Chance Me / Match Me – Texas Student (Top 5%, 4.4 GPA [3.9 unweighted], 32 ACT) – Political Science / Public Policy – Ivies, Georgetown

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

  • State: Texas

  • Residency: Texas resident

  • High School: Public high school

  • Gender: Male

  • Hooks: None major (not legacy or recruited athlete)

Intended Major

Political Science / Government / Public Policy
Interested in politics, public leadership, and civic engagement.

Academics

  • Weighted GPA: ~4.44

  • Class Rank: 2nd in class

  • ACT: 32

  • Coursework: Multiple AP, Dual Credit, and UT OnRamps college courses

  • College Coursework: 27 credit hours completed through Dallas College with a 4.0 GPA

English

  • Pre-AP English I

  • Pre-AP English II

  • Dual Credit English III

  • Communication Applications (Dual Credit)

Mathematics

  • Pre-AP Algebra I

  • Pre-AP Geometry

  • Pre-AP Algebra II

  • Dual Credit Precalculus

  • AP Calculus AB

  • AP Statistics

  • APCSA

Science

  • Pre-AP Biology

  • Dual Enrollment Chemistry

  • Dual Credit Physics

  • Dual Enrollment Biology

  • AP Computer Science Principles

Social Studies

  • AP World History

  • AP Human Geography

  • Dual Credit Psychology

  • Dual Credit Sociology

  • Personal Financial Literacy

  • AP U.S. History

World Language

  • Spanish I

  • Spanish II

Fine Arts

  • Dual Credit Music Studies

  • Dual Credit Art I

Career / Technical Education (STEM Pathway)

  • Cybersecurity

  • Fundamentals of Computer Science

Other Coursework

  • AVID I, II, III

  • Health

  • Lifetime Fitness

Awards / Honors

  • Statesman Award (2x) – Recognition for civic knowledge, advocacy, and communication within leadership initiatives

  • Service Learning Award – Completed 100+ hours of community service through SkillsUSA initiatives

  • Presidential Volunteer Service Award – National recognition for 100+ hours of service

  • Senior Vice Provost’s Honors Recognition – 4.0 GPA while completing 27 college credit hours

  • Scholar of the Year

  • STEM Star Award – National Math and Science Initiative (excellence in AP STEM coursework)

  • SkillsUSA District Gold Medal – Applied Engineering

  • SkillsUSA District Gold Medal – Customer Service

  • Chancellor’s List (all A’s academic year)

  • Outstanding Service Award (2x)

  • Freshman of the Year – Program Recognition

  • Captain’s Award – Hockey

Extracurriculars / Leadership

SkillsUSA
Positions: State Secretary, District Parliamentarian, Local Chapter Parliamentarian
Led statewide governance representing 32,000+ members, coordinated leadership programming, and mobilized 300+ students in legislative advocacy through debates and outreach.

Chancellor’s Cabinet
President
Led a student advisory council advocating for student needs to school leadership and promoted mental health awareness initiatives.

City Mayor’s Teen Council
Council Delegate
Selected 7 of 400+ applicants to represent youth perspectives to city leadership and support environmental sustainability initiatives.

Computer Science Student Leadership Team
Student Leader
Selected from 400 students to represent the Computer Science pathway and promote CTE opportunities to students and families.

SkillsJAM
JAMbassador Pro
Collaborated with students nationwide to promote careers in skilled trades through outreach with industry and government partners.

National Honor Society
Chapter Historian
Organized tutoring initiatives for Title I students and coordinated leadership programming for members.

Congressional App Challenge
Ambassador
Promoted the national coding competition to local school districts, helping contribute to 14,000+ applicants nationwide.

Internships / Work Experience

Intern – Office of City Councilman Junior Ezeonu
Assisted with community outreach initiatives and supported logistics for citywide community service events representing the council office.

Election Poll Worker
Checked in 100+ voters and assisted with precinct management, ensuring accurate voter processing and efficient polling operations.

Summer Leadership Programs

SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference – Texas Delegate
Helped coordinate the Texas delegation of 600+ contestants and worked with 30+ voting delegates during national conference operations. Assisted campaigns for Texas national officer candidates, both of whom were elected.

