Match Me/Chance Me! First-Gen from FL, Econ + International Relations [4.0 GPA, top 2% rank, 1230 SAT, need lots of FA / scholarships]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Chance me and Match me to schools

Hi all I’ve already posted under this tag before but have a better/narrower perspective—pls chance me for the schools I have listed all the way at the bottom!– especially Tufts

And **Match me to other schools in mind!!

Thank you for your responses the last time I posted!! I wouldn’t be as prepared and knowledgeable as I am right now without all your help!

Current Junior

  • Florida resident, Public (non-competitive, rural-ish) HS, Female

Important to Consider: First-gen college, First-gen, Low-income, (Hispanic)

  • Intended Majors: Economics + INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/AFFAIRS//PUBLIC POLICY

Intended Career: (international/national) ngo management/consulting/public policy, public policy, government–fso

(also interested in poli-sci and environmental sci)

  • UW GPA: 4.0 on 4.0 scale
    W: 4.88
    Rank: 8/546
    SAT: 1230 (projected to reach 1310)-will apply Test Optional where applicable

  • Coursework: AICE/AP/Honors/Dual–not including honors in this list below-basically all core classes
    YR 1
    AICE Gen Paper as, AP human geo
    YR 2
    AICE English as, AICE Psychology as,
    YR 3
    AICE Marine Sci as, AICE Travel and Tourism A, AP Spanish Lang, AP ENG lit, AP Pre-Calc,

SR YEAR:

AICE Global
AP Spanish Lit
AP Bio
AP Calc AB (may turn into AP Stat if I feel too overwhelmed)

Sem 1:
American National Government (Dual Enrollment)
World History Civilization from 1800 (Dual Enrollment)
Sem 2:
Macroeconomics (Dual Enrollment)
United States History from 1800 (Dual Enrollment)
Modern Latin American History (Dual Enrollment)

Please comment on rigour of schedule-does it suit my OOS schools (dream-tufts?)–this is my biggest concern while applying --because I didn’t take APUSH I am trying to make up for it via dual- Will it Work?
No aice history offered-ap euro teacher quit–didnt take ap world

Awards: Spanish 3 Award, “Gold Volunteer Service Award (for volunteering practicing Eng. to non-native speakers org)"–> 120 hrs of service + fundraising+media coverage” (awarded to all that meet the requirements) by senior year

Extracurriculars: covid–not a lot of “in-school” opportunities 9th grade

“Environmental”
-Summer Scholarship Costa Rica Climate Change Summer Study Abroad (this yr)

  • Environmental Club Vice Pres. (hopefully Pres. next year) (technically co-founder) 10,11,12
  • Citizens Climate Lobby (volunteer),11,12–will get a (training based) (advocacy/policy) certificate and lobby in dc (1/2 scholarship) this summer-- *
  • Will apply to a general public policy fellowship (moderately selective (probably–will get in?) 12

“Global/Service”

  • Model UN (VP- sophomore yr)10,11,12
  • Language Classes (Korean)+ Solo Learning (Arabic)9,10,11,12
  • Volunteering (English teaching to non-native speakers)10,11,12
  • Volunteer Org./non-profit Ambassador 11, 12
  • recently “hired” for a position in a student-led non-profit which offers cultural awareness and lang. programs to children (hoping to work on their chapters program)(programs lead)11,12
    –I am genuinely passionate about increasing accessibility to career resources/knowledge for low-achieving students at my school so I am working to establish a group/project called “PathFinders” (considered a Passion Project?)–started planning late this year–will be in full effect during my senior year (12)

Other
Mock Trial (officer)10,11,12
NHS (started my own initiative),11,12
Marching Band 2 Yrs *(4th in state) 9,10

  • Cost Constraints / Budget:

Need Based Scholarships --full need met schools?)))
Not willing to go into massive debt

  • 40-45K income household rn

Bright Futures → 100% paid tuition in most public FLORIDA schools
SO I have an inclination to stay in Florida unless there are schools with good scholarships or aid and great programs, study abroad, and internship opportunities–hopefully full need met?

