Hi everyone^^^
I am thinking about applying to UIUC, Colgate, Lehigh, Villanova, Bryn Mawr, Penn State, GWU, UFlorida, UConn, UWash, UMaryland, and Syracuse! I am out of state for all of these schools and will be majoring in sociology.
As of now, I have a SAT single score of 1990 with a essay score of 11 and ACT single score of a 28.
A lot of people say I have good extracurriculars so I’m not too stressed over extracurriculars. I’m just worried over my academics and scores…
I took 2 AP’s junior year and plan on taking 3 more senior year. Most of my courses throughout high school were honors. The only courses that remained regular were bio and chem because I am weak in science.
please let me know!!! thank you so much.
@collegestress28 I’m the first to respond! Everybody else was watching the Olympics, I guess.
Most colleges will do their own weighting of GPA. So the unweighted is more important.
I would recommend taking the SAT and/or ACT again in October. The scores will be in time for any application, RD or ED or EA. Your scores are not bad. It’s just that scores tend to rise the second time. Since your SAT was the old format you will be able to superscore it with the new. The ACT may be a better bet.
ECs are not nearly as important as GPA and scores.
The OOS (out-of-state) factor only applies to the public schools. These publics are often more difficult for out-of-staers to get into. (True for UNC and UVA. I dont know about your picks). Privates will be the same, and you could be favored just by being from OOS.
You need some safety schools. You have wisely chosen some good reaches and some matches. Bryn Mawr is now test-optional, as are many good LACs. Smaller schools like BMC also will give your application a fuller reading and your ECs will be looked at more closely than at the big universities. I have a daughter, D2013 at a large university. D2017 and D2109 only want to visit small schools (LACs) and I tend to believe those are the best places for an education. In fact, Bryn Mawr is on short-list for D2017. Women’s schools are a great choice. Mount Holyoke may be slightly easier to get in.
Have you visited any of these schools?
But the biggest factor here is how much can you and your folks can afford. Generally the less competitive schools for any individual will be less expensive. Schools may give merit money to snag better-than-average students.
Just saw your other post. Looks like you are now leaving off Haverford, Wes, Colgate. Those would be big reaches anyway. If you like LACs consider some ranked 50 to 100 on US News. Ranks are not precise but give a general idea.
@PetulaClark thank you so much for replying! I will be taking the ACT again in September, but I have been getting the same score of a 29 as I am studying which worries me… I’m not sure what more I can do to increase it or if I should move on and take the new SAT. and yes, I visited Nova, Penn State, and Bryn Mawr and loved the campuses very much. Do you think it is better for me to not send any scores to Bryn Mawr since it is test optional? I heard more applicants send SAT scores than ACT to Bryn Mawr… (not sure, but that’s what I heard) so I don’t know if I should send in anything… and yes, I loved Bryn Mawr’s campus and its strong culture and thought its Honor Code was very unique. I’m planning on going to the Bryn Mawr Senior Stay visit to see if it is a school I really want to ED to.
Sending SATs or ACTs to a test-optional school? I really don’t know. Maybe some other posters can help.
Looking at Bryn Mawr’s CDS for 2015-16, the 25-75% ranges for composite ACT are 28 to 32. So maybe I would not send a 29. But exactly 50% had a 30 or above, so I don’t know. And you’re right, 64% of apps to BMC sent SAT, vs 38% sending ACT. You’d need to separate out your SAT scores, cut out the writing, to get math and verbal.
Anyhow, we loved BMC and it’s a good school for ED, if you are sure. Villanova is really hot right now (thanks to winning BB title) but they don’t do ED anyway. But BMC is very different from a UWash or a UIUC. Though there is nothing wrong with considering both huge and small schools at the same time.
https://www.brynmawr.edu/sites/default/files/CDS_2015-2016%20(CORRECTED3)%20with%20Tuition.pdf
@PetulaClark What schools would you consider to be my matches??
Schools will tend to focus on unweighted GPA.They sometimes have their own formulas, and kick out course on art , music, anything not in the big five: English, math, science, social studies, language.
Matches will often be impacted by financial situation. Let’s day someone gets into a school ranked 40 and one ranked 90. (Rankings approx.) A school ranked about 90 for example may offer merit aid, while one ranked 40 may not, Rule of thumb: the better the school, the more the cost to you. But the cheaper school is not always the best. I woyld not recommend any school with a freshman retention rate below 80% for example. These include some so-called directionals like South Central State Something or colleges beyond the top 150 or so.
OOS publics may be just as expensive as private schools. They will have larger classes but wider offerings. It’s about fit.
From your list,I’d guess you’d match at UConn, Penn State, maybe Maryland and Florida. If you are looking South, Alabama and South Carolina are looking for OOS students.
Schools like Bryn Mawr? Mount Holyoke may be a bit easier to get in. Also Skidmore, Conn College, Dickinson, Franklin and Marshall. More certain matches are schools like Wheaton (Massachusetts), Hobart and Smith, Sarah Lawrence, Lewis and Calrk. Best thing is to look at not just rankings but location, Greek life (like it or not), curriculum (some schools like Smith and Hampshire let you take about anything you like).
You scores and GPA are well above average. You will be able to go to a great school.