Am I looking at the right schools? Chicago, UVA...

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Schools I’m considering (mostly in order of preference):
UChicago
UVA
Vanderbilt
Stanford
Columbia</p>

<p>My question is this: Are these the kinds of school that will look past the slight flaws in my GPA and narrow involvement to see the passion I’ve shown for my few activities? Should I start looking at a different type of school (and if so, what kind?)?</p>

<p>High School Classes: always the most rigorous available. 4 APs so far, planning to take 6 next year (I know, suicide. But they’re all things I’m interested in, except for Calculus, which my school requires). APs in English, Spanish, and History (World, Euro, and US), among others.</p>

<p>GPA
Weighted: 4.6 (my high school gives +1 for honors/advanced, +2 for AP)
Unweighted: 3.9</p>

<p>Test scores:
SAT: CR: 800 M: 720 W: 710 composite: 2230
ACT: E: 34 M: 28 R: 35 S: 31 E/W:31 composite: 32
AP: World History: 5 (haven’t taken other exams yet)</p>

<p>Activities:
Cross Country - 9-12, Captain in grade 12
Indoor Track - 9-12
Outdoor Track - 9-12
Habitat for Humanity Club - 9-12
Alter server (at church) - 5-12, Captain since grade 10</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
3 Coaches’ Awards in Cross Country/Track
Spanish National Honor Society</p>

<p>I know this is kind of difficult to quantify, and I’m not trying to brag, but I am a very good writer (though my SAT score doesn’t show it), so I intend to submit a portfolio with my applications, and my essay will be strong.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for reading this lengthy post - I’m dying to hear an objective opinion!</p>

2

<p>Your schedule and GPA are strong, as are your test scores. Chicago, especially, is one to take into account extra information supplied by the applicant in the form of art/writing supplements. At the moment, I would say that:</p>

<p>Chicago - High Match
UVA - In
Vanderbilt - In
Stanford - Low Reach
Columbia - High Match/Low Reach</p>

<p>If you’re a good writer, make sure that your essays to all of these colleges are convincing, and employment of attractive rhetoric will be necessary due to high levels of selectivity.</p>