@collegeHopeful? I feel like if you could raise up either the sat or ACT your chances are better, but If you look at the ED thread for the past year there were amazing people with very high scores not get in but got into vanderbilt so you could do everything right and not get in. Just be yourself in your essays. Try for more leadership at your school and just do your best to convey where you fit at the school and if they have that need and you are qualified your in. It is hard in Texas because it has been said they could fill the entire school with the top 1 and 2 of the school, but they don’t . I would include all awards even if they are not national ones. I don’t think it would hurt I know my son told them about latin medals, AD medals. Most of my son’s awards were all from the boy scouts and that is how he sold himself. He wanted to be a trip leader in R.OP.E because of all his outdoor experience, leadership and awards. I am not sure how much practice you did when you took the ACT, but if you didn’t the practice books help! There was a 28 ACT get in regular decision, but I am thinking it had something to do with sports. They did not really say. GoodLuck