Free College Counseling: What Are My Chances?

Here are some quick stats for you:

Brown: Last year admitted 15% of applicants, 25% accepted out of top 5 students within their high school, 19% accepted from top 10 percentile of students.

Columbia: 90% of students accepted were in the top 10% of their graduating class? a little less than 11% of applicants to CU are accepted.

Dartmouth: 11,734 apps, 2,173 accepted?88% of students were within the top 10% of their class.

University of Pennsylvania: 20% of all applicants are accepted.

Yale: 15% of applicants are accepted.

Stanford: 12% of applicants are accepted, 20% of High Schools top 1-2% class rank are admitted.

Harvard: 22,769 applicants, only 2,102 are admitted and 1,640 are enrolled.

Duke: 18,089 applicants, 3,996 accepted, 1,728 enrolled on average.



Sydney,

Considering you?re ranked in the first percentile of your class, although it doesn?t guarantee your acceptance, it does give you an awesome edge.Ivy League schools are going to look at. There is more to a person than their grades and test scores, and they are going to take into consideration your personality and character. The schools you decide to apply to are going to reflect on your academics no doubt, but they will also look to see the diversity you can bring to their institution.

I hope this helps...
Joey Rahimi
The College Prowler Conselor

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Shanell,

First I?m wondering, what university you are planning to attend. And also if you are currently at Macomb Comm. College?. I would be interested to see what your high school GPA was. As to my understanding, you have three classes on your community college transcript, two of which are Fs. My advice to you is to start off at a community college, maybe pull those grades up a little bit more. And then plan on transferring to a university. I checked out some stats for MSU, not quite sure if you?re interested though. There are some guidelines for transferring to MSU, which is why it might be a good idea to pull your grades up. MSU won?t consider any student for admissions with a GPA lower than a 2.0. And your admission chances are a lot higher with a GPA of 3.0 and some recommended classes passed (English & Math).

Fair warning, a lot of colleges and universities are strict with their credit guidelines. MSU doesn?t seem too bad, but if you have less than 28 credits, you?re required to live on campus. There are some exceptions that you might be able to get by on. But I would be prepared to lose a few credits; that?s just what happens sometimes when you transfer colleges. Your admission also depends on whether or not you have a major decided. Since it?s so early in the game, I?m assuming you have not chosen one yet. This would be a good idea, even if you get some ideas for what you might want to do. This way, you?ll be able to take some of the lower level classes at the community college and transfer them to MSU. On MSU?s website there is a link that will actually tell you which classes from your specific college will transfer to MSU.

I know you want to get into a university right away, but if you take a summer semester of classes, and then a fall semester of classes your chances will be a lot higher if your GPA increases. So, if you do that you?ll have 30 credits, assuming you take 15 credits each semester, which means if you do attend MSU you?ll have the option of living on or off campus. I would take at least 30 credits before you apply to transfer, but MSU will not take more than 60 credits from a 2 year college or 90 from a 4 year.

Once you decide what you want to do, I would look more into researching some other universities, just in case MSU isn?t quite right for you. College Prowler has a guide book for Michigan State University, and also for University of Michigan. These books give you a lot more information than you?d think: they tell you about the professors, the food, the housing, the girls, the guys, the sports. It tells you exactly what you want and need to know about that college. And since you?re kind of starting off fresh, I would definitely suggest these to you.

I hope this helps...
Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

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Chelsey,

First, don?t stress out too much about the SATs, you didn?t do completely awful on them, and just think you can take them as many times as you would like until you get the score you?re looking for. Your high school transcript sounds like it would be very good; the top 6% of your class and everything in the 90th percentile with advanced classes is impressive. I?m guessing that a 4.3 GPA is on a weighted scale as well. Colleges don?t just look at your SAT scores and decide whether or not they?ll admit you. They take into consideration all of the things you have mentioned above.

