You know the drill by now, right?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Looking at the board I'm kind of being hit with a bit of self-doubt about where I'm applying to college. I haven't been a stellar student, and I haven't been involved in 400 activities every year of HS, but I've performed decently in class and I do have some extracurriculars...</p>

<p>I'm applying to some pretty top-tier schools and after looking at this board it's finally sinking in that my competition is... tough. I have a 3.2 GPA right now, with two very bad marks (A D in gym my freshman year (stupid), and a D in precalculus my junior year (Even more stupid)). Gym was just me being an idiot, and so was precalc, but I'm doing very well in Calculus this year (A right now, possibly an A+ by semester's end) and my math teacher is writing recommendations for me, if that helps. As far as I know, my class rank is in the lower half of the top 10% (Probably somewhere around 8%).</p>

<p>As far as extra-curriculars go, I've been involved with a minority science bowl type program throughout highschool, and that was it until 11th grade. Then I joined a few clubs... no rank in any of them, but I was crowned the IAMSH Texas Hold'Em champion (No kidding, poker club was pretty awesome). This year I joined Newspaper because I was looking at it as a possible major, but I don't think I'll continue on in that direction. In the spring I'm thinking I might join track, but that couldn't really be put on any apps, could it?</p>

<p>I'm taking 6 AP classes this year, but I only took one last year. Biology - 4.</p>

<p>My test scores haven't been where I want them to be, but they're passable, I think. W - 710, M - 680, CR - 760. Didn't do so well on the essay. 9</p>

<p>My subject test stuff just got in as well... I think I was expected to score higher than this on these, since these are supposed to be areas I really excel at... Biology 700, Literatue 710.</p>

<p>I'm applying to Columbia College, Stanford, University of Southern California, Northwestern, University of Florida and IU, but I'm looking to add another school (One that gives a lot of merit stuff/aid... I'm not quite rich). Can anyone offer any advice? Maybe suggest some schools (English/Humanities/Pre-Law focus?)</p>

<p>I am also in the running to make National Merit finals, so, hopefully, that'll come through and help me pay for college.</p>

2

<p>Holy crap, I think your school needs some grade inflation. </p>

<p>Top 8% with a 3.2!?</p>

<p>Anyway, you have a shot like anyone else. Plus you're a minority, that helps. You never know until you try.</p>

3

<p>Erm, that should be a 3.4... Rankings are weighted though, and I only know my unweighted (I don't pay attention to that stuff too much, which is vexxing now... I only know my unweighted at all because I did the National Merit stuff a little bit ago).</p>

<p>And, it's just not a great HS... the average SAT score for my HS is like 930.</p>

4

<p>Ah wow. Well, coming from a bad high school may actually increase your chances. Ironic, no?</p>

5

<p>I never thought my crappy school would help me do anything... good to know, thank you.</p>

6

<p>what % of your class intends to attend a 4-year university?</p>

7

<p>Columbia College: Reach
Stanford: Reach
University of Southern California: Slight Reach/Match
Northwestern: Slight Reach
University of Florida: Match
IU: Safe Match</p>

<p>Where do you live/what parts of the counrty are the most appealing so we can help come up w/ some more schools?</p>

8

<p>Somewhere around 80% persue college education, according to something I just looked up, but only maybe a quarter of seniors take the SAT. In Indiana, the SAT definitely is the major test... very few people take the ACT or hear about it much in public schools, as far as I can tell, of course.</p>

<p>I'm open to going anywhere that I can get a good education, because I plan on going on to law school (Hah, come fall '06, I will be a little more prepared to start work sooner).</p>

<p>Money is the biggest issue. A good English Program after that... then I'd prefer to live in a larger city, regardless of the size of the school. Finally, I'd like to go to a college where most kids are in dorms so that I could have some sort of social life (I will have a car, but I doubt I'd be able to afford an apartment at any point and I don't want to be locked out of the social circles).</p>

9

<p>Most schools will only consider your academic grades, so don't worry about the D in gym. For merit schools, look at Centre, Rhodes, and Guilford.</p>

10

<p>But that would be calulated in my HS GPA, correct? So it might be a tad higher than what I gave you?</p>

11

<p>B<br>
u<br>
m<br>
p.</p>