply too?
Richmond? William & Mary? Wake Forest? Boston College? Do you think I stand a chance for these schools?
-I attend a Catholic High School in New Jersey, I am in the top 20% of the class.
- Honors Classes (all 4 years): Honors English 1,2,3; Honors US 1, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Spanish 3, Honors Pre-Calc, Honors Spanish 4
- AP classes: APUSH (I scored a 3; this was the first test administered after the redesigning!) /// AP Euro, AP Environmental, AP Literature (I am taking these three courses senior year)
GPA: 99.98 (converts to a 4.0)
Extracurriculars:
- Girls Varsity Soccer, Girls Varsity Swimming, Girls Varsity Lacrosse
- Outside of school, I have been a member of my Competitive Club Soccer Team from when I was 10 (I am now 17).
- I am Senior Class President
- I have a job at a consignment store
- Helping Hands Club (at my school)
- Student Ambassador
- Freshman Hospitality Club
- Catholic Athletes for Christ (school function)
- President of “The Make A Wish Foundation Club” (at school) (I am a child who was able to make a wish, because I battle a chronic, life-threatening illness; this is my way of giving back because I am forever thankful)
Accomplishments:
- I have been a Member of the National Honor Society for Junior and Senior year
- I won Honorable Mention for CPA Biology and CPA Algebra 1
- I won Honorable Mention in the May 2015 Science Fair at my school for the Rearticulation of a Chicken Skeleton
****I am attending SHELF Leadership Conference in July 2015 at Chestnut Hill
Community Service:
- I volunteer at the food bank once a month
- Volunteer at the Best Day Foundation
- Clean Ocean Action of the Jersey Shore Volunteer
- This year I am going to organize a school team and fundraise for the annual “Great Strides Against Cystic Fibrosis” event in my town.
- ****( I am considering starting to volunteer at my local hospital or animal shelter soon)
SAT Scores (my least favorite part)… (I find it very strange because I do so well on practice tests but not when it really counts… on practice tests I get 1990s):
Math: 570
CR: 540
Writing: 630
**** I am taking the ACT in September and I am hoping to do better on this; my tutor says my brain works in a way that is more compatible with the ACT…
- I would also like to add that an important part of my application (especially in my Common App Essay) is my lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis, and how I overcome it everyday. Most kids with my disease handicap themselves and limit their abilities, however, as proven in my resume, I defy the standards of my disease and I do not let anything stop me. It is almost UNHEARD OF for people with my disease to play sports... I don't let anything stand in my way!!! I am always looking for ways to give back to the community and to raise awareness for my disease.
Thank you all so much for your time! Your responses are truly appreciated, as it will truly guide me during my college application process.
No chance at all for UNC, even if you get up to the 1990. As I said last night, W&M is a low reach and those others are probably low reaches/matches. Wake Forest is probably a medium-high reach without getting the SAT score up.
UNC-CH has a legal cap on the number of OOS students- 18%, and that includes recruited athletes.
W&M also has a limit, but it is much higher- 35%.
You have a great GPA and a great story, but your SAT is in the bottom 25% of admitted students for all of these schools. Obviously, students get in with lower scores, but if the ACT is your test you could be in good shape for most of them- CH being a wild card just b/c of OOS.
@collegemom3717 Thank you for informing me of those important facts! I always knew UNC was a tough one…it’s such a gorgeous school!
I am definitely interested in W&M and Richmond. I just have to work very hard to increase my scores. Thank you!
I am a bit confused how you have a 4.0 but are only in the top 20% of your class. Does your school have crazy grade inflation? Not trying to be critical or anything, just curious. I think your battle with cystic fibrosis is a great essay topic since it’s very unique, so I would definitely write about it. I think you would have a great shot at these schools if you just increase your test scores. Luckily, Wake Forest is test optional, so you don’t have to worry about your SAT score for that school. I can’t really say you have a great chance at the other schools, simply because of your SAT score. I would definitely try taking the ACT (my brain is more wired for the ACT; I got a 32 on the ACT and an 1880 on the SAT). As of right now, here’s your chances:
UNC- high reach (SAT score is dragging you down and you’re OOS)
Richmond - low reach (you’re a tad-bit below their 25th percentile)
Wake Forest - match (SAT-optional)
W&M- reach
BC- reach
I think you’re a very unique applicant and wish you the best of luck!
@agc1998 Thank you for responding! I have a small grade of about 110 students. Many people are shocked when they learn I am in the top 20%…words cannot describe how competitive my grade is! There are people (with weighted scores) of about a 5.75. My school has to narrow it down to AP and Honors courses. Crazy competitive, but i am happy with how I am doing.
Any tips on how to increase my scores???
The SAT is definitely weighing me down. I am working hard for the ACT and will hopefully score better on that. Thank you for sharing your knowledge… it is very much appreciated!!!
I can totally relate, my school is amazingly competitive as well. Anyways, I originally got a 27 on the ACT, took as many practice tests as I could in a month, then took it again and got a 32. I raised my score 5 points in a month simply by taking practice tests. Barron’s sells a book called “6 ACT practice tests” and I took all of them.
Hi! I, unfortunately, believe all of these schools are reaches due to your low test scores. However, do not lose hope! I almost did and I am so glad I did not! On the April ACT I got a 28, and then on the June ACT I got a 31! I thought hope was lost, but it so is not, if you are willing to put in the work. From April until June, I made sure to take a full length ACT practice test once a week, and after APs were over I took two full length practice tests a week. I have read Barron’s 36 cover to cover three times, and I think these two things are what helped me the most. If you do not have the Barron’s 36 book I suggest getting it, it is AMAZING!
I wish you the best of luck, I believe you can do it!