Chance me: IL female applying ED to Boston College [3.68 GPA, 1330 SAT, 29 ACT]

Chance Me / Match Me
,
1

I am a rising senior who is completely set on applying ED to Boston College.

Demographics:
IL Resident
Attends a private, catholic high school
Female, white, upper middle class

Intended Major(s):
Haven’t completely decided, but will apply into MCAS(college of arts and sciences) as a STEM major. Highly considering the pre-med track.

4.3W GPA(school doesn’t do unweighted)
No class rank(yet estimated to be in the top 5-15% of my class of 180 students)

1330 SAT (retaking this summer so should increase)
29 ACT (also retaking so should increase as well)

Coursework:
By the time I graduate, I will have taken 6 APs and 15 Honors (considered a rigorous course load at my school)
1 of only 12 students in my grade to be taking AP CALC BC(highest math offered)

Awards:
Highest Honor Roll all semesters

Extracurriculars:
60+ Volunteer hours (mostly as a volunteer at my local hospital)
3 years on The Young Hearts for Life Junior Board (out of school philanthropic board focused on heart health)
Young Community Change Makers Program (somewhat selective philanthropy program comprised on 60 high schoolers from surrounding high schools)
4 Years of peer tutoring (3 of which were pre nhs)
Senior Year: Inducted into NHS, NEHS, Mu Alpha Theta(in the running for an officer position) and potentially Spanish Honors Society
4 Years as a class board representative (student government, elected position)
4 year Youth Initiative Member
3 year Yearbook Member
3 years of cross country

Cost Constraints / Budget:
Fortunate enough to not have to apply for any aid, so cost will not be a factor/problem

Schools:
Aside from BC, I have compiled a list of 19 other schools (I know its a lot, but I would like to test my luck with reaches)
Those schools are: Boston University, Clemson, Holy Cross, Fairfield, Fordham, IU Bloomington, Lehigh, Loyola Chicago, Northeastern, Providence College, Syracuse, UIUC, UMICH, Notre Dame, Richmond, UVA, UW Madison, Villanova, and Wake Forest
What will be my chances with some of these schools?

Additionally, I am attending Boston College’s Ever to Excel program this July/August and have toured the school and showed lots of demonstrated interest.

2

Please provide an unweighted GPA. The reason is that all schools weight differently so without this it’s hard to evaluate you. Simply take your core courses - give yourself a 4 for an A,3 for B, 2 for C , etc. add up the points and divide by the # of classes.

You have impressive ECs. The test is low as they show a 33/34 25/75 split. BC is test optional but they encourage you to submit. Still we don’t know what percentage do.

In their words …

At Boston College, internal research has shown that test scores, when used alongside other factors such as grades, curriculum rigor, writing, co-curricular involvement, and recommendations, add measurable value in predicting academic success. For this reason, students who complete the SAT or ACT are encouraged to submit their scores.

Once I see your UW GPA I could offer better guidance.

Thanks

3

My unweighted gpa would be somewhere in the 3.6-3.8 range

4

I suspect your HS places significant numbers of kids at BC, ND, Gtown, Villanova, Providence, Fordham and HC every year?

Assuming this to be the case how do you compare to other students who previously applied to BC and what does your GC think? This is the advantage of attending a private Catholic school, the GCs act as air traffic control for this cohort of schools.

Parochial high schools typically have a unique and specific profile with the aforementioned colleges. Given those colleges specific focus on mind, body spirit I would not give much credibility to the more generic advice you are likely to receive on CC.

For schools like BC from a parochial high school predicting acceptance is more art than science and is far from a simple math problem.

2 Likes
5

That’s quite a range. If you had your points as shown and divide by the # of courses, you’ll have an exact number. Thx

6

Honestly, very few students from my school go on to schools like BC. Most stay in the Midwest and go to state schools. I am considered a minority as someone who is interested in schools in the east.
But, 2 people who just graduated are going on to BC. According to my GC, I stack up pretty similarly to both of those students and she could definitely see me at BC.

2 Likes
7

What does your HS counselor say about your chances for BC? What is your approximate rank in your class?

Based on what you said about your school, and with a gpa in the range you mentioned and applying TO (if you do), I do think BC is a reach. I also wouldn’t take both the ACT and SAT, focus on one…your SAT is higher.

For categorizing the other schools there’s a difference between a 3.6 and a 3.8 GPA…can you calculate that for core courses only?

Will you have 4 years of each of the core subjects areas (Eng, sci, SS, Math, foreign language)? Will you have taken bio, chem, and physics?

1 Like
8

Roughly a 3.68

9

My counselor agreed that BC is probably a reach, but encouraged me to apply ED as she said it may be beneficial to my chances. Regarding my class rank, they eliminated it from my school last year. But, after speaking with my counselor we estimated that I was most likely somewhere in the top 5-15% of my class.
Yes, I will have 4 years of all the core subjects and will have taken all the major science classes (bio, chem,physics, and anatomy.

