Rate me please.

ElCommando · April 24, 2005, 11:43pm

I'm a white junior going to a competitive school in Southern California (we might be top ten or something because of ESLR's...anyone heard of that?)

gpa:as of now 3.0 cummulative
hopefully 3.5 cummulative ( I may get a 4.25 this semester and retake some classes over summer)

class rank: 309/867
hopefully top ten percent by end of senior year

SAT: 1810 wil re-take aiming for 2100 next year.

EC's: 2nd degree black belt in tae kwon do (9 years)
Varsity track (11th and soon 12th)
registered lifeguard (I got a job for the summer)
40 hours of community service at church (how do you prove you did it?)
baseball, and basketball (9 years not at school but all-stars and whatnot)

AP's: 5-7 by end of senior yr., 1-2 Honors

applying:
Duke
UNC Chapel Hill
UVA
Vanderbilt
University of Florida, Georgia
Emory
West Point
The Citadel
UCLA

You probably think Im aiming high too high (?) but Im sure I can accomplish the goals I have set and therefore dont feel that I am. thnx for your help in evaluating me.

gigante · April 25, 2005, 12:09am

Well, a picture would really help, so i could give you a 1-10 rating, but I guess I can do without.

yes, I know what ESLR's are, I am working on my school's right now, and the meetings suck.

Since you are wait I would say UCLA is off your list, they only want asians.

a 3.5 over a 3.0 would make a HUGE difference and you should definately bust your ass to get it. An 1810 would do an a 2100 would be awesome for the schools you are shooting for.

Your class rank is pretty low right now, but hopefully you will get 10%. Would have been nice to be 4% to get ELC (eligibility in the Local Context) for UCLA but that is out of the picture. Keep in mind, colleges will have made their decision by the end of senior year.

You have decent EC's. I would really try to get into student government (Pres, VP, Treas, Sec) or Pres or VP of a club. This will show that you have leadership talent.

AP's look good, but passing the tests and such will not help your admission. All it is telling them is that they will get less $$ from you because u are using previously gotten credits.

What about SAT II's, you didn't post those or your plans.

I hope this helps as an overall evaluation, sorry it is not a focus on specific schools and if you could get in.

FishS · April 25, 2005, 12:23am

If you insist on applying to some of those impossible schools, at least add a few matches. Cut out many of the ones on there now, it's a waste of time doing all those applications.

You know, even if you somehow end up in the top ten percent and get a 2100, which is very unlikely, those schools will still be certain reaches. Your ECs won't save you either.

Please do not take this as me disparaging you. I'm glad that you are aspiring to go to a good school. However, there are plenty of schools that are as good as those, without the reputations. I just wish I could impart the knowledge I gained this year from applying to colleges. Just as I expected, I didn't get into any of these so called "reach" schools. Reach is just another way of saying you won't get in. My stats are as good as you are aiming at and your schools are not any easier to get into. If you've done the research and see that your stats are not even average, trust me, you will not get in.

I'd be happy to try and help you find some other schools that suit you, feel free to pm me.

flopsy · April 25, 2005, 2:20am

ElCommando:

Duke: Reach
UNC-Chapel Hill: Reach (out of state)
Virginia: Reach
Vanderbilt: Reach
UF-Georgia: ?
Emory: Reach
West Point: ?
The Citadel: ?
UCLA: Reach

gigante · April 25, 2005, 2:22am

Yeah, your stats right now would be a reach even for the easier to get into UC's. If I were you, I would stay away from the hype schools, they won't fit your needs and you won't get in.

ElCommando · April 25, 2005, 6:48pm

For SAT II I am taking US history and aiming for 700+. Ill probably take the other SAT II next year and itll be either biology or math.

Flopsy is that with my stats now or even with them at the highest I have goal wise?

Isnt it too late to get into a club or student government? I heard that colleges see right through that if you sign up too close to college.

njmom · April 25, 2005, 7:42pm

Good luck in your college search...if you attain your goals you should have a decent chance at all of those schools. 
How do you go about going from top 35% to top 10%?
My son is top 20% and doesn't think he can crack top 15% and his school isn't that competitive. Just wondering.

ElCommando · April 25, 2005, 7:58pm

Im a junior so i still have next year. I calculated my cumulative gpa if I do get a 4.25 this semester It'll go up to a 3.4. If I do good next year as well as take more AP's I think I can pull it to close to top 10% if not that. I know a girl who is in top 10% and she only has a 4.0 thats weighted.

crumflake · April 25, 2005, 8:04pm

hmm... none of us are ad coms. we havnt seen aanything u have to offer so we really cant judge you. my god people, just cause u got rejected, doesnt mean he has too. and if he wants to do all the apps, then let him do it, dont tell him to cross them off his list. good luck next year.

flopsy · April 25, 2005, 8:14pm

ElCommando:

Those chances are with your stats now.