LOOKING FOR:
collaborative environment
study abroad
internship access
liberal arts
strong academics
career services
civically/globally minded–
minimal frat/sorority but still a social scene

SCHOOLS
Florida Schools:

  • UF (reach)

  • UM (not set)

  • [FSU] (match)

  • UCF (Safety)

  • FIU (Safety)

Out of State
maybe URich (not set) (reach)
Dickinson (match?)
Franklin and Marshall -(public policy) (reach)
Hamilton College- (public policy) (reach)
Macalester College (reach)
Tufts University (reach) (dream)

–please chance me for OOS above!–especially tufts
-or match me to schools! (if possible more that are a safe match vs reach)

Should I consider applying ED1 to tufts? (I am applying to voices program)

  • is it bad that my extracurriculars seem more impressive than my academics? will schools appreciate it? I sacrificed academic rigor to maintain my EC’s and my sanity – will that hurt my application?

considering applying QB-but not certain
did not take physics
cannot be posse scholar

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I’m from Florida and went to Macalester. Absolutely loved it. If you are serious about Mac, they give a very big advantage to ED applicants. Otherwise can be a crapshoot.

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With a 1230 SAT as of now FSU and UCF are reaches
FSU middle 25th-75th percentile SAT Fall 2024 is 1370-1480
UCF average SAT fall 2023 was 1332

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Thank you for the extra info! I will be updating my list to include Florida matches!

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I’m not a QB expert, but if you’re up to the application (I understand it’s a lot of work) and the early deadline I’d seriously consider this option. If for nothing else, I believe there is counseling available to QB applicants.

I hope my information is correct.

I’ll give your chance/match some thought and post again later. :smiley:

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Not sure what this means- your score is your score.

Dickinson - reasonable chance.

The rest have to go TO - and can it work - yes. Will it work? Who knows.

OOS doesn’t matter on your private schools but you’ve labeled your Florida schools properly although FSU might be a high target / low reach and Miami as well.

Good luck.

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Have you tried the ACT, maybe take a practice ACT and see how that score correlates with your SAT score.

If your SAT does not improve
This is how I would rank your chances at Florida Publics

Safeties: FAU, FGCU, UNF, UWF

Targets: FIU, USF (look at the St. Pete campus they offer Econ degree there. The University official line is same admission requirements at all campuses but I think you would have a better chance of admission, and you can just sign up for classes at Tampa campus Sophomore year if you want the bigger campus… Tampa campus high target/low reach)

Reach: UF, FSU ( Apply for Summer FSU only considers you for the term you apply for. However I think you would be a target for their pathways program, you have to be chosen and you would go to community college in the fall and then FSU in Spring semester. )

UCF Low reach/High target

Florida Privates

UM Test optional target. However UM likes Early Decision applicants and sometimes defers EA applicants and recommends them doing ED2.
If you do ED make sure the finances are good. Miami is a high cost of living as well.

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Thank you for your input! I will include the schools you mentioned on my list and update my chances :smile:

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I would strongly urge you to apply for QuestBridge as I think it’s probably your best shot for Tufts, Macalester, and Hamilton. If you do get accepted for QuestBridge, I’d also give some serious consideration to adding Johns Hopkins, as its international relations is very well-reputed. (If you get Questbridge, we can talk more about their college partners.)

Below are my guesses as to what your chances for admission might be at the schools on your list. Do not be put off by the low probability bucket (less than 20%). Less than 20% does not mean the same thing as impossible.

That said, I know you’ve expressed some concerns about the rigor of the classes you’ve taken. Will your guidance counselor be able to check off that you took the most rigorous courseload available? If not, then that it’s not the best for your application to the low probability schools, but it doesn’t mean things will be impossible.

Extremely Likely (80-99+%)

  • Florida International

Likely (60-79%)

Toss-Up (40-59%)

  • U. of South Florida (44% acceptance rate and 1230 is the 50th percentile, 1330 the 75th)

Lower Probability (20-39%)

  • Dickinson (PA )

  • Florida State (25% acceptance rate and 1290 is the 50th percentile)

  • Franklin & Marshall (PA )

  • U. of Central Florida (41% acceptance rate and 1275ish is the 50th percentile, 1360 the 75th)

Low Probability (less than 20%)

  • Hamilton

  • Macalester

  • Tufts

  • U. of Florida (23% acceptance rate and 1390 is the 50th percentile, 1300 the 25th percentile)

  • U. of Miami (FL)

In terms of matching you to additional schools, below are some that you might want to consider sorted by my guesses as to what your chances of admittance may be.

Extremely Likely (80-99+%)

Likely (60-79%)

  • Beloit (WI): About 1k undergrads at this school that has a very global perspective with many foreign language offerings.

