My chances?

[tysli]

<p>Not the best grades
GPA: (3.3W)(2.6 UW)
Ranked in the top 50%</p>

<p>However took the most challenging classes my school has to offer:</p>

<p>Freshman year: (2.8 UW GPA)
Honors Geometry
Honors Language Arts
Honors Biology
German 1
Symphonic Orchestra</p>

<p>Sophmore year:
AP European History
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Sophmore Language
Honors Chemistry
German 2
Symphonic Orchestra</p>

<p>Junior year:
AP Government
AP Computer Science
AP Literature
AP Physics
Honors Precalc
Symphonic Orchestra</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP Psychology
AP Biology
AP Calculus</p>

<p>Got a 26 on the ACT</p>

<p>EC:
2 Varsity letters for swimming/waterpolo
Volunteer at local Science center (have about 24 hours)
Violin for 8 years
Piano for 10 years</p>

<p>What are my chances for the these colleges?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Boston University
Purdue
University of Iowa
University of Michigan
Worchester Poly Inst.
University of Rochester</p>

<p>Also please recommend any colleges that are not on the list that are geared towards science/engineering.</p>

[Calcruzer]

<p>First, an ACT of 26 is the equivalent of a 1770/2400 SAT.</p>

<p>Here are the average UW GPA and SAT ranges for each of the schools you've listed:</p>

<p>Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute--3.55 and SAT of 1830 to 2130
Boston University--3.50 and SAT of 1805 to 2095
Purdue University--3.40 and SAT of 1545 to 1890
University of Iowa--3.35 and SAT of 1560 to 1830
University of Michigan--3.72 and SAT of 1770 to 2010
Worchester Poly Institute--3.60 and SAT of 1800 to 2095
University of Rochester--3.58 and SAT of 1845 to 2115 </p>

<p>Since you have a UW GPA of 2.6 and SAT of 1770, unfortunately you are a reach for all of these schools. </p>

<p>Let's look at some great schools where you have better chances, which will take your heavy courseload into account--and which have good science/engineering programs:</p>

<p>University of Alabama--Tuscaloosa
St Bonaventure University
Sonoma State University
University of Idaho
University of Rhode Island
Bradley University
DePaul University
Evergreen State College
SUNY--Buffalo
CUNY--Queen's
and Temple University</p>

<p>While none of these are "locks" for you, you have decent chances at all of them--and I would say that St. Bonaventure, University of Idaho, Evergreen, and SUNY--Buffalo are all matches--and the others are no more than slight reaches. If you still want to apply to some of your originally listed schools, your best chances are at Iowa and Purdue.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

[tysli]

<p>Thanks for the input Calcruzer!
If I were to raise my ACT score to 30+, would my chances at the school go up significantly?</p>

[Calcruzer]

<p>I think your chances at many of the schools on the list I provided would go up--but I doubt that your chances would go up much for those on the original list. The only exception might be at the University of Iowa--and only if you could convince them that you thought taking the toughest workload was so much more important than grades to you since you are so dedicated to learning for its own sake.</p>

<p>Also, I notice you were on the varsity swim team--any chance at making a team at one of the colleges listed here--because that might help you get in (contact the swim coach at the colleges in question and ask if there is any chance of going this route--even without a scholarship--and getting into the school)</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

[tysli]

<p>Thank you very much sir</p>

[jPoD]

<p>Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Dont know
Boston University Reach
Purdue reach
University of Iowa reach
University of Michigan reaaaaaaach
Worchester Poly Inst. dont know
University of Rochester reaaaaaaaaaach</p>

<p>Good chance at Iowa and Purdue. Probably very diff. at Purdue if engineering.</p>

<p>Good call with Temple Cal. OP would be in.</p>

[tysli]

<p>thanks, can anyone recommend more schools?</p>