3 Likes
10

I do think the GC at your private school will have the most informed opinion. Sounds lke it is certainly worth applying ED if BC appears affordable and is definitely your top choice.

6 Likes
11

Great ECs! I have a rising sophomore at BC who applied ED1 last year from a large Illinois public school. If your unweighted is indeed around a 3.7 and you’d be applying test optional, it’s definitely a reach. You will improve your chances by applying ED, and improve them more if you could get your test scores up high enough to submit (I’d say mid-1400s or a 32 at least to consider submitting - 1470 and 33 or above even better). BC does like test scores, so if you needed to focus on one area that could make a difference that’s what I’d recommend.

Otherwise, really work on your essays, and particularly the BC supplemental essay - we heard in two admissions sessions that they really look at that supplemental.

The remainder of your list has quite a few reaches - BU, Northeastern, UMICH, ND, Richmond, UVA, Wake - but there are engoh targets and safeties that you will likely have options.

Good luck! My daughter had an awesome year last year (but I know she would have been happy at many of the other schools on her list as well, so don’t get too fixated on one school. : ) )

2 Likes
12

OK - a 3.68 at a Catholic School with a 1330 SAT.

First off, as a private school, your counselors should have good insights, even better insights than on here. But - it’s always good to get other opinions - and here’s what I think of your list.

You noted you’d like to test your luck with reaches. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you have two affordable safeties - schools you know you’ll get into, can afford, and will be happy. Once you have that, the rest of the list can be as you desire.

I’m assuming test optional where you are below the 25th percentile - schools like BU, Richmond, etc.

BC - high reach

BU - high reach - you would have to ED.

Clemson - reach

Fairfield - likely

Fordham - target

Holy Cross - reach - ED a target.

IU - safety

Lehigh - reach

Loyola Chicago - Safety

Michigan - Reach

Northeastern - Reach / need to ED

Notre Dame - Reach

Providence - likely

U Richmond - Slight reach

Syracuse - target /likely

UIUC - Target

Villanova - Reach

UVA - Reach

Wisconsin - slight reach

The schools are a bit - hmmmm - not necessarily flowing but it’s a fine list with some acceptances but potentially a lot of rejection so be prepared for that. In the end, you can only go to one - so even if I’m right and there’s a lot of rejection, there’d be ample opportunity.

Again, I’d talk to your counselor - but you did ask for an opinion - and that’s mine.

Best of luck.

13

I agree with this assessment except that I would classify ND as a high reach. Two other notes…1. Syracuse is a target/likely IF you show lots of demonstrated interest and 2. As you noted Northeatern is a reach and need to ED to have a shot but also, if you are admitted it would likely be to an alternate campus or alternate admission program (not Boston) for at least the first year.

Good luck to OP.

3 Likes
14

Based on the information you’ve shared here, below are my guesses as to what your chances might be.

Extremely Likely (80-99+%)

  • IU
  • Loyola Chicago

Likely (60-79%)

  • Providence
  • Syracuse (if you show demonstrated interest)
  • UIUC

Toss-Up (40-59%)

  • Clemson
  • Fairfield
  • Fordham (leaning towards likely)
  • U. of Wisconsin

Lower Probability (20-39%)

  • Boston College - ED
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Lehigh
  • Villanova

Low Probability (less than 20%)

  • Boston U.
  • Northeastern (if you want to start in Boston)
  • Notre Dame
  • UMich
  • U. of Richmond
  • UVA
  • Wake Forest
2 Likes
15

I generally agree with this assessment but with a couple of significant differences of opinion…

IMO BC and Villanova would likely be less than 20 percent probability, even with ED. I’m basing this opinion on the fact that OP’s scores and GPA are lower than any that have been accepted from our competitive, catholic high school in the last 5 years. OP’s school could have a different experience.

Likewise but more positively, I would put BU in the 20-39 percent likelihood IF you apply ED. At our school we have a 100 percent acceptance rate (only 2 per year, 8 total) to BU for people who have applied ED over the last 4 years, and all have similar stats to OP. By contrast no one has gotten in applying RD even with tippy top stats. Again OP’s school may have a different track record and worth looking at her own school’s data, if available.

3 Likes
16

I would suggest more match/targets. If you like city schools, possibly catholic, then I would consider one of these:

  • Seton Hall (NJ)
  • Manhattan College (NYC)
  • St Joseph’s (Philly)
  • Loyola Maryland (Baltimore)
  • Fairfield (CT) on your list but more suburban
1 Like
17

OP – You might want to look at the Common Data Sets of the schools you are considering, especially Section C7 (which tells you how the school weighs different academic and non-academic admissions factors) and Sections C9-C11 (which provide objective GAP and/or test scores) for recently matriculated students. By comparing these data for the respective schools with your own, you might be able to make some broad assessments about your chances at those schools.

1 Like
18

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.