<p>There isn’t possibly enough room here to totally describe myself and my life but in a nutshell i am 16, a junior,someone who has always had the intelligence but not the drive to succeed to my potential, therefore in my freshman year got 1 F, 1D, C’s and B’s. In my 10th grade year stepped it up a bit and got all B’s and 1 C. In my current year, I really stepped it up and am going to end up with just about all A’s and maybe one B. I take 3 IB courses as well. I have over 200 hundred hours of comm. service, have a part time job, play sports and do volunteer tutoring twice a week. I have been studying like crazy for my SAT’s and on my most recent practice test got a 2100!!! I WAS SO EXCITED.</p>
<p>So here is the deal…two years ago I thought I would be lucky to get into some average state school, now I am totally switching gears and want to aim high and big. IF I end up with almost all A’s this year, get about a 2100 or higher on my SAT, and take a full IB courseload in my senior year, how good of a chance do I stand at a place like Cornell or Brown? (my two dream schools). This is an unusual situation but I am so driven all of a sudden and so motivated to take this as far as I can go.There were some personal issues that hindered some of my motivation that are no longer an issue and I really feel like “the floodgates have opened” and I am unstoppable. I figure all you experts out there will be the ones to help steer me in the right direction and tell me what else I might do to further increase my chances at a top school. I think many schools enjoy a real success story, such as mine, climbing from the bottom to the top which is in essence what I am doing and have done.
I would even consider centering my essay around this “metamorphosis”, to further explain what has happened. Any input or sound advice you might have would be awesome. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, your situation is not at all unusual. In fact, it’s very typical and called blooming late. It doesn’t mean you can’t go to your dream college, but it does mean you probably can’t go as a freshman.</p>
<p>The top schools have many kids they can not accept who have had all As throughout high school and a 2200.</p>
<p>Go to the best school you can and transfer…</p>
<p>Honestly, I think your freshman year will be too difficult to overcome for you to get into Brown or Cornell. With an F and a D and numerous C’s on your transcript I don’t think you will get in. </p>
<p>Most people on CC are going to tell you the same thing I just said but remember that even if you don’t think you have a good shot to apply to the school you want to go to no matter what anyone tells you - you never know.</p>
<p>Also, here’s my advice for what schools you should be looking at. Most definitely look at big state schools that are “tier 2.” Your SAT score and strong performance junior and senior year should be enough to get you in. Also, if you are a URM you still have a solid shot at a lot of schools that are ranked in the 50s and 60s.</p>
<p>BUT many schools do not look at or factor in the freshman year. I had changed schools and there some changes in my life which partially affected my output. The other schools that I was thinking of were U of Miami and BC. Are those tier 2? BC would also be a school which I would be so excited to get into, what do you think my chances could be there? Besides working damn hard what else could or should I do to enhance my record? I am taking a pre calc course over the summer, possibly at a top school, waiting to hear back. Any other tips/advice. I am not suggesting that i am “special” or that my situation is so unique but my rise has been quite extreme to the point where even my h.s. advisor said she has not seen anyone in her 12 years of doing this make such a tremendous leap, my SAT practice test was the second highest score in my school, which was major for me, if only i can do that well on the real deal:)</p>
<p>“BUT many schools do not look at or factor in the freshman year.”</p>
<p>Not really. Only school that I know of that does this is Stanford. I can’t remember if the UC’s do this. But 99% of the schools in the country factor in freshmen year.</p>
<p>You have a decent shot at Miami if you are black, hispanic, or native american. BC is a reach no matter what.</p>
<p>even with at least a 2100 on my SAT? both miami and Bc report their norms to be in the 1900 range. I am not looking at any Ca. schools cuz my parents won’t let me go that far, I know Michigan also doesn’t factor in 9th grade year grades.</p>
<p>The admit rates at Brown should give you some idea of the competition. :eek:</p>
<p>Valedictorian: 26%
Salutatorian: 26%
Ranked Third: 20%
Ranked Fourth: 20%
Ranked Fifth: 15%
Other Top Five Percent: 14%
Top 5-10% Percent: 7%
Top 10-20%: 5%
Top 20-30%: 3%
Top 30-40%: 1%</p>
<p>Among universities, Chicago is your best bet. LACs might be more willing to overlook that bad freshman year, especially with high SAT scores.</p>
<p>be able to write well about your changes in an essay. i think you should apply to cornell and brown! dream big, but be happy with wherever you end up, since you worked so hard for it.</p>
<p>warbler, any particular LAC that you have in mind? Assuming I got at least a 2100 but aiming for closer to 2200. I will no doubt apply to at least a few of the real reach schools, because hey you never know!</p>
<p>Look into schools like Bucknell, Colgate, Pomona. I think you have a good shot at those. If you want to apply to more of ‘‘reach’’ LAC’s look into Williams and Amherst.</p>
<p>would most of you agree it would appropriate given my unusual changes and circumstances to center my essay on “my metamorphosis”. its a little early to consider it but i am thinkiing if i continue on this upward sprial then it seems pretty natural that, that is the perfect platform to explain how things changed since 9th grade. What do you think my chances would be at NYU, BU,BC and U of Miami?</p>
<p>You’re getting good advice here. Believe it. In all honesty, you’re not close for an ivy. We do know because there are common data sets such as the one Warbler posted. These schools accept almost no one with your stats. Even schools that don’t look at fresh GPA look at rank. Why are 26% of vals taken? Because there is a big difference between an A at a school where 2100 is the average SAT and one where one kid has over a 2100. </p>
<p>As people are telling you, have a great year or 2 at another college and transfer, all is not lost!!!</p>
<p>And do, it would be cliche to write that essay if you’re going to say that life was hard then you saw the academic light…</p>
<p>Because there is a big difference between an A at a school where 2100 is the average SAT and one where one kid has over a 2100. </p>
<p>I don’t get what you are saying above. Assuming I get between a 2100-2200 my g.counselor said to shoot for the moon and at least put in a few apps to some of the far reaching schools, she said herself shes seen it happen. That said i am a realist and know its not likely and of course i will be concentrating on more tier 2 schools, all the while thinking positive and hopefully being able to apply to a wide range of schools, i don’t think it would be a cliche, i had some real personal obstacles in my 9th grade year, none of which i care to talk about but certainly they are quite relavent to my performance. I feel its my chance to speak from the heart and sort of “explain myself”, thats all.</p>
<p>Would a 2250 really put me in a different league?</p>