<p>I’m only a sophomore, but I’m kinda obsessive about being prepared for applying.</p>
<p>I go to a Class 1 high school in the middle of nowhere in the Ozarks. My entire school K-12 has only about 300 students. My high school has about 100. I am the first person in my family to EVER go to college.</p>
<p>ACT: 27 (first time, as sophomore)
GPA: 3.97uw; 4.1w
Rank: 2/34</p>
<p>Courseload: Took Algebra II as a freshman. First Sophomore ever in my school to take Chemistry. The rest is general at least until next year, and then, the most advanced classes I can take are a few dual-credit with a community college.</p>
<p>ECs: *Future Business Leaders of America-District President; State President Candidate next year; Local Treasurer, Committee Member
*Class Secretary/Treaurer
*Family, Career, Community Leaders of America-Local Officer
*Teen Mentoring Council
*National Honor Society
*Varsity Softball and Basketball
*Lots of placings in Business, Math, Science, History Contests</p>
<p>I’d REALLY like to go to Columbia or UChicago, other Ivies-Probably for Film/Cinema Studies</p>
<p>well i don’t know if it’ll improve that much, i mean, i know people who took sats sophmore and junior year and they only improved 30 - 50 points which i think is only like 1 or 2 ACT points, and even still a 30 is too low for those schools.</p>
<p>I don’t think 30 is <em>at all</em> too low for many of the schools you’re talking about, or other top universities & LACs. If you look at college board, you’ll see that a score of 30 falls within the middle 50% at nearly every college - that means they accepted a significant number of people with lower, sometimes much lower, scores. Also, I had a 30 on the ACT, got into several top & well-respected colleges, and am attending Claremont McKenna College.</p>
<p>If you want to go to some coastal schools you’ll have to take the SATs. But so far you look fine. Just up the ACTs a bit, they’re decent for a sophomore, but I think you’ll have to shoot higher next year or senior year.</p>
<p>thanks. I’ll probably take my ACT at least 3 more times, our school practically forces us to take it at least twice by second semester of junior year. ACT nazis. Also, i am considering NYU for cinema-pretty strongly actually.</p>
<p>I think U Chicago would be interested in you, for sure. Ivys will be too. Package your application correctly. Be sure that they get the picture that you are a high achiever from the Ozarks, rural atmosphere, small school, first generation to go to college. Do this by using your essays, interviews, and recommendations wisely. Columbia gets a lot of applications, but probably not many from the Ozarks.</p>