Is this a good list for me? Reaches/Matches/Safties

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Reaches - Cornell University, College of William and Mary
Matches - University of Virginia, Virginia Tech,
Safeties - James Madison University, George Mason</p>

<p>Background
Ethnicity: African American (First-Gen)
Sex: Male
Residence: VA
Graduation Year: 2009
Major interests: Business/Economics
School: Highly Competitive
Class Size: About 600</p>

<p>GPA:
4.0 Scale
Had a 2.75 freshman year which put my GPA in a hole, then turned it up Sophomore-Junior Years with a combined 3.5 in AP and honor classes. My counselor will talk about my great turnaround in her recommendation.
UW:3.2 W:3.3
Had only one C after freshman year in 11th grade AP Macroeconomics.
My school only weights AP’s with a .5 and wont let you take any until your a junior so many weighted and unweighted GPA’s at my school are virtually the same.</p>

<p>SAT/SATII
SAT: 1780 {Math-670, Cr-540, Wr-570}
I know my SAT’s are the opposite of stellar, but I will be improving on them and retaking in October/November.
SAT II’s:
Taking in October/November in Math II and probably US History</p>

<p>Rank: School Doesn’t Rank</p>

<p>Course Rigor:
Most Rigorous
9th-12th:7 APs, 7 Honors, 4 years of Spanish, 4 years of Business Classes
11th:3 AP’s Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, English Language
12th:4 AP’s Calculus BC, Biology, English Literature, US Government</p>

<p>Extracurriculars

  1. (9-12)Future Business Leaders of America (President)
  2. (9)Freshman Basketball Team (Co-Captain)
  3. (10) JV Basketball (Co-Captain)
  4. (10-12)National Business Honor Society
  5. (9-10) JV Winter/Spring Track
  6. (10-12) Varsity Track Team
  7. (11-12) Science Honor Society
  8. (9-10) Junior Math Team
  9. (11-12) Senior Math Team</p>

<p>Volunteer Experience
Many Hours in:

  1. Local Church Helping First Graders
  2. Library Helping Librarians
  3. Clean the Neighborhood</p>

<p>Other
Recommendations: 2 Amazing Rec’s from rigorous Chemistry teacher with a PhD and business teacher at my school.
Counselor Recommendation: great explaining how I’ve matured in four years
Essay: good</p>

<p>What are my chances at UVA? What will my SAT I have to be so that my chances are strong and I’m in at UVA? It is my dream school, and any other school suggestions for my list?</p>

2

<p>With your current SAT scores, Cornell is probably out of reach. UVA, William and Mary are probably reaches but reasonable. Virginia Tech, James Madison, and George Mason are probably matches.</p>

<p>Virginia Commonwealth is probably a safety. U Richmond is probably a match.</p>

3

<p>What would my October scores have to be to make UVA a match. I took my first one cold with no prep at all.</p>

4

<p>bump!!!</p>

5

<p>I don’t have specific knowledge about UVA, but it would look really good if you can get all sections of the SAT into the 600’s. Study a prep book or take a class. You have a good chance of improving, because you did no prep before.</p>

6

<p>[UVa</a> CDS - C. First-time, First-year Admission](<a href=“http://www.web.virginia.edu/IAAS/data_catalog/institutional/cds/current/admissions.htm]UVa”>http://www.web.virginia.edu/IAAS/data_catalog/institutional/cds/current/admissions.htm)</p>

<p>Here is a link to the data for admitted students for UVA. The SAT percentiles are listed.</p>

7

<p>I’d add Old Dominion to your list. Cornell isn’t impossible, but would be a high reach. . . especially if you’re applying to the business program, which I believe favors students from NY and is very difficult to get into. Definitely work on getting those SAT scores up.</p>

8

<p>William and Mary NO Courtesy Waitlist or rejected
UVA NO Same
JMU Waitlisted
VTech Waitlisted or Rejected
George Mason Yes
VCU Yes
Radford Yes
Longwood Yes
Old Dominion Yes
Christopher Newport Yes</p>

9

<p>Just curious, what is your class rank?</p>

10

<p>Actually, Cornell is not impossible. Your URM status+ First gen helps a lot, especially if you’re interested in business. You’re in at W&M and the rest- don’t worry about those. </p>

<p>Write a good essay and you’ve got a chance at Cornell.</p>

11

<p>…i doubt he’d have a chance at cornell.</p>

12

<p>Okay…first of all: Congratulations on your turnaround and ALLAROUND good guy credentials from grades to taking APs to ECs and stuff. Well done! You are to be commended. Being African American will help you in application process so be positive.</p>

<p>Second: William and Mary is VERY VERY SELECTIVE even for instate kids and minorities. It would help if you could identify where you REALLY want to go and WHY. Not just the prestige factor but WHY that school attracts you. </p>

<p>UVa may be a pinch easier, but your CR score is way below what they are looking for. Get some HELP IMMEDIATELY on that. There is a METHOD to taking the SAT and you can learn how to score better. Retake it and do your best but DONT freak out. Apply early admission to the school you really want to get into. EA or ED often have better admission rates. </p>

<p>JMU would be an excellent fit, it seems to me. Its a clear match. Your record shows accomplishment and a willingness to work hard and take tough classes. Embrace JMU. Ditto for Virginia Tech. EMBRACE THEM.</p>

<p>Your safety list is too short. George Mason is fine. Add a few more. </p>

<p>Best of luck to you and keep up the hard work. Your grades first semester of Senior year will be CRITICAL to your admissions success so make sure you are laser beam focused on that. In other words, NO SENIOR SLACK.</p>

13

<p>In your free time, READ for fun.</p>

<p>This is what really wrecked your CR and possibly your writing SAT score, you know. You haven’t been in the habit of reading a couple of hours a day since early childhood. </p>

<p>Make it a LIFETIME habit, starting today. Get some books you would be interested in reading from the public library, put them by your bed, and read 2 hours every single night from now on. you will acquire vocabulary, pick up on how to write unconsciously, improve your reading comprehension, and have a good time. And see that your children, when you have them someday, start off in kindergarten and 1st grade reading 2 hours a day (well 1 hr at first!) as well. There’s something about falling in love with reading by first grade that predicts an easier time academically in high school and college. </p>

<p>Think reading is a dying art? Think again. Cheapest way to impart the knowledge of the previous generations to the new generation. Cheapest.</p>

14

<p>You definitely have very little chance at Cornell…</p>

15

<p>UVA is definitely a reach for you, even with you being in-state</p>