awwsugar

fordham university is my dream school..and i need someadvice from people who currently attend the school or people who think they can help out:i applied early action)
my gpa is 3.82 (weighted)
my rank is 71/244 (cumulative rank)
my SAT's ae horrible....1590/2400 (cr-510, m-490, w-590)
BUT my extra curriculars are pretty good...
italian club- all four years
inner peace club- 3 years
science club- 3 years (i am science club president)
film club- 12th grade
italian honor society-3 years
natinal honor society-12th grade
i recieved a chemistry award from a college in the 10th grade for outstanding achievement in chemistry
I volunteered at a camp for children with disabilities, volunteered at a hospital
i've volunteered at open houses for my school 4 times
I've taken sience and math classes at baruch college over the summer and will be starting this saturday for the fall session.
i've been on the honor roll for all four years(first honors, principals list)
(there is more but im too lazy to write them all)
i've taken all honors classes jr year and this year i am taking ap chem ap itlian and honors analysis (pre calc and calc)
also according to my english teacher and guidance counselor my essay is amazing
i need honest feedback
thanks
* also what about my chances at hofstra?

bigb99

If it wasn't for your SAT score, I'd say that you're definitely in. You still have a good shot. I hope you really blow the admissions board away with your essay to make up for it.

nocousin

Well to be very honest, you are clearly in the very low end of SAT's. The peculiar thing about your post is that you have a high GPA and academic honors and lots of great ECs and then these low SAT's that do not correlate. There is something missing here. If there is some reason these SAT's are so low (and you didnt retake them?) that is explainable, such as a learning disability or something, then that needs to be explained.

Frankly, I dont think you will be admitted with these scores. Just my opinion of course. And I dont work for Fordham or speak for them.

I would look elsewhere to a college where your SAT core score of 1000/1600 will be better suited. There are lots of colleges out there that can help you. Good luck.

chubeebo

awwsugar, give the ACT a shot. you might find that exam more to your liking. Good luck.

dadoffour

You have a battle on your hands with that SAT score. Don't give up, rather start your plan of attack to overcome.

According to Class Profile
half of accepted students for the class of 2012 scored between 1200 and 1350. 25% higher, 25% lower ... that's where your score likely lands. We can't know a "hard deck" or "bottom" but you need to take some action right away if FU is your dream

Resign yourself to the idea that EA is not likely, focus on RA. If you've applied EA, consider changing your status to RD ... best to speak to a live person at FU Admissions about this, but act quickly I suspect you can not change after the Oct. 31 deadline!!
Retake the SAT, there is still time. The common idea is to apply EA only if there is no chance to improve your application. If you can improve your test scores, you will improve your application. Only you know if this is possible.
Take the ACT ... it's different enough from the SAT that it may be better for your testing ability ... I don't know the schedule for this, but check/sign-up today!
Your GPA and EC's are great so you need to leverage these strengths. This may best be done in your essay, but more likely in an interview with FU ... try to get one today!
Find an advocate ... HS counselor, FU Adcom, Alum, etc. that can help you find a way to be considered for more than your "numbers", become a face that goes along with your application.
Get creative, use this forum or others to find ideas to help you.

Most importantly, be active. Do something. There are always exceptions, make yourself the exception this time.

Good luck.

awwsugar

i took the SAT two times
the second time I improved and went up 80 points overall
i was never good at taking the SAT...but i will consider taking the november SAT..
thanks anyways though! the advice was very helpful

rcl268

aww sugar- I really really feel your pain on the SAT's. They have created a real struggle for me as well, and I am a good student (3.95 gpa). I honestly don't have any advice about Fordham or whether you will be admitted, but I wanted to suggest you consider SAT optional schools. There are more of them out there now and I think it might help your chances of admission. However, the ones I am familiar with are smaller liberal arts colleges and they may not fit what you are looking for. Examples; Bates College in Maine (it's a really awesome college), Sarah Lawrence College, Connecticut College (you still have to send subject tests though, just no SAT 1). Those are all I can think of right now, but I know there are more. If I think of any I can pm you.

Best of luck!

nocousin

Well.....there are exceptions...but they tend to fall in the 1100-1150 range and you are in the 1000 area. Yes, some kids dont do well on standardized tests, particularly if English is not their native language. Is that your situation? That should be clearly explained. I dont know about the EA being more difficult than the RA for admission. I have heard both angles at many schools. I would rather know up front BEFORE Christmas by EA , rather than wait until April for RD decisions. Unless of course there was a clear exception to your SAT score (death in family, migraine or something.) As you have taken it twice and not improved to a level that is likely admission positive, I dont know what to tell you. Though the ACT can sometimes change that. I still dont understand a 3.8 gpa and an SAT that is below avg for top schools. You have to explain that.

I dont want to rain on your parade, but on the other hand, giving false hopes is not fair to you either. It never hurts to try.

Schools that are SAT optional are growing in number: Holy Cross, Wake Forest, Bates, Bowdoin. But ALL of those schools are highly academic and fairly intense.

Its more about "fit" for you personally. The goal in this process is to find a school where you will be happy, content and can EXCEL in the classroom. Not to find the highest ranking school that will take you.

I dont know what you are looking for in a school, or if a Catholic school is important to you or not. I have some other suggestions if you do, schools that would LOVE to see your application. Belmont Abbey College, High Point University, Catawba College in NC for example. University of Louisville, University of Cincinnati, Bellarmine University. Those schools all accept kids with scores like yours with frequency.

Just a thought.