Hello! I finalized a list of colleges I have been working on for months. I’m planning on applying to 15 to 20 schools. I know its a lot of schools to apply, I given a lot of thought on it…anyways for my list:
I plan to apply early action (August-November) for these schools:
1. Pace University
2. UC Merced
3. UC Riverside
4. DePaul University
5. Michigan State
6. University of Arizona
7. University of Wisconsin
8. Royal Roads University
9. Drexel University
10. University of Iowa
11. University of Toronto
For Regular Admission (December) , I plan to apply to these schools:
1. Purdue
2. NYU
3. Indiana University
4. Univ. of Maryland
5. Colorado Boulder
6. Univ. of British Columbia
7. Carnegie Mellon
8. UC Santa Cruz
9. UC Santa Barbara
10. Ohio State University
11. Penn State Univ.
I’m confident that I’ll get into the majority of schools that I apply as early action. When it comes to the regular admission schools I have listed, I feel like I’ll get into 1 or 2 schools. I really hope to get into those schools on the regular admission list. My cumulative GPA is a 2.9. My current GPA as a junior is a 3.9. I feel confident I’ll get around a 3.9 as a senior. For my ACT, I have taken it 3 times already and my highest score yet is a 20. I have extended time on it, but its still hard to do well because I have ADHD. I have great extracurriculars, and I know my teachers will write great letters of recommendation. I also take challenging courses, as well. The only issue I have about getting into my top schools is the GPA and Standardized Test score. Any good advice for getting into the schools I’m applying to in December (Regular Admission).
Side Note: The reason I have the rigorous schools as a regular admission, and not early action is to give myself more time in high school to increase my GPA as well as self studying for the ACT again to score around a (21-24) to increase my chances for college. [Do you think it makes a difference as to what I am doing?]
Thanks!!!
ACT score too low for at least 1/2 of the schools on the 2 lists. ACT 20 is at or slightly below national average (20-21).
You should look for a list of test optional schools. Good luck.
For UC schools, you need a minimum UC GPA of 3.0 for in-state to apply and a 3.4 if OOS. Also ACT is too low for all the UC’s on your list. UC’s only use 10-11th grades in the GPA calculation: http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/ so Senior grades will not count. All UC’s have RD with applications due Nov 30. If you are OOS, little to no fianancial aid is available to you so expect to pay $55K/year. If in-state, I would be targeting Cal States rather than the UC’s due to GPA/test scores since you would have more viable options, such as Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, San Marcos, East Bay etcc… I would only apply to UCR/UCM and not waste the application fees for the rest unless you can get that ACT up to a 24+. Good Luck and rethink your list.
Well in that case I should have around a 3.225 (to a 3.35) for my GPA for soph and junior year. @Gumbymom
Your UC GPA and test scores are still on the low side for the UC’s but if you are willing to pay the application fees, UCR/UCM and maybe UCSC would be possibilities. I’m not sure about the rest of the schools on your list, but if you are in-state California, add a couple Cal States as Matches or Safeties. Intended major will also make a huge difference on your chances.
Hmm…that ACT score is really low for not just half the schools listed, but well more than half. I know nothing of the school in British Columbia, but I see you being denied at ALL of the other schools on your RD list. And Carnegie Mellon is completely out of reach (NYU too)…not in a million tries would you get accepted to either of those schools with your current grades and ACT score; that’s a waste of time and money for you to apply to either of those.
You said the only issue with getting into your top schools is your GPA and test scores…well, those are the two main bits of criteria, so you really need to be more realistic here.
I also don’t see you getting into the “majority” of the ones in your Early Action list, and I’m not sure where your confidence there comes from. I see every one of those schools as a reach (though Carnegie Mellon is out of reach for you and NYU too).
You need to put some lower-tier schools on your list and not just as safeties but as matches. Schools like:
Kent State
Central Michigan University
Northern Illinois University
University of Montana
University of Akron
You are simply aiming too high.
Good luck.