Honest Opinion?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I need honest opinions about the level of colleges I should be looking at…
My college counselors are not honest (they make it seem like I can apply anywhere I want and get in) and my parents don’t tell me either…</p>

<p>-I am currently a junior at a very difficult, small private school.
-My cumulative GPA (weighted) is about 3.7-3.8 (approx. 3.2 freshman year, 4.1 sophomore, 3.8-3.9 junior). I messed up freshman year…
-I have gotten academic honors at my school every semester
-My projected SAT score is about 2200-2450
-I think my PSAT score this year will meet the cutoff for National Merit Scholarship, but I don’t know if I will be a semi-finalist
-I am in two very involved extracurriculars (quiz bowl team and honor board) and I have held the same job since freshman year (During the school week, I work about 8-10 hrs and during spring/winter/summer breaks I work 4 days a week)
-Freshman year: all grade level classes
-Sophomore year: 2 honors classes
-Junior year: 2 AP’s, 3 honors
-Senior: I think 4-5 AP’s</p>

<p>I am looking at schools like UChicago, Oberlin, Haverford, Dartmouth, etc…</p>

<p>*are these schools too high-caliber for me to be looking at?</p>

2

<p>If you get a 2450 SAT you’ll be a pretty unique applicant. :)</p>

3

<p>How’s your community service? Not seeing any mention of it doesn’t exactly bode well.</p>

4

<p>We’re pretty similar applicants–though I certainly don’t have a 2450! The schools you listed seem like sensible reaches, so I’d definitely apply to them.</p>

5

<p>In the context of your school, will your program meet the “most rigorous” qualification? Certainly it seems as if the rigor is increasing, which is good. </p>

<p>The schools you cite definitely seem like reaches, or reachy matches, depending on your scores and other things. You need to find a real safety and a couple of safety/matches.</p>

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<p>haha i meant 2250!</p>

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<p>also for community service-
my school requires 10 hours each quarter so i do that plus a bit more
-soup kitchen at least once a month
-last year i tutored (volunteer) at an inner city school once a week, but now i can only go once a month.
-i also help organize/fund raise for functions at my church…</p>

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<p>Osmith: I would agree that you need at least two or three safety/match schools to complement the options you listed.</p>

9

<p>Find three safeties and I think you are all set to go.</p>

10

<p>thank you so much for your feedback!
does anyone have any examples of some safety schools?</p>

<p>thanks again!</p>

11

<p>You need some more matches. Dartmouth is a reach for anyone, and Haverford and UChicago are reachy-matches. Oberlin is a match. Look for some good match schools (maybe 2-3 more) and 2-3 safety schools.</p>