Is there any hope?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hello!
This is my college list. I’m a Junior as of now in New Jersey. I have a 3.7 GPA and a 1430 on the new PSAT. I plan on taking the ACT in June. What are my chances of getting into my first choices, and what more can I do (if there’s still time) to up my chances?
Thanks SO MUCH in advance!

  1. Stanford University
  2. McGill University
  3. College of William and Mary
  4. Santa Clara University
  5. Middleburry College
  6. University of Toronto
  7. LAST RESORT - Rowan University

I can give more information if needed. Thanks so much :slight_smile:

(Do letters/emails from colleges up your chance of getting in?)

2

Keep improving your GPA and prepare a lot for the SAT/ACT. Also, letters/emails from colleges usually do not mean much when it is coming from a selective university- unless it is athletic recruitment, likely letters, or correspondence of that nature.

3

Your list looks like so many others on CC: a bunch of reaches and one ill-fitting safety, with NOTHING in the middle., except, maybe, for Santa Clara University. If you are from NJ, why not add TCNJ to the mix? What are you planning to study? I cannot see a common thread in the choice of these universities. So work on that, along with your GPA.

Also, prepare a list of colleges with more matches. Once you have a reasonable list, ask on the parents forum about it. You are likely to get more specific responses there.

4

I don’t think that you’ll get into Stanford, but there’s still hope for the other schools. Work hard for the rest of the school year to boost your GPA and do well on the ACT. A score in the 30s (probably at least 33) would give you a chance at those schools. Try to pick up some ECs or a job over the summer. Those will look great on college and scholarship applications. If you know what you want to major in, try to get an EC or job that is related to that field. As of now, I think that you could get into Santa Clara and Rowan.

Letters and emails from the colleges won’t help your chances of getting in (unless they’re from a coach who is recruiting you). However, showing interest in a school can help your chances of getting in. Sign up for mailing lists of schools that you’re interested in and attend visit days. Try to build a good relationship with your admissions counselor, too. It might help you get admitted.