Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public, smallish, very competitive, Blue Ribbon Recipient 2024
Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.) Double legacy - both parents went undergrad (mom went back for grad school) and donate, involved with alumni association, athletic season tickets
Intended Major(s): Economics
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.86 / 4
Weighted HS GPA: 4.48 / 5 (an honors/AP A+ is a 5.33, while level 2 is A+ is a 4.33)
Class Rank: No official rank. Based on what I know about unofficial ranks from this year and the last two, I am generally competitive with the top 15-20% of applicants.
ACT/SAT Scores: 1490 SAT (800E/690M), 34 SAT (36 R/W, 34 S, 31 M)
List your HS coursework
(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)
English: Took honors-level all years it was offered. AP Lang junior year. I’m taking an interdisciplinary honors course (half English, half social studies) instead of AP Lit this year. Generally get A- or A.
Math: (including highest level course(s) completed) Geometry freshman year (A), Honors Alg 2 sophomore (C+ - this sticks out very badly), Pre-Calc junior (B+), AP Calc AB this year (B/B+ for first trimester)
Science: (including which ones, such as biology, chemistry, physics) Bio, Chem, Honors Physics, AP Physics 1, Biotech (Honors Elective). All A’s in completed courses, A- so far in AP.
History and social studies: A+ Freshman Social Studies, A+ Econ (Honors), A Modern Middle East (honors), A APUSH (.1 off an A+), A+ Civics - see English section for interdisciplinary study), A so far in AP Macro
Language other than English: (including highest level completed) French - A- Freshman/Sophomore, A in junior year honors, A- so far this year (AP)
Visual or performing arts: Concert & Symphonic Bands (all A+) - part of audition-only band for nationally ranked show choir
Other academic courses: Various electives, 9th/10th grade), nothing that will make or break an application
Awards
NHS, Seal of Biliteracy
Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Habitat for Humanity (two years, school club leader, volunteered with multiple chapters)
VEX Robotics (four years, captain, won some judges awards but nothing major)
Summer Camp Counselor (large nature day camp, mentored counselors-in-training)
Alpine Skiing (four years varsity, captain)
Squad/Section Leader in marching/symphonic bands, mentioned the show choir band above
Money Club (four years, member, financial education and discussion club)
Service with two additional organizations - one is the local chapter of the Jaycees, and the other is an outdoors-focused nonprofit that maintains the summer camp I work at
Essays/LORs/Other (Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)
Strong essay, focused on themes of delayed gratification, personal growth, and overcoming adversity - worked extensively with essay specialist on it. Narrative connects to my interests and extracurricular.
LORs written by my APUSH teacher and Honors Physics teacher. The APUSH one is strong, I haven’t read the other but have no reason to suspect anything questionable to be on it.
Schools (List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)
Boston College is the main one, ED1. I’m also applying ED2 to either Villanova or Wake Forest.
D24 had slightly higher GPA, 3.95/4.55, top 10%, but a lower test score. She was TO. She applied to BC’s Carroll School of Management ED2. She was deferred and then waitlisted. She eventually was denied admission. I was a bit surprised, considering the fact she did get into some very competitive schools but it is my understanding that BC appreciates applicants who submit their test scores and BC was still a reach. Although the most recent CDS 2021–2022 indicate only 50% of enrolled students submitted test scores. The average scores for the class of 2028 also appear to be slightly higher at 1511. However, your scores are definitely competitive. Moreover, you being a double legacy should hopefully help. However, unfortunately in this world we now live in, legacy does not mean as much as it used to. Nevertheless, with your scores and legacy hook, I would think you are very competitive. But, you never know. I believe that you would be a target at Villanova. And that you would be competitive at Wake.
I think you’ve got this. Really solid candidate AND legacy AND ED1. It’s never a sure thing, but seems more likely than not.
My oldest is a sophomore at BC. He got deferred ED1 (brutal), and then accepted in Regular Decision round. Not legacy. Seemed like the legacy kids had a slight edge, but it’s impossible to know what’s on other students’ applications.
I think you have a good shot at BC. Their overall ED acceptance rate recently has been 28% and I would guess your chances are significantly better than that because your stats are solid and you are a double legacy. I think you have an excellent shot at Villanova ED2, because you have good stats and because they typically have an ED acceptance rate > 50%. I don’t think Wake Forest publishes their ED acceptance rate but most of the people who get into Wake from our school apply ED and, again, I think your stats are solid. So with two shots at ED I think you are likely to get one of them. Good luck!!
Note that these are research-based rankings. Although they may be helpful for students who want to do undergraduate research in preparation for PhD study in economics (such students should also take more advanced math and statistics than is typically required for economics majors), they may not be all that useful to more pre-professional economics majors.
Note also that the LACs do not have particularly high research activity reflected in these rankings. The #1 and #2 in the LAC rankings are $48 and #78 in the overall rankings.
BC’s most recent acceptance rate was 14+%. With an acceptance rate that low, no one can tell you what your chances are. There are too many unknown factors. The acceptance rate has dropped every year for the past 5 years and probably will again as the number of high school graduates peaks this year and along with it, the number of college applicants. The ED acceptance rate has also been dropping for the past 5 years. I wouldn’t be encouraged by the fact that ED acceptance rate is higher because the ED applicant pool is stronger, so naturally a college will take a higher percent from this pool. Occasionally you will see ED acceptance rates as high as 60%. In thise cases, we know then that ED application makes a big difference.
The good news is that your profile clearly fits what BC is looking for, so you have a good shot. Secondly, BC accepts males at a higher rate than females (because they have fewer male applicants like everyone else and they would like to get as close to 50:50 male:female enrollment as they can). So, being a male increases your chances.
My list is finalized. I’m indeed applying to Richmond…it’s behind the three schools I mentioned in this post, mainly because of the small size of the school. Not interested in Holy Cross for a bunch reasons.
My reaches are UVA, UMich, and Georgetown. Already accepted to Pitt (low target/safety) and also applying to Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, and UConn.
One thing I forgot to mention in my initial profile is that in addition to meeting my AO at school events, by sheer luck I ran into him at a football tailgate, introduced myself, and talked for a couple minutes. Figure that him seeing me with a friend, wearing BC gear, at a football game has got to be a pretty good way to present myself and show how I’ll be engaged in campus life.
Double legacy will help at BC…and according to our college counselor, it will also help at Villanova bc they consider themselves competitive with BC and would love to take a double legacy! My kids are also double legacy BC but unfortunately none of them are interested in the Northeast. Good luck to you - sounds like you have a really good shot!
Legacies need to apply ED to get legacy consideration, so you’re good there. Test scores are where BC likes them. Everything is solid, though you’re not adding any geographical diversity.
