Chance me: Kinda concerned about my chances; Prospective Economics major; BU ED, NY resident, 3.93 weighted GPA, ACT 32, top 20%

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US domestic citizen
  • State/Location of residency: New York
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public

Cost Constraints / Budget
All schools listed are financially feasible for my family or on the cusp.

Intended Major(s)
Economics, business, or marketing (possibly)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Weighted GPA: 3.92
Unweighted GPA: not sure, my school doesn’t give out that info
Class rank: 52/379, top 20%, but I will be submitting decile only
ACT: 32

HS coursework

  • English: H English 1, AP Seminar, AP Lang, AP Lit
  • Math: H Geometry, H Algebra 2, College Honors Pre-Calc, AP Calc AB
  • Science: H Chemistry, H Physics, AP Environ. Sci, AP Physics 1
  • History and social studies: H Global 1, H Global 2, Sociology, AP Research, SUPA US History, AP European History, AP Art History
  • Language other than English: H French 2, H French 3, Univ French 1, AP French
  • Visual or performing arts: Concert Band, Symphonic Band

Awards
AP Scholar with Honor
AP Seminar and Research Certificate
Seal of Biliteracy (NY)

Extracurriculars
Vice President of National English Honor Society (2 years)
President of Key Club (2 years)
Intern at Law Firm (3 years)
Intern at Marketing Agency (1 year)
Volunteer Tutor for students from low-income backgrounds (3 years)
Camp Counselor (1 year)
Varsity Track & Field (4 years)
JV Cross-Country (3 years)
JV Girls Soccer Team Manager (1 year)

Essays/LORs/Other
I think my essay is pretty strong? Not sure though. It’s a well-written and has a fairly unorthodox topic; it’s about how I got chased by a baby deer during a cross country meet lmaoaoao (overall message is that true character is built when you force yourself to participate in something you have no love for, only then you can discover the extent of capabilities).
As for LORs, I’m getting them from my AP Research teacher and my AP seminar teacher. Not sure if those qualify as core though.

Schools
Reach:
BU (ED)
Barnard College (RD)
University of Chicago (EA)

Target/Hard Target:
Bucknell University (RD)
Franklin & Marshal (RD)
University of Rochester (RD or ED 2; not sure yet)
Connecticut College (RD)

Safety:
SUNY Binghamton (EA)
SUNY Stony Brook (EA)
SUNY University at Buffalo (EA)
SUNY University at Albany (EA)

I might be cooked to be honest. My rank or decile isn’t that stellar, considering the school I’m EDing to. My ACT falls on the lower end of the average range. I hope my GPA is sufficient enough, but all my other friends that are applying to similar schools have GPAs over a 4.0. Also, I’m currently failing AP Physics, and I’m not sure if I can get my grade up by the time the first marking period arrives.
Anyway, I’d appreciate anyone’s opinion or input!! Good luck to my fellow applicants :muscle:

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This needs to be discussed before you ED to BU. Have you used the NPC?

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I’m sorry, I should’ve clarified this–I have discussed this with my parents before deciding to ED. It is financially feasible and they are willing to give us aid.

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Do you mean that the NPC showed that you qualify for FA? Not sure what you mean by “willing.”

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yeah I qualify for FA

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BU has an 11% acceptance rate and imo it is a reach. If it is your top choice school and your family can afford it, go ahead and apply. As long as you have safeties that you like you are fine.

I see Bing as more of a target, but it’s very possible that it’s a safety for you at your particular HS.

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Tysm!!

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What school did you apply to? Business and marketing are in Questrom, Econ in CAS. CAS is probably less competitive/has a higher admit rate but both Questrom and CAS are reaches. For Fall 2023, Questrom acceptance rate was 8%: Questrom Facts at a Glance | Questrom School of Business

BU doesn’t specify that LoRs have to be from a core teacher, and only one is required. Not sure if they will accept two. You do need to check all the other schools you are applying to, because some will want core teacher LoRs, and I would not consider either of those core.

I can’t chance you but wish you good luck.

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I’m applying to CAS, but I listed that I would also like to be considered for the CGS if possible. I heard that if I don’t get into my ideal school, I’m automatically put into CGS. I could be wrong though.

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You may want to calculate it yourself. Add up grade points (A=4, B=3, C=2, etc.) in academic courses (English, math, history and social studies, science, foreign language, arts) and divide by the number of grades.

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All you need is your letter or percentage grades and assign a 4.0-based number to each. You could use a web site like this:
https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator/
and just use 1 for the credits/hours weighting.

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Thank you!

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I would questions this logic in a college essay. It may be well written and funny, but it might leave AO’s wondering why you put your time into a high school sport/extra curricular that you didn’t want to do? Colleges want to know why you spent your time the way you did.

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Deleted.

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I would figure out what I want to study and go for that. Econ isn’t business - especially marketing. You will be studying for four years - so you want to study what you want. Econ will be a lot more work than marketing, in my experience.

I think it’s fine to ED BU - I don’t think you’ll get in - but you are in range so you never know.

I don’t see Barnard or Chicago - but it doesn’t matter. If you want to go - give it a try - but check to see whether you should submit the 32. If it’s below the 25th percentile, don’t.

I think your targets - at least 3 happen and maybe all four.

All the SUNYs will happen.

So you’ll have many options - but look at the curriculums of the various majors - and apply for what you want.

That’s more imprortant than the where.

Best of luck.

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Thank you so much!!!

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Agree with posters above. I do like your list in the sense that I think you will have options. I like the idea of ED2 to Rochester- if financially feasible. I think you would have a good shot there ED2.

BU is a reach but I don’t think out of the question at all for OP.

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Thank you!! Hopefully everything will work out :crossed_fingers::crossed_fingers: I’m not sure yet if I will ED 2 to Rochester yet. Apparently, its ED acceptance rate isn’t that much higher than its RD one. I’m considering it, but I need more time.

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You and others may be better able to estimate chances if you include unweighted GPA and the weighting method used for your 3.93 weighted GPA.

The chances could be very different if your 3.93 weighted GPA came from an unweighted GPA of 3.83 versus 2.93.

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