lifegr

when there is a collge that you really really really want to get in, but EVERYONE ELSE including your parents friends teachers and the counselor think the schools too reach for you and you should just really settle for other schools and move on, do you think its wise to listen to them? or at least try for your dream school?
i am seriously frustrated that noone supports me for the dream school. They say they are doing the best for me and i guess they are right. They are older and know better than me but really

nmcm007

Go for it! This is your future and open your horizons, (My hopes of getting into Notre Dame are not too high for the same reasons, but I felt confident in myself and my application) apply and feel proud of yourself. If you dedicate the time and effort into perfecting that application, no one knows what will happen. Everyone should apply to a school that is a reach. Set goals for yourself and push yourself to try and prove everyone wrong.

light10491

What school is this.

Alex7592

Apply, knowing that you probably won't get in.

ZooeyKing

It is better to apply and not get in than think, "what if". At the same time, don't get your hopes up. I applied to one reach and didn't get in. I was devastated because I thought I would be that "one" person who persuades admissions with a killer essay. And it was amazing. But the essay isn't everything.

LasMa

There's nothing at all wrong with applying to a dream school, as long as you don't let it blind you to reality. Be sure that the rest of your list includes a good set of match schools, and one or two safeties. Start thinking about the good things at those schools, without comparing them to Dream U.

lifegr

my family friends and teachers are worried because they think the dream school Is blinding me to reality. Right now, I have 2070 on the SAT with 3.75ish 4.1weighted GPA, no sat subject tests. They think I should really just focus on boosting up sat 1 score till december and aim for colleges that dont require SAT subject tests like washU, emory, notre dame and etc.
My dream school however requires two SAT subject tests and I am risking myself through all those subject tests, senior year, college essays within a few weeks + studying for SAT 1 again in december. They think i am trying to do too much just for ONE school and if I fail my plan, I might get rejected not only from my dream school but also from all the other schools so i should just look at the reality and focus on one thing that I can do and not try to catch two birds with a stone ..thus give up sat subject tests, which my dream school requires as mandatory.and focus on sat 1 and the essays.. What should I do ?

mom2collegekids

If you're just talking about applying to one super-reach school, while also applying to some more reasonable choices and some safeties, the go for it.

This kind of thing is only a problem when a kid will only apply to super-reach schools and then is left with no acceptances.

fauve

Do you have a plan and schedule for taking the two SAT IIs, and SAT I? Do you have time to prepare for both Subject tests? Do you have some safety schools lined up? Because WashU and Emory are still reach schools for you, with your current stats.

For your dream school, you basically need five scores (SAT CR, M,Wr plus 2 SAT Subject tests) over 700 to be in the running. Time is pressing--are you willing to devote every extra hour to SAT prep? And you will need endless hours for the essays, many which are unique to each school.

Your dream school is always a possibility for a graduate degree. But you must start early, and conquer both the GRE/GMAT, and GPA early.

emgamac

If you listen to those other people and don't apply, will you always wonder "what if"? If you will wonder, then you should apply. If you won't look back and say "what if", then don't apply. Our D didn't get into her dream school because they didn't accept her. She will not ever wonder "what if?". In her words "There is always grad school. Maybe they just weren't ready for me!!"

jack1232

Considering your special situation: your SAT I scores not very high and without SAT II scores yet, I think your teachers and your parents are right. You should concentrate on retaking SAT I. You don't have much time to prepare SAT II - even you take SAT II, probably you wouldn't get good scores. This is already a later game for you. As other poster said, WU and Emory are already reach schools for you. Picking up schools without requiring SAT II may be the best strategy for you now.

tk21769

Go ahead and apply to the dream school. But stop dreaming long enough to think about why you find it attractive. Then look for similar qualities in a couple of less selective schools.

R124687

Sorry to have to first say this, but DO NOT think that those schools you listed are safeties. They are match/reaches.

DO apply to a safety school (or two...public/in state). I made my D do this early, and they had rolling admissions so now she has "on in the back pocket" already and it relieves SO much stress!

DO apply to a dream school (or 2)...you'll kick yourself FOREVER if you don't. You do NOT want to look back and say "Maybe I could have, who knows?". Then, after you apply, try to stop thinking about it. I'm already having me D look into housing at her safety.

DO take the SAT I again (in Nov...to keep the school/friends/family happy, and because it's the more important part. Study over Fall break).

DO take the SAT IIs (December is still time for most schools...right? Study over Thanksgiving).

...and...what MIGHT help you is:


DO fit in an ACT test. They're nearly always on a different weekend than the SAT, and most colleges accept this in lieu of the SAT. What can it hurt? It's inexpensive, it's 3-4 hours of your life. And, even though I said "study" (above)...I really only addressed that because you mentioned being too busy with Senior year that you might have trouble studying for these tests. I think the SAT IIs are really the only ones that studying helps (another reason to take them in December...gives you more time for that). But it's not like you can REALLY study for this of "reasong" test. So just go for it. My D did her SAT and SAT IIs as a Junior, because she KNEW how busy she'd be as a Senior. But she noticed an ACT test date coming up last Spring/Summer...and did it on a whim. She went "standby"...just a last minute decision...just for the heck of it. And she ROCKED it! (She does best when there is no pressure). Some people's SAT versus ACT scores vary greatly. And the important part of the equation is that they're normally given on DIFFERENT weekends than the SAT - so you're available for one more test.
Good luck.

lifegr

thank you all so much for replying !! so here is what I am going to do. I am going to focus on SAT 1 until december and try to bring up my score to at least 2150 + to increase my chance for schools mentioned above..schools that dont require SAT2 like emory umich etcetc. Since i dont have enough time until nov to prepare all those sat 2 tests and if I dont ace those tests + i havent studied much for SAT1 in preparation for sat2, i would screw up both. then focus on completing applications while studying for sat1...then take SAT2 in January since my dream school seems to be accepting January SAT 2 scores....Does it sound like a viable plan????? I am trying to face the reality!!!comments plz helpme out!!

dana09

Sounds like a good plan. If this really is your dream school, do everything in your power to make it a reality. One way or another, your efforts will make you a better candidate for all schools. And like everybody else already said, put in the necessary effort for your other applications, too. You don't want to be left with nowhere to go if your dream school falls through.