I currently have a 3.4 GPA (I am retaking a class during the summer so that will raise it ), and I’m going into Junior year next year. My dream school is Boston College (my father graduated from there, and donates every year), and from what I heard I need to be taking a good amount of AP classes, but the thing is that my school is a small magnet school (28 people are in my class), and we don’t have a lot of AP class options. Next year I will be taking AP Calculus and possibly AP US History. Do you have any ideas about what I can do to compensate for the lack of AP classes?
Take all the AP classes that are available to you (if you think you will do well in them of course). Colleges evaluate you based on that context of your class and what is available to you. Every guidance counselor has to send a “school report” with each application that gives admissions officers an idea of how rigorous your schedule was based on that classes available to you. If you want, you can take some other classes at community college that interest you, but I don’t think it’s necessary at all.
Definitely score well on the ACT or SAT.
from http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/process/freshman.html
Also make sure you have some meaningful extracurricular activities. Boston College is Jesuit and really focuses on service to others. If you have a lot of volunteer hours at a place in your community, that will also help your chances.
Thank you! I am currently trying to achieve the gold metal for the presidential volunteer service award (250+ hours), and I’m a part of the student council if that helps.
You’re a rising junior so you still have time. Does your school have Beta or Key Club? Maybe participate in those to increase your service EC’s. Also, try to join National Honor Society, as that is also seen as a service organization. Overall, make sure you keep your grades up and improve them, while continuing to expand your EC’s.
I give this advice to everyone so don’t get offended – please don’t focus in on one school so early on. The people I’ve seen most hurt by this process are the ones who pin their hopes and dreams on one school and don’t get in. It remains to be seen if you will have the grades, standardized tests etc. to be a competitive applicant at BC. Keep working hard and doing your best but always remember that there are tons of amazing colleges and universities out there.