I was wondering how good my stock is for college. My GPA Is a 3.5, but I’m the path for 3.6-7 with AP classes. I got an ACT COMPOSITE score of 25 Math 24 English 25 Reading 27. My last SAT score was 1650 and I’m taking it again next week. I do plenty of extracurricular activities, Model United Nations,Captain of Robotics Team, Hiking Club, 300 + hours of community service, and I’ve clerked at two law firms and I have done Marching band in the past, I play basketball outside of school. I can get very strong letters of recommendations. I’m looking to see what my chances are to getting into an Ivy League school. Chances at schools like UCLA, Rutgers New Brunswick, Michigan State, Stanford. Those are just a few. Please give me some suggestions for things that would look better, other extracurricular activities etc)
What’s your home state? UCs are expensive for out of state students
UCLA and Stanford? With a 25/1650? Are you kidding???
I can only speak for Stanford and UCLA. Stanford is a Reach for every applicant and your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are no where within range. Aim for an UW GPA of 3.9+ and ACT 33+/SAT 2200+ for any decent chance.
For UCLA, you want a UC GPA of around 4.2+ http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
an ACT of 31+ and SAT of 2100+. This just based on academic Stats, You want to have unique EC’s that make you stand out from the rest of the applicants. Do something outside of school that peaks your interest: Research/Internship/After school job/Science project etc…
You are on the right track with your grades, but you need to work on the overall package.
Also note that there are so many universities besides the Ivy’s/Top 20 that can give an excellent education. You need to do more research and look for schools that match your stats, not try to make your stats match the schools.
Good luck.
I’m in New jersey
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I’m looking to see what my chances are to getting into an Ivy League school. Chances at schools like UCLA, Rutgers New Brunswick, Michigan State, Stanford.
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Ivies…no chance
UCLA…tiny chance, really no chance
Stanford… no chance
I don’t think you realize that the ivies and Stanford are filled with kids with ACT 33+ and near-perfect GPAs.
UCLA is hard to get into w/o a very high GPA, plus very good test scores. Are you instate? If not, no way.
your ECs arent going to compensate for your average stats.
What is your home state?
How much will your family pay?
What is your major and career goal?
I just named a few to use as examples, I’m looking for good schools, not ones like Scranton, Montclair etc. One’s that actually matter
Well, lots of schools “actually matter,” including Scranton and Montclair.
What is your home state and how much will your parents pay?
There are hundreds of good schools. Do you think that Scranton and Montclair grads don’t get good jobs??
Have you look at rutgers university? Since you stated you live in New Jersey
I’m hoping to go for a business major and I hope to become a lawyer, most likely we won’t pay for a whole lot.
You’re being very snobby for someone with your grades and sat scores. Scranton and Montclair are way more in your target range than ANYTHING you named. I’m assuming that 3.5 is weighted since you said aps are going to make it go up. You need to start looking at schools with acceptance rates closer to 50+ instead of <10. I think you need more realistic expectations about what type of schools you should be looking into.
If you want to go to law school. Your best chance is to go rutgers university or something that is in-state. Law school is about the same price as going to med school
I’m sorry if I seem to come off that way, I have been put to high standards with college right now, and it seems like it’s way too easy to get into schools like Montclair, I was looking to get some advice on colleges that would fit me and would look good later in life
OP I think you need to focus on a school where you can achieve. Some schools have easier admissions but it doesn’t mean a degree from there doesn’t mean anything. You need to apply to academic and financial safeties. You are not realistic about these.
You will need to achieve in UG to consider law school - to be successful. There is a glut of lawyers with lots of school debt. Nephew went on a study abroad with other law students between 1st and 2nd year - all but two were financing everything with student loans. Lawyers in the top 10% of their class are pursued. Many are struggling to get a job and start paying back their student loans.
Tbh, with your stats, getting into Montclair State and Scranton isn’t going to be easy. You should humble yourself.
How much will your parents pay/year? Ask them, don’t guess. If you file FAFSA, you can get the ~$5500/year federal student loan. Do you know if you qualify for a Pell grant? If your parents are higher income but don’t want to pay, you need to focus on merit (which means raising your scores) or commute to an affordable school. If you’re lower income and working with need based aid, you need to add up all sources of aid (Pell, guaranteed student loan, summer work earnings, + parent contribution) and see what you can afford.
I’d suggest checking the Common Data Set of each school you’re interested to see the standardized test scores and GPAs they’re looking for, then run their Net Price Calculators to see which are affordable. My eldest is commuting to a state school in NYS because that’s what we can afford, but he’s learning a lot and lives what he’s doing. Find a good, affordable school and commit to blooming wherever you’re planted. Good luck.
Schools that should “matter” to you are ones you can get into and afford. Take a hard look at your academic stats/financial needs and come up with a realistic college list.
I went to Rutgers and got a great education. If you make the effort, you can get to know your professors. With your stats you should be able to get in and it is affordable for the quality. If you want something smaller, you can try Montclair State or Monmouth College (now a University, I believe) or perhaps Drew.
If you are willing to consider smaller liberal arts colleges, check out Loren Pope’s Colleges that Change Lives - geared towards the B/B+ student with so-so standardized test grades. Many of the schools that are recommended are test optional. Some will offer merit to students with a profile like yours.
Before you get too involved in your research, sit down with your parents and ask them what they are willing to pay.
If your family can’t pay much and your stats wont get you into the schools that “meet need,” then you need to be making a list that includes affordable schools.
Otherwise, what are you going to do when you have a handful of rejections and maybe one or two acceptances to schools that your family won’t pay for?
Then what? Community college? Because that’s where you’ll be heading if you don’t make a reasonable list that includes some affordable schools.
You sound as if you do not know anything about school selectivity. You need to educate yourself on that first !