Depending on which schools you decide to apply to, they?re going to look at the types of classes you take, the involvement you have within your school and community. They will look at your SAT scores, but it sounds like you have enough going for you in other categories that I wouldn?t consider your SAT scores the end of the world. I?m not sure what you mean by selective colleges, (Ivy League, Duke, Stanford?) My suggestion to you is to narrow your choices down to about 3-5 schools. See which ones work for you, and of course there are College Prowler books that can help you do just that. If you plan to apply to the liberal arts college within the college/university, they would most likely take other things into consideration, such as your portfolio, is what I?m assuming you mean.

Again, with the info you gave me, I?m not sure if you want to attend at 4 year or 2 year school. I?m not sure if you want to stay in Ohio, or if you want to leave the state. Here are some top schools in Ohio that offer programs in visual/design communications: Miami University of Ohio, Bowling Green State University, University of Akron, Ohio State University and Ohio University. Which most of those schools have guidebooks by College Prowler to help you decide which is the best choice for you and your family.

Next, dealing with financial aid is something most students and their families deal with for school. A middle-class family obviously making middle-class wage, has about the same chances of affording a $40,000+ school the same as any other family. Financial Aid offices work with the income, and the state grants and scholarships usually help out a lot too. I can?t guarantee you anything, but I?m pretty sure that the university or college that you decide on will work one on one to help you get the education you want while still making it affordable for you and your family.

Good Luck,
Joey Rahimi
The College Prowler Counselor

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Hannah,

It is unfortunate that first you feel you have this stigma, and second that people might actually take that into considerations. I think it?s great that you?re working so hard at Portland State, and it?s great to build relationships with professors. Well you are right in assuming that most transfer programs are very competitive, but you didn?t mention which ?top-tier? schools you want to get into?are you talking Ivy League or a little below that?

First figure out which schools are right for you?College Prowler can help you in this area too. We have a guide book for all of the Ivy League schools, or if that?s not what you?re looking for, narrow your choices down to a few schools and from there use the CP books to help you Personally I do not think it is totally unrealistic to think that you can make it into a competitive school. Like I said before, I?m not sure exactly what you mean, but there are a few Ivy League schools within your reach, as long as you keep working really hard. It?s tough to prove people wrong about stigmas like yours, but you seem like you?re on the right track.

My advice to you is to keep on doing what you?re doing. Keep your GPA as close to perfect as you can, which will be very important in transferring colleges. Since you have a GED, universities are probably going to look at what you can do in a college environment, to make sure that you are capable and dedicated, which seems to be the case now. I would get at least a year or two in at Portland State, make sure that your GPA stays high, and then I would narrow down your choices to a few colleges.

College Prowler guidebooks can help you at that point, giving you the information that you need to know about your final list of choices.

Good Luck,
Julia Yannone
The College Prowler Counselor

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Charles,

You sound like you?re a great candidate for these programs, and none of them are ?out of your league?, in my opinion. I?m not sure of your golf stats, but your academic records shouldn?t be a problem in regards to your admissions. I?m also not sure what types of extra curricular things you have going on?but those also weigh in when it comes to being accepted.

First Clemson seems like the most competitive school when it comes to the Golf Management Program. They have no cut-off for GPA or SAT scores, but the average was 1204 for 2004 which you?re obviously well above. They do require a handicap of 8, and like I said before, I?m not quite sure of your golf stats.

As for Campbell, the requirements are about the same, but the program itself seems less competitive, which can have its benefits as well as downfalls. Your admissions to Campbell depends not only upon your SAT score, your high school GPA, but also class rank, as well as class involvement.

Next, Coastal Carolina?s students usually enter with a 1046 SAT score and a 3.3 GPA, which again you?re above. The Professional Golf Management Specialization is majored within the Business program at the university, and before being enrolled in the PGM program, you must first be admitted to CCU, then fill out an entirely different application for the PGM program. *Handicap of 8 is also required for the program along with a Letter of Recommendation from a PGA member. (BLUE HERON PINES).

I would suggest applying to all four schools, just to keep your options opened. Clemson sounds like it will do the most for you in the end, but that?s only from my point of view. College Prowler has a published guidebook specifically for Clemson University...it will tell you a lot more about the college than advisors and tour guides can. The book is written by students to let you know what things are really like. Since the programs are so competitive, I would suggest getting your applications in early?the sooner the better right?