SkillsUSA Texas Summer Leadership Conference
Supported the training team while helping coordinate a statewide conference for 100+ student officers.

Community Service (300+ Hours)

  • Organized SkillsUSA fundraising and CTE outreach events supporting Title I students

  • Assisted faculty and administration during the transition of 400+ students into a new school building, organizing textbook inventory and logistics

  • Volunteered annually at a community holiday literacy event reading to children and engaging families

  • Organized a hygiene drive through National Honor Society donating 50+ goods to local families

  • Assisted community outreach for Arlington Attack Hockey Organization

  • Participated in phonebanking for a Texas House campaign

College List

Reaches

  • Yale University

  • Harvard University

  • Princeton University

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • Northwestern University

  • Carnegie Mellon University

High Reaches

  • Georgetown University

  • Tufts University

  • Boston University

  • Northeastern University

  • University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (OOS)

  • University of Virginia (OOS)

Targets

  • Colgate University

  • University of Richmond

  • Lehigh University

  • William & Mary

Likely / Safeties

  • Syracuse University

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • American University

Assured

  • Texas A&M University

  • University of Texas at Austin

Budget

  • No budget at this time

Questions

  1. Do my leadership roles and civic engagement strengthen my profile for political science programs?

  2. Are there schools with strong government/public policy programs that would be good matches for my profile?

Appreciate any feedback!

2

Meaning “no limit”, “no money”, or “not known” (have not talked to parents about it)?

Also, your unweighted HS GPA is more useful to others than your weighted HS GPA, since high schools use different weighting methods.

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Clarification:

My Budget is no limit, and my HS does not provide our UW GPA.

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Clarification:

My Budget is no limit, and my HS does not provide our UW GPA.

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Are you planning on taking any more non-native language classes?

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Maybe advanced Spanish 3 if I have room in my schedule for next year

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With respect to your potential interest in a public policy major, this site may help you generate ideas for colleges to research further:

Best Colleges for Public Policy

9

How many are in your class? Are you auto admit to UT or A&M.

You cannot compare a weighted GPA because all weight differently.

Take all your classes (sans PE) and give a 4 for an A, 3 for a B, 2 for a C and divide by the # of classes to get an unweighted GPA.

I think awards matter little but what you did to earn them is what matters - and I see some of the awards cross with the ECs. You have some interesting ones but do they give you a leg up vs. someone who works at McDonalds or is in band or walks dogs at the shelter - that I don’t know. I also can’t tell - are your activities in depth - meaning hours every week - or just one or two times type things - because tenure and depth matter.

Why do you do so much dual enrollment? Does your hs not offer ap?

You will definitely need another year of language for much of your list.

And much of your list is near $100K a year - can you afford that?

And fortunately for you, given the major, unless you are looking for something like investment banking or bulge bracket consulting, I’m not sure the names matter.

So I don’t know your academics short of you are short on language and your ACT is low (it’s OUTSTANDING but relative to this list):slight_smile:

Given you put UT and A&M as assured, I guess you answered my question - on class size. I’m thinking you did a nice job setting up your list classifications. The targets may or may not be a bit of a stretch but not unreasonable. It’s interesting to me you have a Colgate and a UVA/UNC.

Just wondering - besides rank, etc. if you’ve thought about the types of things you want in a school?

I might suggest Pitt and IU as two others that will excel (large schools) in your areas of interest. But given you have UT in the bag, I’m not sure why you would spend on any outside public U (UVA, UNC, etc.) or frankly most your list unless you don’t like the kind of environment it provides. It’s strong in the poli sci type area.

Good luck.

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You can calculate it yourself.

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Are your DE classes in science and English instead of AP courses at your HS? In other words, are BOTH offered? If you haven’t solidified for senior year, I would do AP Lit, for instance, over DE Communication Applications…if both are offered. (Obviously, if the APs aren’t offered, they aren’t offered;)

I think not having more foreign language (through AP level) nor having BC calc (if offered) may be VERY tricky with your reaches. Those will be nearly expected (once again, if possible at your HS).

