Lehigh is my top choice, and would apply ED. Go to very competitive, large catholic high school in NY. Overall weighted GPA is a 93. I know GPA isn’t great, but as I took more challenging classes my average dropped a bit. School doesn’t do class rank. Got 32 on ACT.
Honors/APs
9th
theology honors
10th
Global honors
English honors
Independent science research honors
Theology honors
11th
AP USH
AP language and composition
Physics honors
Independent science research honors
Played varsity tennis since sophomore year and in many different clubs.
NHS
Have alot of volunteer hours, including tutoring for English.
Based on my student profile description, is this good enough for Lehigh ED? Or can you give me some reach, target, and saftey schools from my description.
Thanks!
I think you would get a better response in the Lehigh forum.
I don’t know how your gpa translates into a 4.0 scale, but the ACT should be good enough for Lehigh. I think the middle 50% is 29-33. You have a solid chance.
With Lehigh, it is also important to show interest, but that should not be a problem if you apply ED.
If you are considering applying Early Decision you need to understand the financial implications of that application. Please read, and have your parents read the following link very carefully.
http://catalog.lehigh.edu/previous/2013-14/informationofgeneralinterest/admissionguidelines/earlydecision/
“The Early Decision plan is not for everyone. It is for the student who has begun early and been active in his or her college search, and is sure that he or she wants to attend Lehigh. While pursuing admission under the Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions, but may only have one Early Decision application pending at any time. Additionally, Early Decision candidates forfeit the ability to compare financial aid offers from other schools.”
Like Much2learn, I don’t know how a 93 translates into the 4.0 scale but I had a 3.64 when I applied and a 30 ACT score and got accepted ED2. But I also was the president of DECA, treasurer of American Cancer Society and played Varsity Men’s Track and Field. Also took 8 AP’s. I would say take as many AP’s as you can without hurting your GPA senior year, preferably around 4 but as many as you can handle. Other than that your ACT is great and you should be very competitive for ED! See you at Lehigh!
@karthicks07 has a good point about APs. I would consider taking at least 3 more APs Senior year. What school and majors are you considering? Arts and Sciences? Business? Ed? That will impact your AP selection. AP Lit would be a good choice, no matter what your interest though.
Yes, next year I’m definitely taking more APs. Senior year classes
Ap lit
Mandarin Honors
Ap environmental science
Ap psych
Independent science research
Pre calc
Theology
Chorus
Possibly marketing honors
AP Lit is a great choice.
I don’t think it will impact your admission decision, but if you were my kid, and had not yet selected a major, I would suggest that AP Chem or AP Physics is more valuable than both AP environmental science and AP psych combined.
I would suggest moving to fewer courses, add a study hall and add some rigor. In my mind even 5 classes is fine, if they are the right ones.
Example:
Ap Lit
Honors Mandarin
AP Chem
Honors Pre calc
One more of your choice
PE
Study hall
This shows me more rigor in core English, math and science. Rigor is better than volume. It will do more to prepare you for college both in what you know and in what you can manage. JMHO
Definitely agree with @Much2learn. I only have 6 classes this year but 4 of them are AP’s. Rigor >>> Volume
there is a general consensus that applying ED gives you a better chance of acceptance at any college. But if your stats etc. are inferior you will still not be accepted.
Does anyone have any idea if it’s true that if you apply to Lehigh ED you have a better shot of getting in? Don’t need any financial aid and would major in buisness.
Here are the required classes for a business degree at Lehigh.
http://catalog.lehigh.edu/coursesprogramsandcurricula/businessandeconomics/
I do not see how taking AP Chemistry would help you in any way. Would there be another math class you could take? Accounting? Statistics? Not required by any means but it would make your classes at Lehigh easier.
In my opinion, I think your GPA is okay - but try to improve it! I would really recommend taking the SAT too to compare which test you do better on. And then I would highly recommend taking a prep class before retaking the ACT or SAT.
If financial aid is not important then I think applying ED would really help you.
I think you have a really interesting application and Lehigh would be very interested in you. Work really hard and try and improve your grades and test scores. Be sure to visit lehigh this summer and I would ask for an interview with your admissions counselor. I am pretty sure you are going to interview really well! Best of luck to you!!! Keep us posted!!!