Claire1016

I'm looking in a lot of different colleges that are match schools for me and more realistic based on my current scores, but I'm also interested in Boston College. I think it's a bit of a long shot for me, but I'm wondering if it's worth applying.

SAT: 1940
CR- 720
W- 630
M- 590

I'm taking them again for a 2050+ hopefully. I know I can get my writing to at least a 680 or higher, but I doubt I'll be able to get better than around a 660 on my math.

ACT comp- 28

Also taking again, hopefully for a 30 or a 31.

GPA:
freshman- UW 3.8 W 4.2
sophomore- UW 3.8 W 4.2
junior- UW 4.0 W 4.5

Rank- 30ish out of 280 (will improve after first quarter of my senior year)

My course load is extremely rigorous, only because my school does not offer honors courses and literally offers only 3 AP classes (I will be taking two of them). Although I did self study for 2 AP tests so I'll list my scores

AP Euro- 3
AP US- 3
AP US government and politics- 4

some notable classes that I will have completed by my senior yr:
advanced algebra II
advanced geometry
algebra 3 and trig
AP Euro
AP Spanish
Physics

I'm also in dual enrollment and by the end of my senior year I'll have 6 college classes under my belt:
psych 101
governments of the world
precalculus
calculus I
english composition
US literature

My recs will be very good. One will definately be from a professor who is the head of the political science department at wilkes.

EC's
founder and president of the young democrats club
long time member of the diversity club (and i'll probably have a leadership position in my senior year)
literary magazine contributor and member of the club
newspaper columist
speech and debate

Awards/Honors:
member of the honor society
poetry slam winner
ambassador for change award
AP scholar
principal's honors list every quarter of my junior year
high honors every quarter of my freshman and sophomore year
I recieved a jacket for academics and tennis.
I lettered in tennis (although I'm not good enough to play at a college level).

Volunteer Work:
I am pretty much the sole caretaker of my grandfather. I know it's technically not "volunteer work," but it takes up a lot of my time and I definately want to put a lot of emphasis on this because it'a a lot of responsibility.
I work at the library two days a week.
relay for life
I volunteer at my church all the time.
I also do tons with the diversity club.
I did a voter registration drive and I am very active in the Barack Obama campaign.
lit mag funraisers

I'll stop listing there, but I think my EC's will be pretty strong, it's the test scores I'm worried about.

I want to be a political science major and I will stress that I am very politically active in my community.

Other schools I'm interested that you could chance me for:
American University
GW University
Bryn Mawr
Villanova
BU
Northeastern
Holy Cross
Bates (also a reach)
Emerson College

COLLEGEPLOX

I'm afraid I don't know too much about the schools you're applying to, but your stats seem reasonably good. Just get those SAT scores up pronto, and you'll be alright. BU should be a match, and Boston College seems good.

Claire1016

I've been working really hard on math, it's my only weak are because I know I can easily increase my writing if I study. I hope they'll be forgiving for a weaker math score, because I'm not majoring in math.

COLLEGEPLOX

Claire1016

In my experience, math was the easiest part to raise in my SAT training. I, like you, am weak in math. But SAT Math has a lot of predictable patterns. Just keep taking practice tests and reviewing.

Claire1016

bump........

Claire1016

I really need some honest opinions, please!

Claire1016

oh and in my post i meant "not extremely rigorous"

Techy233

BU acceptances are much easier to predict than BC. BU is a reasonable match school and with a 59% acceptance rate (and it being such a huge school) you're likely on the more competitive end of applicants. Get that math score to a 650 (or at least 610-660) and Bates will seem less daunting (although submitting your SAT score for Bates isn't required) Bates also places <b><i>huge</b></i> emphasis on your essays, so strong essays (with a lot of personality - although they must be top-notch) make Bates a reasonable reach. A score of 710 on the Critical Reading is also on the 75th percentile of Bates students who submit scores, so your 720 <i>does</i> work in your favor notwithstanding the competitive admissions process. Outstanding essays and recs, with special (and tactful) emphasis on those ECs that make you stand out as an applicant might make April a very happy month for you. You're applying to rigorous and elite colleges, but none are completely out of reach. If you can make a 680, you can make a 700 for the writing. Improvement on your test scores make Boston College formidable, but not impossible. So work hard, study hard, this is the last stretch!