Good Luck,
Julia Yannone
The College Prowler Counselor

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Miguel, You shouldn?t have a problem getting into CUNY. You?ll have to do well on your SAT/ACT, and you will probably have to take the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) which tests nonnative English speakers? ability to understand English as it would be presented in a college environment.

I?m not sure if the GPA you presented to me is the GPA from here, or the on averaged with your country?s grades. Although it is not impossible for you to transfer to, Columbia requires the equivalent of one full academic year at another institution, and at least a 3.5 GPA to even apply. You will want to work a lot harder to pull up your GPA.

Considering the competitive nature of the University, less than ten percent of applicants are admitted. To keep your options open, you might want to consider some other schools that have a strong physics program, in case things don?t quite work out with the Columbia.

Like I said it?s not impossible, but it?s going to be hard with less than a 4.0 GPA. They require at least a 3.5, so it?s going to take some work on your part if you want to go to Columbia that much. I would keep some other options like I said, just in case. My advice is to keep your coursework challenging, and get your grades a little higher.

Good Luck...
Joey Rahimi
The College Prowler Counselor

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Jordan,

This is totally your decision. If you tell them, I really don?t think it will make a difference with your admission, but I?m sure they will refer you to an education specialist. If you work closely with someone who is aware of your situation, it will probably benefit you in the end.

If there is no clear space to include the information you have shared with me on a college application, I would make it a point to write a separate essay. I would write the essay about what you have told me: working very hard to achieve everything you have. This is a great example of overcoming a huge obstacle to earn something that you?ve set as a goal. It shows great character and a determined personality.

My suggestion is to be open and honest about your situation. I don?t see how a college could turn an applicant down, especially if they meet the recommended requirements, just for having an LD like yours.

Also, talk with your family and your guidance counselor at school. Their input is important, but in the end it?s all up to you.

I hope this helps?
Joey Rahimi
The College Prowler Counselor

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Darrin,

You seem like you?ve already got a good start in your college selection process. All four of these schools are distinguished and highly regarded, and they?re all selective in their admissions process. You definitely have the credentials to be accepted, but these schools don?t look solely at your GPA and test scores.

They like to see your personal involvement in school, in the community, etc. These schools pick only the top applicants, the ones who have the charisma, the talents, and the curiosity to be successful.

To answer your question, you have very good chances for acceptance to those schools. Like I said, they?re going to look at other aspects of your life. If you write any personal essays for the admissions office, tell them about your achievements, what you have struggled with, what you have overcome.

After you?ve applied to those schools, take a look at the College Prowler books. We have them for all four schools, and they will really help you narrow your choices down in the end. It will give you an idea of the school from the students? perspective, the opinions that really matter.

I hope this helps?
Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

Erika,

Here are some quick stats from the University of Michigan:
Profile of freshman & GPA

U of M freshmen with a 4.00: 22.1%

U of M freshmen with a 3.90 or higher: 44.4%

U of M freshmen with a 3.75 or higher: 59.5%

U of M freshmen with a 3.50 or higher: 85.2%

High School GPA of 3.6-3.9


Middle 50% had:

ACT Composite of 26-31

SAT I Total of 1240-1400


Although it seems that your ACT Composite was a little lower than the middle 50% of the incoming class, your GPA is in good standings regarding your prospective admission. I would suggest keeping up the good work in school, and possibly taking the ACTs again.

You can take either the SATs or ACTs as many times as you want?.that is my suggestion to you. Try to get your test scores a little higher, and you can feel a little more comfortable with the possibility of admission.

As far as your extracurricular involvement is concerned, it is definitely a plus for you. Admissions offices look at how successful you are in school and in life, and when they see that you involve yourself at your high school or in your community, it helps them to get a better understanding of what kind of person you are. Have you thought about letters of recommendation? Revising your admissions essays? These are all little details that can essentially make a huge difference.

As far as your race is concerned, it doesn?t guarantee anything in your favor. Colleges want to create well-rounded campuses, and whether that is through ensuring diversity at the University, or what have you?. I would say you?re going to be evaluated mostly on your academics.

