What colleges should I aim for with a dismissal on my record but very strong stats?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>I know you’re probably deterred from reading on due to the amount of information, but from a 16 year old who is sincerely worried about his future, please try to bear with me here. I’ll chance you back, I swear.</p>

<p>As a Sophomore approaching the end of the year, I have afforded myself some time to reflect on the first half of my High School Career. UPenn is definitely a top choice (on par with Cornell and Duke), but something is particularly worrisome to me.</p>

<p>I was dismissed from a military school in January.</p>

<p>I was dismissed for nothing really serious, but rather repetitive behavior. I didn’t want to be at the school at all, and I showed my distaste for the ethics surrounding the ‘leadership’ there on a daily basis. There were fights every day and many of the kids did drugs. Overall, I did not feel very comfortable and I hated the curriculum. The classes were far too easy (not to be arrogant), even the honors classes. I DO accept full responsibility for my behaviors (just generally being disrespectful; none of my offenses were ‘honor code related’).</p>

<p>Here is my resume for core classes (tenth grade classes are the ones I took at public school following my dismissal):</p>

<p>9th
Honors English 9th: A+
Honors World History: A
Honors Math I: B+
Honors Biology: A+
Spanish II: A</p>

<p>10th
Honors English 10th: A+
Honors Pre-calculus: A+
AP Human Geography: A
Honors Chemistry: A+
Honors Spanish IV: A</p>

<p>I took the SAT and got a 2150, and plan on getting 2300+</p>

<p>What’s more, I’m entering the IB Program next year (for those of you who may not know, it’s essentially taking all AP’s).</p>

<p>I am volunteering at a zoo all summer to educate kids aged 5 or younger on environmental awareness and animals (for a total of 200+ hours over the summer).</p>

<p>I’m in the National Spanish Honor Society as a Sophomore</p>

<p>I created a chess club at my school, hosted a tournament (managed all finances; entrance fee-expenses, and used an iPod 4 as the incentive to enter and potentially win), and donated all proceeds to the school Basketball team.</p>

<p>My school is NOT very reputable at all, but the IB Program is and the kids around me are very smart, yet I am currently the 5th in my entire 10th grade class (including those outside IB) of 400.</p>

<p>Out of THESE COLLEGES, what do you think would be a high reach, a reach, a good fit, and a definite safety school? Feel free to not do all of them; I just want some varying opinions. Colleges with a (+) next to them are of special importance to me to be graded.</p>

<p>Elon University
Duke University (+)
Cornell University (+)
University of Pennsylvania (+)
Rhodes College (+)
Whitman College
Occidental College
Emory University
University of Chicago (+)</p>

2

<p>Duke: Reach
UPenn: Reach
Cornell: Reach
U Chicago: Reach (can you write stellar essays?)
Rhodes: Low match
Whitman: Match
Occidental: Match
Elon: Safety
Emory: Match</p>

3

<p>Ivy-league schools are a reach no-matter who you are.</p>

4

<p>Elon University - Low match
Duke University (+) - Reach (you may be asked to explain your dismissal)
Cornell University (+) - Low Reach
University of Pennsylvania (+) - High Reach ( A higher SAT score would benefit you)
Rhodes College (+) - Low Match
Whitman College - Low Match
Occidental College - Match
Emory University - High Match
University of Chicago (+) - Literally all depends on essays. Are you creative?
Chance me back - <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1485632-chance-me-ucla-usc-upenn-duke.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1485632-chance-me-ucla-usc-upenn-duke.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>You guys are the best.</p>

<p>The University of Chicago thing regarding essays is very encouraging, considering writing is, indeed, my strong suit. By far.</p>

<p>And I’d be happy to chance you back.</p>

6

<p>Bump bump bump</p>

7

<p>Okay, i gotta ask, what’s with the ‘bump’ thing?</p>

8

<p>To get your thread to the top of the forum. So more people see it</p>

9

<p>Yup, you have strong stats. Ec’s are nice, too. I think all of these colleges except Duke and UPenn are match. Duke and UPenn:reach.
Good luck!!</p>

10

<p>Sorry to be negative but I know several students with NO expulsion or suspensions that were denied at all of these schools. Really your bet it to apply ED at whichever of these schools you can personally make contact because someone on the ad com is going to have to walk your app thru the process or the expulsion will be deadly.</p>

11

<p>You def have good scores and interesting ec’s with the founding of chess club, especially. i think you certainly have a chance at getting into a top school. </p>

<p>although it’s somewhat of a disadvantage, i wouldn’t worry too much about your dismissal. as long as you explain it like you did here, i think it’s understandable, for you didn’t do anything terrible, or as you say against the honor code. </p>

<p>chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1494137-chance-me-dartmouth-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1494137-chance-me-dartmouth-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>bump bump bump please do this :)</p>