My chances - please respond

molly4190 · 12-05-2007, 07:12 PM

Ok I'm a high school senior and I'm thinking of applying to Bucknell University - what do you think my chances are??

In my high school, grades are given as follows:
A = 4.0 = 95+
A- = 3.7 = 90-94
B+ = 3.4 = 87-89
B = 3.0 = 84-86
B-= 2.7 = 80-83
C+ = 2.4 = 77-79
.....and so on, It's pretty standard

My UW gpa is really low, only like a 3.37, weighted its only 3.56

My high school is a highly competitive public - 100% go on to college, there is virtually no dropout rate, we are ranked as one of the best public high schools in the country

SAT I: 720 Verbal, 650 Math, 770 Writing
SAT II: 670 World History, 760 English Lit

I have taken 5 years of high school math/science (started in grade 8), almost all classes taken were adv/honors

AP Classes taken: World History, English Lang, U.S History (5 on each)
Senior year classes: AP Psych, AP English Lit, AP MacroEcon, AP Stats, AP Italian...and forensic science

Extracurrics: Italian Honor Society grades 10-12 Secretary
School literary magazine - grades 9-12 Assistant Editor and staff writer
school tutoring/community service club for AP English kids - grades 11, 12
Latin Honor Society - grades 9, 10
did varsity fencing for a year - not sure if I should put it on app

Volunteer Work: tutor kids about 1 hr a week, 80 hrs over summer working as a teacher assistant at summer school/camp

Awards...DAR Good Citizens award, National Latin Exam Honor Award, AP Scholar, High Honor roll throughout high school if that counts....thats it

my school doesn't do class rank

Be honest - what do you think are my chances of going to Bucknell?
I didn't realize how selective it is until a few weeks ago...according to U.S News &World it's just as selective as Cornell which i know I don't have a shot at
I don't know if I should bother applying anymore

Whistle Pig · 12-06-2007, 09:39 PM

I'm no expert, and there's no slam dunk here, but I think you may have a fair shot if you can prepare a strong app. Your scores are good. From where? Your summer work is a real plus. Tout it. You're right though ... BU is very competitive and tough on admissions. What else can set you apart, reflect your uniqueness, illustrate your gifts?

molly4190 · 12-07-2007, 03:48 PM

hmm not sure but i think i'll apply b/c i really like the school...i guess i need a really strong app, and my writing schools are pretty good. thanks for the reply

Whistle Pig · 12-07-2007, 04:00 PM

Did you mean your "writing skills" are pretty good? Guess spell check wouldn't catch that one.

Write well, proof even better. Good luck.

Solomonenator · 12-07-2007, 04:33 PM

Hey just wondering...I applied ED
What do u think of my chances?

SAT W660 M680 W640
GPA 3.4 However 3.0 Fres 3.5 Soph 3.6 Junior 1)Q Senior 4.0
Weighted 3.7
Early Decision
One of Top 10 High Schools in NY STATE!
8 APs in total
Got a scholarship to anywhere for 20000
Jumped a year is Math b/t Soph and Junior
Head of Soup Kitchen 200+ Community Service
Awesome Recs frm Math Teacher and Guidance
Tell me what u think!
Solomonenator is invisible

molly4190 · 12-07-2007, 04:41 PM

whistle - yep, i meant writing skills, thanks for catching that lol I was watching tv while posting

Solomoneator I wish I had your stats and a 20000 scholarship...you have a good gpa, SAT scores and I hear ED applicants do well at Bucknell. I thought of doing ED but decided not to b/c I might go to another school
btw, what high school do you attend?

Solomonenator · 12-08-2007, 08:57 AM

Blind Brook High School....I am 100% sure it is 3rd in Westchester currently, 73 Nationally, and I'm like 95% it is in the top 10 in NYSTATE

satn87 · 12-12-2007, 10:21 PM

bucknell admitted students for class of 2011:

Middle 50% SAT verbal = 630-720
Middle 50% SAT Math = 660 - 740
average gpa = 3.66
94% students graduated top 20% of their high school class & 81% in top 10%.

For enrolled students:

Middle 50% SAt veerbal = 600-690
Middle 50% sat math = 630 - 710

satn87 · 12-12-2007, 10:24 PM

bucknell admitted students for class of 2010:

Middle 50% SAT verbal = 620-720
Middle 50% SAT Math = 650 - 740
average gpa = ?
90% students graduated top 20% of their high school class & 71% in top 10%.

For enrolled students:

Middle 50% SAt verbal = 600-680
Middle 50% sat math = 630 - 710

Whistle Pig · 12-13-2007, 09:26 AM

Now those 2 posts are very insightful re: who attends vs. applies and Bucknell's place in the pecking order of highly selective institutions. Also, informative for those students who may be wondering of the reality of the intellectual water level .Thanks.

CK2308 · 12-17-2007, 01:50 PM

i almost applied early decision but i didnt because i thought i would have a good shot of getting in regular according to the stats...but i am right in the range for BC and notre dame also but i got deferred and rejected. should i switch to ED 2, or do you think i could get in regular? (i wanna keep my options open just in case, but bucknell is definitely my top choice)

ACT: 31
GPA: 3.93/4.0
small, private all girls hs
we dont have rank but i am unofficially the top
harvard book award, national chemistry and biology awards, some religious award, and some others
3 season varsity captain
community service

satn87 · 12-17-2007, 08:38 PM

if bucknell is your top choice and you're quite sure, then do ED 2. there are always other qualified people applying for the limited spots available, and you want to be one of those qualified people who got in. Besides, ED 2 will
save you time since you might not have to do other applications for other schools, or at least will save you the applying fees for other schools if you get accepted to bucknell.

CK2308 · 12-24-2007, 04:27 PM

woo i just got back my new ACTs and got a 34. bucknell still is my top choice but im scared that if something comes up and for some reason i decide i like another school better i dont wanna be locked in.....ahh i am so torn with this ED thing....any idea how many more applicants bucknell got this year/how much harder it is to get in?