<p>I’m a white male from Ohio and I’m applying ED to Penn (Wharton), EA to Michigan, and RD to Harvard Yale and Stanford (just for the heck of it), Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, and Ohio State (Safety, Honors Program?). Could you possibly weigh in on my chances at all these schools? I have my heart set on Wharton but i don’t think i have a good chance. All of the other schools i will be applying to the engineering schools.
Grades
W: 4.51 UW: 3.9
Rank: 2/300
SAT: 710 M, 680 R, 600 W
(Retook and should get back new scores this week. I can see getting a significantly higher math and writing score and could end up with around 2150 but, realistically, not much higher)
SATII: 770 Physics 740 MathII
EC’s:
Golf team (4 years)
Tennis team (1 year)
Model UN (3 years + Officer)
FBLA (1 year + Vice Pres)
NHS
Choir (have performed at Carnegie Hall and all over Ohio)
Some Com. Service but nothing special</p>
<p>I have take all of the toughest classes at my school including the following AP’s
Music Theory: 3
US History: 4
Physics B: 4
Lang and Comp: 3
Government: 5
Lit and Comp, Calc BC, Physics C taking this year</p>
<p>Any input would be great. I’m nervous. Thanks!</p>
<p>OH!..
I think you have a decent shot at all the schools listed. Your SAT’s are weak, but I think you already know that. I hope you are pleasantly surprised by your new scores. I’m surprised you haven’t taken the ACT (from a fellow Ohioan- everyone takes it here).</p>
<p>IO!.. it sure would break my parents heart if i went to Michigan (both OSU alums)…
Yeah i took the ACT and got a 30. I was told my SAT scores are comparable to that so i didn’t submit them to Penn or Michigan and i don’t plan to retake the ACT.</p>
<p>I think you need safer schools… which schools are your target schools? I’m afraid your expectations are a little high. I can tell you’re a great and ambitious student (esp from your GPA and rank) but other than that, you don’t seem to be the sort to stand out among other applicants to these top colleges.</p>
<p>I would actually recommend retaking the ACT as well… a 30 is better than a 1990, I think, and if you got a 30 on your first try, maybe you could get idk a 34+ on the next try?</p>
<p>I realize I have high expectations but i am also confident that i can get into Ohio State which has its benefits like in-state tuition. If i don’t get into Ohio State i will have bigger emotional problems to worry about (just kidding… maybe) The problem with the ACT though is that i cant finish the test. I got a 28 on an unofficial ACT in 7th grade and typically i get all of the questions right that i can answer. I can finish the math section and my 35 sub score in math represents that. Thanks for the input so far though. I guess that means 1 out of 2 people think i should pray…</p>
<p>Maybe it’s just me and my paranoia lol… I just have this theory that no school is an absolute definite, so why risk it? Although I would, you don’t have to add another safety now! Absolute worst case scenario: you apply to a college afterwards with rolling admissions.</p>
<p>So while I still recommend another safety… no pressure. Good luck! You’ve got decent shots!</p>
<p>I couldn’t finish the sections of the ACT in time either, kept getting 29s and 30s on practice tests. I ended up getting a 33, just takes practice.</p>
<p>I’m glad somebody shares my ACT pain. I thought it was easy if i could get 5 extra minutes! I’m not making excuses though. And nice job with the 33.</p>
<p>If you got a 28 in 7th grade, I would highly reccomend you taking the ACT over again- with practice. If you can get into the high 30’s, you will compensate for your low SAT scores. The problem with the ACT, if you ask anyone, is the time factor. It is a much easier test for good students because it’s more school-istic- the math, the english, writing, etc. are more geared towards what we already learn in school. If you can practice and hone in on time, I think you will fare much better with the ACT. I also don’t see anything distinguishing about your EC’s or application other than that you are from Ohio and the choir performance at Carnegie. It will be tough.</p>
<p>i’ll never tell somebody it’s a waste of time to apply somewhere. but honestly, you probably don’t have an inkling of a chance at Wharton, HYS, or Georgetown. </p>
<p>if you like tOSU (go Buckeyes!), then you should be good, because there is a good chance of you ending up there. but if you can see yourself loathing 4 years there, i would apply to another safe school that seems to be right for you. </p>
<p>i’m assuming you’re going for business. top business programs:</p>
<p>haha i’m applying to Michigan AND OSU too (and my mom is an OSU alumna)… </p>
<p>i agree with the others-- you should take the ACT again. All you need to do is work on your timing (and I know this is frustrating). Just practice, practice, practice-- anything you can do to help increase your chances is worth it (ok, most things) :)</p>
<p>Yeah…definitely try to improve your standardized test scores. Also, I wouldn’t recommend self reporting the AP scores. Schools usually only consider them after you’ve been accepted for placement, but if you do report them…my guess is they want to see at least 4s if not 5s.</p>
<p>thanks for the input. I know my chances aren’t good for hys and wharton but thats why im doing ED to Penn and i dont expect to get in hys. What about my chances for michigan though? im very interested in michigan because it is very good in both engineering and business.</p>
<p>you have a chance, but not an AMAZING chance. Your SATs are below average, but your GPA is nice. Still, in the context of the school, it may be a weak GPA compared to someone with a lower GPA from a better school. Thats why its important to get those SATs up, to essentially give context to your GPA. So GET THOSE ACTs/SATs up! Good luck!</p>
Good luck! You’ve got decent shots!</p>