<p>Im looking at Stanford, Berkeley and other universities of the like.</p>
<p>I am a Junior, got 1690 on my SATs (R-590, M-540, W-560)
I am going to take the SAT again in the fall, and actually study this time. I will also take the ACT in June
GPA: Unweighted- 3.8, Weighted- 4.3</p>
<p>Junior courseload: AP USH, AP English Lang. & Comp, Yearbook, AP Environmental, Trig/Math Analysis, Spanish
I feel pretty confident about my AP scores.</p>
<p>Senior courseload: AP Calculus AB, AP Gov/Econ, AP Lit., possibly AP Computers or regular Speech, Spanish and Yearbook</p>
<p>ECs: President/Founder of Debate, Vice President of Speech, 3rd and 2nd place in Optimist Speech contest (school wide), in Mac Leadership, in M.E.S.A., played on school bball team freshman year (stopped due to injury), participated in Earth Day event in my community, community youth leadership. I might be a Section Editor or Business Manager of Yearbook my senior year. I have also taken community college classes.</p>
<p>First, I will disappoint you by stating that your GPA/SAT are nowhere near the accepted stats for Stanford/Cal/etc. There have been people who have gone into such schools with your stats, but they were either really lucky, wrote really good essays, or had <em>hooks</em>. I suggest lowering standards, maybe the other UC’s/other privates.</p>
<p>Second, I will give you hope, by saying that as a junior, u still have the chance to retake the SAT in senior year, ur GPA can be raised if you work super hard in senior year 1st sem (so maybe dont apply EA to stanford), and if u take some SAT II’s and get ok scores that might help too. You’re not stuck in the moat (as all the seniors in my year are) with what college u could go to.</p>
<p>This would be an extreme reach for you. Your SAT score is not nearly competitive for Stanford. Their 25th percentile score is a 2040. You need to look at some less competitive colleges.</p>
<p>@jinglybells: my friend has about the same gpa and ECs, and he got into Berkeley with a 1550 SATs, so im confident about the UCs, since they compare you with your high school, rather than the whole nation. My high schools average SAT score is barely 1227.</p>
<p>xiZephyr: I’d really try to study for the SAT and ACT. You may be right that you’ll get in to Berkeley because your friend did, but you shouldn’t take it for granted. Number one rule of applying to college is to have safety schools.</p>
<p>My back-ups are (not to be arrogant or foolish) UCLA, UCSD, Pepperdine. Im also looking into Duke, and some Ivy Leagues. Im going to studty hard for my next SAT, since i didnt study the 1st time. My GPA will hopefully go up b/c my school gives grade bumps if you pass the AP exams, and i think i passed all three. Im still hopeful, but i know i will have to work harder.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be pessimistic here, but those should be your top picks. No offense but even if you put an overwhelming amount of time on the SAT , chances are you aren’t going to score much higher than ~2000. You are a URM and that will definitely help you in the admission process, but I really think you shouldn’t invest so much time in the SAT. Instead, invest your time in something useful, something your passionate about, something colleges will and can appreciate. This is my 2 cents, but I really and strongily believe that if you have a 1690 SAT there’s no point in spending too much more time on it. Have you tried taken the ACT ; on that note, have you taken any subject tests?</p>
<p>@howmanyofme: People from my school get into those schools easy. Some girl from my school got into UCLA by taking one AP (spanish) and decent SAT scores. Pepperdines average GPA is like 3.5, and the test scores are exactly stellar. And GPA and SAT scores dont make or break your admission. I think i have solid ECs and just need to write a really good Personal Statement. </p>
<p>However any advice is good advice, so long as its constructive. Like i said before, i will work harder to up my GPA and improve my SAT scores. Im aiming for at least an 1800</p>
<p>You wrote: “And GPA and SAT scores dont make or break your admission. I think i have solid ECs and just need to write a really good Personal Statement.”</p>
<p>No offense, but that is not right, especially the ECs, which are a secondary consideration at most top colleges. You may know someone who got into UCLA, but there may well be people at your school with similar qualifications who didn’t.</p>
<p>Are you first generation to go to college? That will help.</p>
<p>We’re not trying to give you a hard time, but again - take nothing for granted. Talk to your school counselor. I was shocked by the schools my son’s friends <em>didn’t</em> get into. (My son just graduated from high school.)</p>
<p>‘And GPA and SAT scores dont make or break your admission. I think i have solid ECs and just need to write a really good Personal Statement’</p>
<p>Whoever told you this is completely oblivious to reality. Frankily, nowadays, GPA and SAT are the only things that matter. And if you’re not in-state in California for Pepperdine and UCLA, you’re chances are, unfortunately, next to 0. </p>
<p>And if you don’t take the ACT, it may haunt you. Even if you are a URM and even if you do have a few hooks, the ivy league colleges you are applying to won’t even bother considering you if they see a mediocre GPA and a 1690 SAT. Like , you can argue with me all day, but every poster in this forum will tell you the same thing as I did. I know it’s not far that one test should determine your future, but it’s reality-harsh reality.</p>
<p>"People from my school get into those schools easy. Some girl from my school got into UCLA by taking one AP (spanish) and decent SAT scores. Pepperdines average GPA is like 3.5, and the test scores are exactly stellar. "</p>
<p>Uhhh if you think you know so much, then why are you asking this in CC?</p>
<p>Son, a 1690 does not guarantee you a spot at any school in California (especially ucla and pepperdine). I suggest you get that up, doesn’t have to be ridiculous, but your cockiness in this process will only hurt you. You’ve got to expect to fail, and do everything you can to change that. Also take some ACT practice tests and see if that’s more for you.</p>
<p>I just want to add that if you are not a CA resident, AND if you don’t need financial aid, you have a better chance at some of the UCs than you think. Maybe not as much for Cal or UCLA, but possibly for UCSD. I’ve seen it happen with worse stats. They need the money and make no secret of it. Otherwise, I agree with the other posters. Work on some improvements and find some actual safety schools. It’s very stiff competition out there as our population continues to grow.</p>
<p>@lukemeister: i meant to say colleges are looking for an overall good student, well rounded. I dont mean to argue or bump heads, but hey, im remaining hopeful. </p>
<p>@keliojames955: Asked for an evaluation, what i choose to think of it is my own opinion, whether you agree or disagree.</p>
<p>@tightend81: im not being cocky, im sounding my opinion. I know theres not a high chance of getting into Stanford, again, im remaining hopeful/ optimistic.</p>
<p>@renomamma: im actually a CA resident. Actual safety schools? Like CSUs?</p>
<p>^If you are asking, then just ask and we will answer. If you want to answer your own question, damn, don’t be stupid AND CREATE ANOTHER ACCOUNT.</p>
<p>I’m not just talking about Stanford… With those scores a lot of those schools will be difficult. And he means answering your own question by refuting everything we say with your own “knowledge”</p>
<p>Umm okay? hmm can you give me advice on this problem: </p>
<p>I like Psychology, the environment, politics, meteorology, business or leadership-involved careers.</p>
<p>Im leaning toward majoring in Psychology, but my friends and teachers say the job market isnt that great after getting a Bachelors in Psychology. I was thinking of double majoring in Poli-Sci too, and getting a job teaching at a local high school teaching Psych, but my teacher said the job securty isnt great if i actually manage to find one. I’d teach while earning my Masters in Psych, then teaching at a university or doing my own research, then getting my PhD in Psych and working at a university. After a while, i want to go into politics. </p>