Should I do more?

Applying to College
1

My GPA Is a 3.7. I got an ACT COMPOSITE score of 26. My last SAT score was 1650 and I’m taking it again next week. I do plenty of extracurricular activities, Model United Nations,Captain of Robotics Team, Hiking Club, 300 + hours of community service, and I’ve clerked at two law firms and I have done Marching band in the past, played percussion but am able to play violin/ voila, chello. I play basketball outside of school. I can get very strong letters of recommendations. Please give me some suggestions for things that would look better, other extracurricular activities etc)

Any advice on helping my “stock”

I am going to college to major in business( something related). Afterwards I plan on going to law school. Do you think there is a college that’s a good fit for me? Looking to pay less than 45,000$. I live in NJ if that helps.

2

You should get into Rutgers and you might get in TCNJ. Those are about 25k a year.

With your test scores, there are lots of good choices and many seem to be the Catholic schools with AACSB accredited business schools.

The cost will depend on your family’s income. You could get some merit at a few.

3

If you’re a senior, it’s too late to add more extracurriculars. Colleges look for applicants who have spent a lot of time in activities they’re passionate about. Write great essays and have teachers, family, and friends read them. For colleges, Rutgers or TCNJ are good choices.

4

Are the extracurricular activities that I have good enough to have me stand out? My essay is very strong, I’ve been told by many people. Would these things help me get into a college like Michigan State?

5

I don’t think you need ECs to stand out. And, they won’t get you into a college. I think that the ECs make a difference at the most competitive schools where they can differentiate among students who all have 800s. That isn’t enough for the strongest schools. But there are plenty of good schools that don’t require 800s and perfect grades. Your have a smattering of ECs that suggest you were involved with the school and you did well in classes.

6

I think you should also look into some test-optional colleges. Temple comes to mind immediately; they have something called “Temple Option.” Temple costs about $40-45k for out-of-state students. Go to Fairtest.org for a full list of test-optional schools. Many of them will come in within your price range.

7

ECs aren’t going to make a difference here. As others have said, you’ve done more than enough. The issue is your test score. Either look at test optional schools or, if you didn’t practice for your tests, do it now and raise that score.

8

work on improving either act or sat. I’d say your in at rutgers but a maybe for TCNJ.

9

Agree with others. Do your best to get a higher than 3.7GPA this semester and practice and prep for a test retake. Omit ECs by the boatload if they interfere. They will be worthless next to a solid senior year GPA and better test scores.

Seriously. Stop the community service. Stop the non-valuable clubs. Their presence on your college app won’t matter vs. a better GPA or test scores.

10

Considering your budget, you’d have a decent shot at many AACSB schools, from SUNY Geneseo to Susquehanna, to Marist plus Catholic universities as AStern said, plus Rutgers and TCNJ.
If you apply “undecided/DUS” before Nov 30, you would have a pretty good shot at Penn State - don’t expect any financial aid though. (“DUS” students take the same classes as Smeal students for their first semesters and are admitted to Smeal if they have no grade below C in core classes and a 3.2 GPA/ 3.5 for finance.)
UMass Isenberg is in play too.
Thank your parents because their hard work and good fortune allow you to have that many choices, financially- speaking.

11

What is DUS and Smeal ?