To get a better view of UM from students? points of view, take a look at the College Prowler guidebook for UM. It will give you the details that you need to know like how students graded campus food, and since your involved in a lot of extra c?s, you can see how students rated campus life and student involvement. The book will give you that big picture you?re looking for.

I hope this helps?
Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

Feng,

You have a lot of schools on your list, and I?m hoping that I can help you narrow down your choices. First I would suggest to take off of your list Ohio State University, Michigan State, UConn, and SUNY at Buffalo. But those are only my recommendations. You have chances at all of these schools because colleges and universities look to bring in diversity to their campuses, which works well in your favor. Most of the GPAs that schools are asking for are a little higher than yours, but you can still work on that. I?m not sure what year you are in, but I would try to pull that up to at least a 3.5. And you do know that you can take your SATs as many times as you would like.

Some schools do not require you to take the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) if you have done better than 400 on your SAT verbal, which you have, but depending on the college or univ., their guidelines might differ.

To narrow down your choices, try some of the College Prowler books. There is one for a lot of the schools on your list, and I really think it will help you learn as much as you can about the schools. It will give you some ideas of what the campus and schools are like from students? perspectives, which will help you a lot in the end.

Good Luck,
Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

Jeffery,

You do have a chance for most of these schools. The average GPA for Elon University is between a 3.5 and 4.4. Your GPA seems a little low for that, but it?s always worth a shot. The admission isn?t just based on your GPA, they also factor in your student activities and involvement.

The average ACT score at UMN is 23.4, which qualifies you in a sense. They have no cut-off requirements for GPA, but they do consider your involvement as well.

Babson College seems to be a little less strict with guidelines and whatnot. They take into consideration a few different aspects of you as a student?.they evaluate obviously your grades, and your test scores. They look at your involvement, once again.

Admission also depends on your interests, your goals, your creativity and determination. All of these factors help to provide these advisors with everything they need to make a well informed decision about you.

For DePaul University, the average GPA is 3.3 and the average ACT is between 21-26. You fall within those guidelines, so I would suggest this school to you as well. Like I have said, colleges don?t just look at grades.

As far as Miami University, the middle 50 percent of the 2005 had ACT scores of 24?28. And since you were deferred from early admission, your application is automatically reviewed in March, so I would keep an eye on that.

I would say you have a chance at all of these schools, maybe some are a little better than other, but none are out of reach. I would apply to all of them, just in case things with Miami don?t work out quite as you hope.

As far as choosing between the five different schools, College Prowler has books out for three of those schools, which will help you narrow your choices down by seeing what other student have to say about the schools.

I hope this helps?
Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

Dear Eric,

Here are some fast facts that I found on some of the schools you?re interested in:

University of Pennsylvania: 20% of all applicants are accepted.

Brown: Last year admitted 15% of applicants, 25% accepted out of top 5 students within their high school, 19% accepted from top 10 percentile of students.

Amherst: Only 19% of over 6,000 students are admitted. For the SAT I, the middle 50% scored between 1340 and 1530; on the ACT the middle 50% scored between 29 and 33.

Northwestern: Average GPA, SAT, ACT scores aren?t listed as requirements, but the website does offer the 2006-07 essay questions for the 400-500 word personal statements.



You have great chances of getting into all of these schools judging solely on your academic record. However, top schools like these also base your potential admission on community involvement and extra curricular activities, teacher and guidance counselor recommendations, class rank, and your personal essays along with you GPA and standardized test scores.

As for comparing and contrasting these schools, in terms of campus life and academics can be a difficult and daunting task. There are College Prowler guidebooks out for these colleges and universities, and I would really suggest that you take a look at them. It will give you a much better understanding of the campus than I can give you. The guidebooks were written by the students of those schools, so they tell it like it is.

I would suggest that you narrow your choices down to three, and then pick up the corresponding College Prowler books.

I hope this helps,
Good Luck ?

Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

Dear Daniel,

Well, you didn't really give me a lot of information about you, but I'll start with just the basics. Schools like Georgetown and Duke are highly selective when it comes to admissions.
Here are some quick stats for you from Georgetown University:

Total Applicants Applied - 15,285

Total Applicants Admitted - 3,281

Percent Admitted- 22%

SAT Verbal Middle 50% - 670-760

SAT Math Middle 50%- 670-750

Your GPA is in good shape, but admission decisions also depend on your involvement in your school and in your community. Colleges want to see that you?re a motivated and driven young adult, and your leadership skills demonstrate just that.

As far as Duke is concerned, they are just as selective as Georgetown.

Duke:

Total # Applicants: 18,089

Total # Accepted: 3,996

1,728 enrolled on average each year

Potentially, you have great chances at both colleges judging only your academic record. But remember, colleges and universities look at other things as well. Do you have any guidance counselor or teachers? letters of recommendation lined up? If not, it?s probably a good idea to start asking.

I hope this helps?
Julia Y.
The College Prowler Counselor

Hi Amelia,

You are looking to know your chances of getting into William and Mary, Grinnell, and Oberlin. First, I?ll give you some statistics on all three:

William and Mary?s average SAT score is 1379 (for the old SAT) and you get this score by adding your math score with your verbal score.

Grinnell?s average SAT score is 1415.

Oberlin?s average SAT score is 1440.

You fit in very well into all three of these schools testing wise and also academically. You have been taking many advanced placement courses which is also great. I commend you on starting early?a lot of people look at their transcripts senior year and after seeing one AP course and realize that they should have started taking them sooner. You also must know that in order to have an edge over the thousands of other applicants that you will be going up against you have to come up with your ?catch.?

Valedictorian is a fantastic accomplishment and congratulations on your hard work though out your time in high school, but the only thing about it is that there will be hundreds of other Valedictorians applying as well. If you can find one thing outside of school that you do that makes you different from every other applicant applying to these, and any other schools that you might apply to...you'll be set. Colleges and universities are looking for that unique student that will leave a good first impression on them, so make sure you do so!!

Once again congratulations on all of your accomplishments!

When you start applying to your schools of choice don?t forget to get copies of the College Prowler guidebooks to give you inside information to help you make you final decision!



Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Rebecca,

University of North Florida was a hard one to track down! We do not have a guidebook on it, and I looked up a few websites before I found the information you need; no wonder you had questions about it!

University of North Florida seems to be a pretty good fit for you, which is good. Their average GPA is a 2.5 so you are just fine there.

They have a 1040 SAT I average and an 21 composite score on the ACT. Have you taken the SAT yet? If you haven?t I would suggest taking them at least once, and even taking the ACT one more time. For most people their scores go up a little bit every time and this could be a benefit to you.

A few other requirements for UNF are that you have taken:
4 years of English
3 years of Math
3 years of Science (2 being lab sciences)
3 Social Science
2 years of the same foreign language
4 approved electives

Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Olga,

You definitely seem interested in this fine institution. Your grades seem to be in a great range for this school, but you did not include your test scores. Tufts does accept either the ACT or the SAT, and the average on the old SAT is from 1250-1420. Their average ACT score is a 30. I hope that you?ve taken the tests so you know how you stack up score wise.

Scores are not the only thing a college will look at so don?t fret if you have taken the tests and your scores are not exactly at their level. Colleges and universities also look at extra curricular activities as well as how the student spends their free time in the summer. They like to see well rounded kids who have been doing things throughout their high school careers.

Hope this has helped a bit,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Courtney,

Unfortunately because you didn?t send in any of your test scores I cannot tell you whether or not you will be able to get into NYU or Fordham. But I can give you their statistics and you can compare them on your own:

New York University
Average GPA: 3.57
SAT (25th-75th): 1220-1410
ACT: 29

Fordham University:
Average GPA: 3.31
SAT (25th-75th): 1090-1282
ACT: 27

Your GPA isn't quite in either one of these schools ranges, and because I don?t know your test scores I can?t say that you do or do not have a shot at either one. I do recommend that you stay active in your community, and to find an area of particular interest. Passion is what colleges are all about, so if you find that one thing that you really would like to do when you grow up, stick with it and you will do great things!

Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Toks,

Welcome to the world of college admissions! To help you with your first question you should know that 49% of Rutgers students receive some type of scholarship.

