Chances?

Mirabeau · October 27, 2007, 2:20pm

Here goes nothing

Class: 2008
Race: White
Sex: Male
State: Maryland
GPA: 4.71 (on a weighted scale, unweighted goes to a 3.9 I think)
Class rank: 4th out of 262
SAT: 2030 (Critical Reading: 710, Math: 630, Writing: 690)
SAT II: US History (800), Will take World History in December
Class transcript
Senior Year
AP American Government
AP English Language and Composition
Honors French III
Honors Latin I
Digital Photography
Religion IV
AP Comparative Government (Independent study)

Junior Year
AP US History
Honors Algebra II
Honors Spanish IV
Honors French I
Environmental Science
Religion III
Honors British Literature

Sophomore Year
AP European History
Honors Geometry
Honors Spanish III
Religion II
Chemistry
Honors American Literature
P.E./Health II

Freshman Year
Honors World Civilization I
Honors Algebra I
Religion I
Honors Biology
Honors Spanish II
Honors Freshman English
Computer Applications
P.E./Health I

Extracurriculars
-National Honor Society (three years)
-Newspaper columnist (three years)
-School TV station (three years)
-Speech and Debate (one year)
-It’s Academic (quiz bowl) (four years)
-French Tutoring (two years)
-Think Tank (political discussion) (four years)

Honors
NHS
Honor Roll all four years
National French Honor Society
National Spanish Honor Society
National Merit Commended Student
Maryland Distinguished Scholar Honorable Mention
1st in state/2nd in nation National French Exam Level 1 2007
Silver Certificate National Spanish Exam Level 4 2007

The thing with American is going to be financial aid/scholarships - I think EFC (on FAFSA anyway) will probably end up at around $25,000 per year- do you who know American well think I’d have a chance at some cash?

Thanks

swmass · October 28, 2007, 12:01pm

At this point, you will no doubt be in at AU. If you can bring up your scores up to 2100+, then you will also have a good shot at the Honors program which guarantees you at least $18,000 per year and more likely $25,000 per year. I believe that sufficiently meets your EFC.

With your stats as they are, you have a decent shot at Dean’s Scholarship ($18,000), but chances are slim for the Presidential Scholarship ($25,000). Like it or not, the Honors admissions process is very mechanical, based largely on test scores and GPA. If you think you can bring your math score up, make that your goal and focus on it for the next SAT. This could mean extra $28,000 for next four years.

Mirabeau · October 28, 2007, 5:43pm

thanks for your advice, swmass- I’ve sent away my application and am now hoping for the best. I don’t think I’ll be taking the SAT again (primarily because I don’t feel like running myself ragged preparing for it, plus I think I’ve peaked on math as it is- math is not my strong point), but that’s nice to know that I’d still have a chance at that 18k per year scholarship!

Chances?

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