<p>Hey everybody I am 16 year old low income Hispanic that just turned into senior and for my sophomore and junior year I’ve obtained perfect grades in all my classes which include Algebra II Honors, Pre Calculus, AP World History, AP US History, AP English Language, AP US Government, Biology, Chemistry, English II Honors (Ive got straight A’s in these two years). For my Freshman year I did well ( but not great) I obtained A’s in English I Honors and that’s pretty much it the rest of my classes ( which included geometry honors, Earth Space science honors, French I, Soccer and Basketball ) I got B’s except for my basketball class where I got a C. Well to add more I came to the US about 5 years ago so the first 3 year in this country I struggled academically ( as i explained before) on May I was awarded with my schools sound team the Cappies Award for best sound in the pay ( I worked as a sound technician in my school’s plays It has been my second year doing, I’ve been mainly in charge of body microphones, sound board, and sound effects) Aside from working in the Drama club as a sound technician, I also volunteered at my public library were I shelve books and serve as a teen room host and teen advisory board member( in this group we decide activities for the library), at school I volunteer as a Math tutor for students in Algebra I through Pre Calc. I’m in the National English Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Mu Alpha Theta Society and the Teen Advisory Board at my public library. I got an 1850 on my SAT (I know it’s not that great but I’m planning to take it again). This academic year I will take AP Calculus AB, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics C, AP Spanish Language, AP English Literature, and AP European History. I am 50 out of 482 (top 10%) and have a 3.7 un weighted GPA and a 4.5 weighted GPA. I’m planning to apply to U of Chicago and UPenn mainly because of their financial aid offers and undergraduate education as well as location. Other schools that I’m applying include Rice and Dartmouth. Please I would like to know if I should apply to selective schools and If I’m in the right path.</p>
<p>You should definitely apply to some reaches (Upenn and the others you mentioned are reach schools) but you also need some safeties and matches, as well as at least one financial safety. What are you looking for in a school, urban rural, liberal arts, big research university? Are you guy or girl, and are you willing to consider single sex institutions?</p>
<p>Look at some of the selective schools that are test-optional like Bowdoin and Smith (if you’re female).</p>
<p>Check out QuestBridge! Pretty smart, decently ranked, decently EC’d (and very sweet) low-income Hispanic girl at my school got into UChicago on a full ride there (I think). I don’t know the details, as I am neither Hispanic nor low-income, but she received her (binding) decision on December 1 and doesn’t have to pay for college (tuition? or also room and board?). Her SAT score was probably 300-400 points higher than yours, though, so it might not make sense for you to apply to Chicago that way, picking instead Smith or something. Everything looks great except your SAT… I don’t really know any more details so I’m going to stop talking now.</p>
<p>Early action at Chicago would make sense because you won’t be committed. You should definitely have a number of really selective schools on your list. For LACs in addition to Bowdoin, which someone mentioned, look at Amherst and Middlebury, but also some slightly less selective LACs —Macalaster maybe if you want a city, Trinity if small city is OK, Pennsylvania schools like Franklin and Marshall or Lehigh. But we would need to know more about your thoughts on small vs. large, possible majors, city vs. rural etc. You might want to look into the Possee Foundation as well as Questbridge.</p>
<p>Well thanks guys, I’m accutally guy lol, also when looking through some Liberal Arts schoools I am considering Pomona College in California Idk if this would be a good match for me, I’m intersted in Engineering and would like to have aminor in History. Also if some of you culd notice by the end of high school i will ahve about 3 AP history classes and 2 additional social studies classes( micro and AP government). Since I am interested in social sciences as well as math shhould i enphaise my decire to study both and how dedicated ii’ve been in both fields when writing my application and essay. More feedback on thi please. Also I would like to knoe about more Libreal arts schools in the NE that might fit me aside from Bowdoin, which i strongly consider, as in the west. As for reseach institutions I would like to be near big cities like Chicago and Pennsylvania as well as LA and New York. PLease more feed back on this and thank you.</p>
<p>I’m reaslly sacared that my 1850 of the SAT will cut me from my top choice colges. 580 in CR 640 in Math and 630 in writting (11 on the Essay)</p>
<p>No engineeringing at Pomona or U Chicago. If you apply to these places and say you are a potential engineer, you will be rejected outright. Same is true at many of the top LACs. They have 3/2 programs for engineers, but generally would expect you to make a strong case for why you want to be there if you plan to major in something they don’t offer, rather than going to a school that offers engineering.</p>
<p>Posse and QuestBridge are good programs for you to check out.</p>
<p>Your class rank and scores are low for the schools you mention (Chicago, Dartmouth, Penn, etc.) You do not need to attend such selective schools to get decent financial aid. Trinity College (Hartford) was a good suggestion (liberal arts college with engineering, more realistic admission chances).</p>
<p>^ I think top 10% is actually enough for Chicago, but 50/482 is just outside the top 10%.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Colby College, which has a 3-2 engineering program with Dartmouth?</p>
<p>As a safety school, consider Wabash College. It is an all-male school, it has a 3-2 degree, meets 100% financial need and is known for its tight alumni network and for high graduate school admissions rates. They also have paid immersion trips. You get automatic merit aid for top 10%, they have a scholarship weekend for more $. Because it is all-male, they are seen as less selective, but you come out with a great education.</p>
<p>I want colleges that will take into account my stay as an immigrant( just 5 years) and my achivements but that at the same time are top tier schools and offer good engineering programs. As for 3-2 engineering programs Idk how they work do you recived a diploma form the univeristy were you do the engineering course work or the univeristy you are enlisted? Please more info on this.</p>