Reaches, Targets, Safeties

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Can you guys help me figure out which schools are my reaches, targets, and safeties?</p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>African American female
SAT I: 1860 (590 CR 630 M 640)
I am planning to take it again this fall.</p>

<p>SAT II: 620 US History & taking Math II this fall (idk If I should submit my SAT II scores since there are not required for CFA)</p>

<p>ACT: 31 (33 R 31 E 30 M 28 S 29 W) Although I did pretty well I’m taking them again this fall to see if I can do better.</p>

<p>I attend a prestigious private school and we do not have ranking or GPA. But I am an A/B+ student.</p>

<p>AP Courses: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, US History, Physics, Studio Art</p>

<p>ECs:
took college credit graphic design and art foundations courses at Pratt Institute in NYC
took pre-college architecture classes at my local state college, won an award for one of my designs)
internship at an architecture firm
4 yrs of Varsity Track
3 yrs of Fencing
4 yrs of Spanish Club, President for 1 yr
3 yrs of Art Club
2 yrs of Black Cultural Association, 1 yr of Black Achievers Investment Club
counseling freshman students at my school (kind of like sex ed taught by seniors but we talk about broader issues such as peer pressure, drinking, drugs, school, etc.)</p>

<p>I’m applying to these schools:</p>

<p>Georgetown University
American University
George Washington University
Carnegie Mellon University
Penn State University
University of Pennsylvania
Temple University<br>
Syracuse University
Northeastern University
Boston University
New York University
Columbia University
Rutgers University
RISD
Cooper Union </p>

<p>I’m looking to major in Architecture or Design at these schools. I know some on my list don’t have these majors but I would still like to know my chances.</p>

2

<p>bumppppppp</p>

3

<p>If you can improve your SAT/ACT substantially, you have a very good shot at all of them, considering your URM status. At this point, I would call Rutgers, Penn State, and Temple safeties. Obviously, the Ivies are a reach, as they are for anyone. You have a pretty good list though, and I would bet on you getting into great schools.</p>

<p>Also, I suggest applying to Brown’s coordinated dual-degree program in design with RISD. This is only like their third year of offering it, but it has been received quite well.</p>

4

<p>thankssss :)</p>

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<p>Being a URM will help you. But you do want to boost all of your standardized testing scores, preferably so your SAT is over 2100, ACT is 33 or higher, and SAT IIs are at least 700 each. Your ECs are so and so; nothing stands out, but once again, being URM helps you. In the end, you’ll probably get into several good schools. Ivies are a reach without a solid hook, but you should slide into Cooper Union, American, and Temple among others.</p>

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<p>-_- being a URM doesn’t help me that much. in some cases it has no effect at all.</p>

7

<p>^No, it’s one of the biggest advantages an applicant can have. You should be grateful that your race plays such a big part in admissions, because a non-African American student with your stats would have no shot at some of the schools you listed.</p>

8

<p>it isn’t such a BIG part. being African-American is not the tipping factor for me to be accepted into a school. its considered and looked at, but not the reason for a decision.</p>

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<p>Are you applying early anywhere? Choose wisely.
I think:
Georgetown University big reach
American University match
George Washington University reach
Carnegie Mellon University reach
Penn State University match
University of Pennsylvania big reach
Temple University match
Syracuse University match
Northeastern University ?
Boston University match
New York University reach
Columbia University big reach
Rutgers University match (instate)
RISD ?
Cooper Union?</p>

10

<p>^Hah. Obviously there is no single factor that determines an applicant’s chances of admission, but adcoms, the majority of the posters in this forum, and most college consultants would disagree with the first part of your post.</p>

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<p>i want to apply to carnegie mellon ED</p>

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<p>billabongboy: I only agree to a certain extent of what you’re saying. The major I most want to pursue has alot to do with artistic talent. so if i had little to none artistic talent applying to a top design program, being black would certainly not help me get in. talent is what will get me in as well as my overall application in itself. not the color of my skin. i have a choice not to specify my race on applications, and if i choose not to i still would have a good chance at most of the schools. especially if i upped my sat scores</p>

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<p>By no means was anyone implying that there is a level of mutual exclusivity between race and talent. Yes, I understand that you might be a great artist, but you need to understand that demographic quotas are a very big part of the college admissions process; the color of your skin can get you in to a school. As much as you would prefer for this not to be true, there is nothing you can do to change the way admissions officers will look at your application. The same applies to Hispanic and American-Indian applicants, just like how the inverse is true for Asians.</p>

<p>From an objective standpoint, someone with an application similar to yours would find Penn, Columbia, Georgetown and Cooper Union being big reaches. However, your race makes you a hooked candidate; it can push an imperfect but otherwise good application into the green. </p>

<p>Besides, your 31 is honestly a very good score. What would help the most in gauging your chances is if you could provide a rough estimate to how many As and how many Bs you have recieved, and whether or not these Bs were in Honors/AP/IB classes.</p>

14

<p>Admission to the Cooper Union for Art (65 admits a year) or Architecture (20-35 admits a year) is a huge reach for anyone. I think last year’s acceptance rate was about 7% for the entire school (Art + Architecture + Engineering). While grades and standardized scores are extremely important for the engineering school, my understanding is that admission into the art and architecture programs is heavily based on the applicant’s portfolio and the home test. </p>

<p>You could probably score 500s on your SATs, but if they look at your portfolio and think it’s absolutely brilliant, you’re in. On the other side of the coin, you could have all 800s and multiple APs but if they think your work is unimaginative, there’s no way you’re getting in. Of course, in that scenario you could always apply to the engineering school.</p>