Chance a Rising Senior in Trouble

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 04:50 PM

Hey, please give your honest opinion on my chances for the following schools (order of my preference):

1. University of Virginia
2. Cornell
3. Virginia Tech
4. James Madison University
5. College of William and Mary
6. Boston University
7. George Mason

Background
Ethnicity: African American (First-Gen)
Sex: Male
Residence: VA
Graduation Year: 2009
Major interests: Business/Economics
School: Highly Competitive
Class Size: About 600

GPA:
4.0 Scale
Had a 2.75 freshman year which put my GPA in a hole, then turned it up Sophomore-Junior Years with a combined 3.5 in AP and honor classes. My counselor will talk about my great turnaround in her recommendation.
UW:3.2 W:3.3
My school only weights AP's with a .5 and wont let you take any until your a junior so many weighted and unweighted GPA's at my school are virtually the same.

SAT/SATII
SAT: 1780 {Math-670, Cr-540, Wr-570}
I know my SAT's are the opposite of stellar, but I will be improving on them and retaking in October/November.
SAT II's:
Taking in October/November in Math II and probably US History

Rank: School Doesn't Rank

Course Rigor:
Most Rigorous
9th-12th:7 APs, 7 Honors, 4 years of Spanish, 4 years of Business Classes
11th:3 AP's Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, English Language
12th:4 AP's Calculus BC, Biology, English Literature, US Government

Extracurriculars
1. (9-12)Future Business Leaders of America (President)
2. (9)Freshman Basketball Team (Co-Captain)
3. (10) JV Basketball (Co-Captain)
4. (10-12)National Business Honor Society
5. (9-10) JV Winter/Spring Track
6. (10-12) Varsity Track Team
7. (11-12) Science Honor Society
8. (9-10) Junior Math Team
9. (11-12) Senior Math Team

Volunteer Experience
Many Hours in:
1. Local Church Helping First Graders
2. Library Helping Librarians
3. Clean the Neighborhood

Other
Recommendations: 2 Amazing Rec's from rigorous Chemistry teacher with a PhD and business teacher at my school.
Counselor Recommendation: great explaining how I've matured in four years
Essay: good

What are my chances at UVA? What will my SAT I have to be to make UVA a match? Thanks.

pml161991 · 07-18-2008, 04:53 PM

1. University of Virginia - you have a pretty good chance of getting in since your a reasidnet. if you werent a resident im not sure if you would get in.
2. Cornell - very very high reach
3. Virginia Tech- match
4. James Madison University- match
5. College of William and Mary- match
6. Boston University- match/slight reach
7. George Mason- match

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 04:59 PM

Alright thanks man, what would be an SAT score goal to make UVA a match for me? I'm about to start prepping this weekend.

Marimare · 07-18-2008, 05:46 PM

Try for a 2100+. If that isn't possible, at least break the 2000 barrier.

Good luck! Rooting for you!

Claire1016 · 07-18-2008, 05:50 PM

pml161991: i don't know if it'd call william and mary a match, it's pretty difficult to get in. for william and mary i'd shoot for a 2000+

If you pull up your SAT, you have a good shot. You're EC's are pretty good and your courseload was really hard.

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 06:31 PM

Yea, my SAT is definitely going to raise with my summer prep. Im certain i can achieve a 2000 with practice but it this enough?

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 07:16 PM

bump!!!!!! any more opinions......i really need them

ab2013 · 07-18-2008, 07:30 PM

Hey, I'm happy to chance you if you chance me: Please chance me ... I'd really really appreciate it!

First off, your URM status will help you alot in admissions. Your drastic improvement in grades is very impressive. To go up from a 2.75 with nothing to a 3.5 with Honors and AP is remarkable. You have also challenged yourself in school, with the the APs that you've taken. Your extracurriculars are also quite impressive and show dedication. However, your SATs will hurt at out-of-state schools. Try to get it to above a 2000 and you'll be all set.

Chances
- University of Virginia (IOS): match
- Cornell: far reach
- Virginia Tech: match
- James Madison: match
- College of William and Mary: Match
- Boston University: slight reach
- George Mason: match

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 08:52 PM

Thanks for the advice. So most people on these boards think I can be a match if I raise my scores to 2000.

sinkman55 · 07-18-2008, 09:48 PM

Hey. What part of VA are you from? I'm in Fairfax County and here competition is VERY high for UVA. I know kids with stellar SAT's and GPA's who are flat out rejected. For instance, my brother had amazing SAT's but was rejected from UVA. He now goes to UChicago.

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 10:15 PM

I'm from Fairfax as well what impact can this have on my college application process?

swish14 · 07-18-2008, 10:15 PM

W&M will be very difficult to get in

sinkman55 · 07-18-2008, 10:40 PM

Well with UVA, since it is state funded, only a certain number of students are admitted from Fairfax County. Therefore, our chances of admission are less likley as we are in a VERY competitive region, while some one with the same qualifications but who lives in a different, less competitive county is more likley to be admitted. It sucks but its true....that's why UVA is looking to become a private school in the next few years. Again, UVA is VERY difficult to get into if you live in Fairfax County, but if it is your top choice I would still go for it, maybe you'll get lucky.

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 11:11 PM

Yea, I understand the competitiveness but where would I stand if my SAT was about 2100?

AG3NT Z3R0 · 07-18-2008, 11:18 PM

Also want to add some crucial information about my schools admit stats into UVA. In the past 2 years four African-Americans have gotten into UVA with an average GPA of 3.66 and SAT score of 1940. Since I've attended my school no African-American athlete has gotten an athletic scholarship to UVA so these stats are legit. Need more opinions and be brutally honest.