I am a student from a challenging and competitive private high school in Chicago. My extracurriculars are: 3 years of school soccer with junior year captain, experience as a professional photographer both as a freelancer and as an independent contractor for national companies, my photos have been recognized by said companies in their photos of the month, I am a tutor and on exec board that tutors kids at Chicago Public Schools, and I was awarded the “MVP” award as best tutor for the school year. I am an editor for the school newspaper and photographer for both the yearbook and newspaper. I am in National Honor Society, have played 3 years of club soccer with 3 years of captainship, am a United States Soccer Federation Certified Referee with many games of experience, I am a Day Camp counselor at a YMCA Camp in Indiana during the summer and am VP of App-Development team at my school.
I will most likely apply under a major or communication or journalism for these schools with the exception of USC where I might apply as a photography major.
Can I get in these schools?
Boston College
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (In-State)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Notre Dame (Legacy)
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
Southern Methodist University
University of Texas, Austin
University of Washington, Seattle
What is your unweighted GPA since different HS’s have different weighting systems? HS course rigor?
Not sure on my unweighted, it should be around a 3.65-3.7, I have gotten all A’s and B’s throughout high school taking advanced classes. This year I got all As with 4 honors and 2 Ap classes. Last year we only had 1 ap class offered and I did not take it. Next year I am taking 2-3 AP classes and 3 honors classes depending on what schedule I get. My weighting system is a +0.33 class GPA for honors and +0.66 for an AP. So if you get an A- in an honors class that counts as a 4.0.
Each school will determine your GPA based on their weighting system so that is why I asked for your UW GPA. Since you stated you go to a competitive HS, your HS course rigor does not seem very competitive. How many AP classes are offered at your HS? Where do you rank at your HS, in the top 10%?
I can only comment on USC but your ACT and UW GPA are within range. LOR’s, essays and EC’s will all contribute to your chances but consider it a Reach school due to low acceptance rate. Definitely apply before Dec 1 for the best chance at scholarship money.
My school reports weighted GPA, and my course rigor is above average for my school, as the school itself limits how many APs a student can take as the classes are significantly harder at my school than others. This has been told to me by counselors who say that colleges understand that fact as well. My school does not rank, so I am not sure on the rank.
Would you say I should apply before Dec 1 and keep my 3.8 GPA or apply at the later date and have an increased GPA? (I can have a 3.9 GPA if I report 1st sem senior year grades.)
I would apply by Dec 1 for USC for the merit scholarships/aid and most likely they will ask for 1st Semester Senior grades anyways.
Does your school have Naviance or other charts that can show where you stand among prior years’ students applying to the same schools?
Yes, and by those, I seem to be in the clear for most of these schools.