Chances, Please!!

ww007 · 03-15-2008, 04:48 PM

My daughter has a 3.87 unweighted average at a very competitive high school and the most rigorous course load available. An A+ = 4.6 but no one ever gets it. They don't rank but I would estimate she's in the top 20-25%. She got a 34 on the ACT (33 english, 36 Math, 30 Science, and 11/12 Writing). She also has a 5 on AP Global, 5 on AP English language, 4 on AP Bio and 4 on AP US HIST state exams. She has a lot of leadership and great EC's. President of two clubs, Captain of Varsity tennis for two years, MVP, and All-state, All-Section for tennis, was elected to our schools grade board every year and was chosen to be a mentor (only 18 out of 210 are chosen). Also member of several other clubs and an AYSO soccer buddy for special needs kids. She received the athlete-scholar award, AP with honor award, is in math honor society and got a book award. She also did science research at a very prominent hospital and has her science abstract published in a journal. Although her rank is not that high, what do you think for ND or BC?

robertsmith · 03-16-2008, 01:11 AM

I think your daughter has excellent chance of admission. My daughter has similar credentials with lower ACT composite, 26, yikes! She has been to Guatemalan mission trips and started a community service project that will be featured in Family Circle magazine. Her Admissions Counselor has given us encouragement that sum is greater than parts and ND is looking for total package, as well as brainiacs. Keep your hopes up.

ww007 · 03-16-2008, 03:27 PM

Thanks! That is wonderful about your daughter. Did she apply EA or RD? Also,can anyone else give me their "chances" opinion?

griffon · 03-16-2008, 03:48 PM

i'm almost positive she's in a BC...outstanding gpa and ACTs...ECs are good too... she seems to have a very good chance a ND too, but one question...is she a legacy?

ww007 · 03-16-2008, 04:39 PM

No legacy. I feel her GPA is a little lower than most but our school is so tough and the colleges seem to know it -ie. the average for students accepted to ND from our school last year was 3.9. It's so hard to tell.

pccool52 · 03-16-2008, 06:14 PM

I think she will get in. Her EC's look amazing. ACT is great. GPA is good enough with everything else. And legacy helps some people get in, but its not a deciding factor. With those stats I think she will get in legacy or not. It is imperative to have a good essay. Did she apply this year or is this for next year?

griffon · 03-16-2008, 06:21 PM

i think she has a very good chance still, even without the legacy. the only reason i asked was to say that if she did have legacy she would probably get in...i have met some people who have been rejected with 4.0s and 32 ACT 2100 SATs, but it all depends...dont worry... and dont think thats a low gpa for a second..its very good

ww007 · 03-16-2008, 06:23 PM

She's applying this year and everyone I have read her essay to says it is perfect (her whole research experience and living on her own thousands of miles away all summer). Her research mentor and guidance counselor also wrote outstanding letters of recommendation but I do not know about the teachers' recs. We are not allowed to see them but my daughter is well-liked so i can't imagine that they were horrible. We have heard nothing from any of the colleges she applied to and we are getting scared. Thanks for your input - it helps with the anxiety!

griffon · 03-16-2008, 06:32 PM

yeah if you were my mom i'd just want you to be positive and to tell me that i'm going to love wherever i wind up going...just a kid's opinion...i'm sure she will get in to at least one of her top choices...i'm a junior in high school right now but my whole family has basically gone to ND and its the only place i want to go, and my uncle is kind of an admission expert when it comes to the school, so i pay close attention to all the family convos...he's a walking stat book...i cant wait to apply next year, and i wish your daughter good luck...and she probably wont hear back until april...this is when all my cousins heard and got their acceptances...so relax and good luck to her

ww007 · 03-16-2008, 06:44 PM

Thanks for your kind words. Good luck to you!

ww007 · 03-17-2008, 07:11 AM

I feel better but are there any other "chances" opinions?

justbumming · 03-21-2008, 11:32 PM

I'm with everyone else, this looks really good, but please make sure she's not positive she'll get in, because admissions can be so random. Keep her expectations realistic; she has a good chance to get in, but there's also that chance she won't. If she gets her hopes too high and counts her chickens before they hatch, it could be really, REALLY heartbreaking.

Looks great though, and good luck.

ww007 · 03-28-2008, 07:51 AM

Just an update- daughter was waitlisted at BC so our chances for ND are looking even more grim. Our only hope is that it is true that ND looks at the whole person and realizes she has a great deal to offer and would really make a difference in spite of the fact that her GPA is not a perfect 4.0. Hoping and praying for all- good luck!

RH89 · 03-28-2008, 08:50 PM

i got waitlisted at BC as well, ww007. and i've already started crying about being denied at ND.
so i totally understand how you and your daughter are feeling...but it's not final yet...so keep on hoping!

ww007 · 03-29-2008, 06:58 AM

Thanks RH89. There also were about 5 kids already accepted to BC early action from our school- so maybe that played a part in it. I don't know- just hoping I guess. I know ND is even harder to get into but I have always heard that they are more fair-minded. We'll see. Good luck!