  • Drew (NJ): About 1500 undergrads at this school about a 50-minute train ride from New York City. Seems like its ethos would meld well with yours.

  • Seton Hall (NJ): This school of about 6k undergrads has a strong diplomacy school and takes advantage of its proximity to the U.N. and also has its own semester in D.C.

Toss-Up (40-59%)

  • Centre (KY): This was the first school I thought of when I read your list of what you wanted. Small liberal arts school (about 1400 undergrads) with lots of attention, globally focused, and its international/global studies major is among its most popular. @sbinaz visited recently with her D and has only had good things to say about it. My guess is that it would be closer to a likely than not.

  • Mount Holyoke (MA): About 2200 undergrads at this women’s college that is really strong for your interests. Additionally, it’s part of the 5 colleges consortium with Amherst, Smith, U. Mass, and Hampshire, so you have even more class options to take advantage of than would normally be available at a school of this size.

  • Trinity College (CT): This school of about 2200 undergrads is really good for your interests and is only a mile and a half from the Connecticut State Capitol, providing lots of opportunities to get experiences with policy.

Lower Probability (20-39%)

  • Occidental (CA): About 1900 undergrads at this school that Obama attended. Very global perspective and strong in your areas of interest (my guess, leaning towards a toss-up).

Low Probability (less than 20%)

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Just thought of two more likely options:

  • Agnes Scott (GA): About 1k undergrads at this women’s college that is in one of the most walkable areas of the Atlanta metro. It’s a part of the ARCHE consortium whereby students can take classes at other Atlanta area schools like Emory, Spelman, Georgia Tech, etc. Additionally, with Atlanta as the state capital, there are many opportunities to engage with policy makers and NGOs.

  • Oglethorpe (GA): About 1500 undergrads and you would qualify for the Flagship 50 program, meaning that your tuition would cost the same as at UF. Due to its Atlanta location, it has the same advantages of the ARCHE consortium (classes at Emory, Morehouse, SCAD, etc) and proximity to the state capital.

Also, some of the colleges I mentioned are part of the association called Colleges That Change Lives which is a group of small, primarily liberal arts colleges. I’ve linked their profiles below.

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Thank you so much for your thorough reply! I will be adding all the school you mentioned to my list. Additionally, after further research have decided that QB is my best shot at these schools–thank you so much for your time!

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Thank you for your time and consideration! I will update my info on Dickinson–for clarification based on the practice tests I have taken I am on my way to score a 1310–sorry that was not clear

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Your Data is old

UF Fall 2024 SAT 25th-75th% 1350-1490

FSU Fall 24 SAT 1370-1480, Summer 24 1300-1390

USF Fall 24 SAT 1250-1400

UCF average SAT 2023 was 1332
2024 not out but if UCF follows other Florida school trends should be slightly higher

Unfortunately all of the Florida schools are getting extremely competitive and harder to get into every year
With Bright Futures many of the Brightest students in the state ar staying instate to take advantage of free tuition.

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I will consider this, thank you for the information

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I pulled the info from College Navigator which still has the data for the entering class in fall of 2022. Thanks for sharing the updated data.

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The admission standards for Florida schools has changed dramatically over the last few years my kids graduated High School in 21 now at FSU and 23 now at UF and the difference in admission standards was noticeable between the 2 years

It has shocked some friends whose kids did not get accepted at UF, or FSU.

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Hello!

I would like to thank everyone who initially replied for taking the time to respond to my post. Thanks to the advice and recommendations offered I applied to Centre and was selected for the Grissom Scholarship.

I was also fortunate to be admitted to Tufts, Macalester, Scripps, Smith, Wesleyan, FSU (summer), and, most surprisingly UF (Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship (MFOS) (Full-ride), Promise Scholar); in spite of my SAT score (which never improved and actually got lower on my second try).

I still don’t know where I’m going, but I couldn’t be happier with my range of selection.

I truly believe the carefully curated essays were what got me in to each school I applied to (along with luck and demonstrated interest (more obvious my gpa/ec’s/story). More than anything I wanted to come back to reply to this post to give hope to students like myself with below average scores (on this site) (it’s possible to rise above!).
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
InquisitiveTulip

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Congrats - please let us know where you end up. That’s a wide range of impressive schools - are all affordable?

You have your pick both large and small.

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