If you are taking AP stats instead of BC calc as a senior, you may want to switch that, if you can.

Same for Spanish - I would take Spanish 3 over any of the finance, psych, sociology, cybersecurity courses, etc. Those are electives. Spanish is a core academic course.

Anyway, my 2 cents.

Weighted GPA can be calculated SO many ways as to be almost meaningless (and actually UW can be calculated multiple ways, too actually) but weighted is worse… so hard to judge schools,…

e.g. I have figured out weighting for 3 different systems that put my class of 25 kid between a 3.9 and a 4.63:) WILD difference. (This was on a 3.3 or 3.5UW depending on system:)

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Also! This a great record! Should be VERY proud. I am sure you will land somewhere amazing:) we are being picky!

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You might want to check the requirements/recommendations at various colleges on your list.

Just by way of example, here is Princeton:

It includes:

If possible, we expect students will complete the following courses before beginning study at Princeton:

. . .

  • Four years of one language.

Because these are typically phrased as recommendations, sometimes they might bend. If your HS only offers up to a certain level, for example. MAYBE if you were really going deep in an area of interest and there were schedule conflicts. But with your interest being Poli Sci/Government/Public Policy, I think they might actually expect you to prioritize a modern language, including through the AP level if available.

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Sorry for my clarity issues. The unweighted GPA I just calculated is 3.9. My class size is 35, so im auto admit to UT. I plan on taking pre-ap Spanish 3 next year. As for dual enrollment, we don’t offer many AP classes, so I took what was available. Most of my activities range from 5-10+ hours a week, depending on the season. I can afford all the colleges on my list. I am also retaking the ACT, as I got a 32 as a sophomore. For things I want in school, I really want the chance to have internships in government and chances to gain ahnds one xperience as well as a school with a good network. Again, sorry for my uncohesiveness, I am kinda new to this>

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Sorry for my clarity issues. The unweighted GPA I just calculated is 3.9. My class size is 35, so im auto admit to UT. I plan on taking pre-ap Spanish 3 next year. As for dual enrollment, we don’t offer many AP classes, so I took what was available. Most of my activities range from 5-10+ hours a week, depending on the season. I can afford all the colleges on my list. I am also retaking the ACT, as I got a 32 as a sophomore. For things I want in school, I really want the chance to have internships in government and chances to gain ahnds one xperience as well as a school with a good network. Again, sorry for my uncohesiveness, I am kinda new to this. Thank you for the Help!

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My DE classes in science were the only ones we offered at the time. Of course now my junior year they offer AP and I can’t take them. I plan on doing AP Lit next year DE english 3 was the only thing that fit in my schedule with everything else. I plan on trying to take one more foreign language I just wasn’t very good at it freshman year and just wanted to get the grad requirments but now have become interested. Im taking BC my senior year and Stats as a junior now. I apperciate all the help and advice. Im sorry for not being very clear the first time. I am new here.

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Thank you so much. Trust me I appreciate the pickyness I want to be realistic when applying next year. My plan is to apply for mostly reaches because I know at the very least I would be able to go ot UT and be happy. Thank you so much for the help.

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Look into Hamilton for its long-established program in Washington, D.C. with associated internship opportunities:

Washington, D.C., Program - Hamilton College Washington, D.C., Program - Hamilton College

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I would consider Northeastern and Boston University - as well as W&M - as likely accepts for you along with Syracuse, UMASS Amherst and American and A&M. The are your almost certain accepts.

I would also consider Colgate as a high reach school along with Lehigh, U Richmond and Tufts. These are the schools are your target schools. These along with UT Austin are your likely accepts.

I would also consider UVA and UNC reach schools since you are applying oos and perhaps Georgetown as well since they will be on the common app going forward. They are lijeky going to be very challenging for you to gain acceptance aling with Northwestern, UPENN, Princeon, Harvard and Carngie Mellon. These are your unlikely accepts.

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Are you sure? Rank 2 out of 35 is top 5.7%, and UT Austin’s automatic admission cutoff is top 5%.

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