My name is Haley and I am a sophomore at the 75th best high school overall in America according to US News and 12th most challenging high school according to Newsweek (I will not say the name for privacy reasons.) I currently have a 4.0 GPA and 4.8 HPA and am taking 3 AP classes this year. In junior year, I will have 6 IB classes and 1 AP class so I think I am covered for academic rigor. My PSAT score as a sophomore with little preparation was 1300 out of 1520 and I plan on improving over the summer.
I am involved in the following clubs: Founder and President of the Pre-Med Club, Sophomore Class Treasurer and member of SGA, Member of Key Club International, Executive Club Officer, as well as 2 Year Varsity Player and Newly Elected Captain of the Varsity Girls Bowling Team. I am also a volunteer at the local animal shelter (volunteered for over 500 hours) and have a very unique out-of-school activity that I have worked on for over four years and have won numerous national awards from a well known organization. I am also going to Europe this summer to compete internationally in this activity with 9 other students around America.
What are my chances of getting into Duke, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest? What could I do to improve my chances of getting into these top schools and how can I make myself stand out?
I got rejected from Vanderbilt. The best I can tell you is have good essays. Extracurriculars will only matter depending on the way you mention them in your essays. Your unweighted GPA is what they want, but make sure your SAT is high, at least a 1400 to be somewhat in the 50th percentile of Duke and Vanderbilt applicants. Both my test scores and my GPA were at the bottom of the barrel (1930 SAT 30 ACT, 3.1 GPA) but I think that the essays were probably the most important part of the application. Do not write them on the last day and make sure they are proofread by pros. And most importantly, don’t screw up in your later years. What may have gotten me into other schools was that I was most likely compared to other kids in my class (I go to a 5/10 “C” rated public high school and probably have the 5th highest test score in my class lol) Your school must have a load of smarter kids so make sure your class rank is at the top.I screwed up in freshman and sophomore years (had a 2.6 GPA) and I was rejected from most “good” schools regardless of my amazing grade trend because of the numerous C’s and B’s of my previous years. Try to get an alumni interview, and also score well in your subject tests with respect to your anticipated major. Just get more leadership positions, get a high SAT/ACT, don’t screw up, and make sure you start your essays a while before the deadline.
Best of luck to you, and I apologize for this sloppy response lmao
- Kid who had no college guidance whatsoever