Here is one type that Rutgers offers their prospective students:

Outstanding Scholars Awards (New Jersey Residents)

Eligibility:

? Outstanding New Jersey high school seniors; based on a sliding scale of rank in class and combined critical reading and math SAT scores

There is more information at http://admissions.rutgers.edu/080101.asp about the set of requirements for each scholarship, so take a look and see what you qualify for and then you can apply!

As for your chances of getting in Rutgers has a 54% acceptance rate.

The most popular areas of study at Rutgers are: Social/Political/Historical Studies; Psychology; Biological Sciences; Business and Computer Sciences, but this does not necessarily mean that you have to study in any one of these particular areas. These are the most popular and most well known majors at the school, but there is also a school of Pharmacy, a College of Nursing and a School of Communication, so your options here are broad. You want to think about what classes you have excelled in throughout your high school career, and see how you can channel those passions into a major somehow.

To answer you campus housing question I?ve looked it up in our Rutgers New Brunswick guidebook, and you have a lot of options. There are 14 halls on the four campus? for you to pick from, but I would stay away from Clothier Hall and Mettler Hall on College Avenue as well as Katzenbach Hall on Douglass. To pretty much sum it up the housing situation isn?t too bright during your first year on campus, but it does improve as you get older.

Hope this has helped,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Robert,

Looks like you are very well on your way in the college admissions process. Taking advanced classes is great, and the few clubs that you are very passionate about is the exact right way to go. The big question now is how YOU are different from everybody else.

First off, you didn?t send me your test scores?so that is something that sets you apart! But in all honesty, if you are looking to go to an elite school you really need to do some soul searching and find out what makes you tick every day. When you find that passion and what fuels you, you will have your avenue and your one thing that makes you different, and just as qualified, if not even more so than the applicant on top of you in the stack that the admission?s officers will be reading. Whether it be something as silly as you really enjoy eating Burrito?s and you focus your day around them so you go work for a bean factor in your spare time or that you want to jump out of planes when your 27 and you get up every morning to go watch pilots gear up for their test drop of the day (exaggeration but you get my point). You want the person reading your application to remember you, so make it Don?t try to be someone you aren?t and rack up the community service hours if you aren?t really dedicated to the cause because then if they admit you to their school they won?t be admitting YOU, they?ll be admitting the person you are trying to be. Not to discredit community service, because I have done a lot of it and it is always much more rewarding than I can imagine, but don?t do it just because it looks good on paper?you want to do it because you want to make a difference.

Whatever fuels you will be what will set you apart from everyone else.

Best of luck, and don?t be afraid to ask the people closest to you what they think?never hurts to get a few suggestions,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Melanie,

To be honest, your chances of getting into Michigan State are not great. While about 50% of incoming freshman had your ACT score, the most important part of your academic record is your secondary school record, and that does not appear to be very strong at either your high school or your community college. At MSU, the average GPA of incoming freshman is 3.6, and while that is just the average, that means that many students had higher numbers as well as lower.

While I am not sure why you are interested in Michigan State, I would suggest looking at a few smaller colleges. Two in Michigan are Marygrove College and Rochester College. Not only may you have a better chance of gaining acceptance, but these schools may give you more attention and better help you to focus on your area of academic interest.

Best of luck finding your college match!

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Hi Victor,

You sure asked loaded questions, but they are questions that our guidebooks can answer! Here is what you want to know about all three universities.



Yale
The on-campus housing at Yale is good, and the best dorms are: Saybrook, Berkley, and Branford. We gave them an A-. But off-campus housing isn?t quite as nice?we gave it a B. So, staying on the lavish grounds at this New Haven institution isn?t a bad idea at all.

Extra curricular activities, of course there are going to be a lot of them, and there are 16 Men?s Varsity Sports to choose from as well as plenty of IM?s to keep you busy. There is a greek life on campus, and numerous clubs and organizations to join.

The food at Yale is o.k. We gave it a C+, and if you live on campus you are required to have a meal plan. The off-campus dining is a bit better, earning a B+ and supposedly the health-food Mexican place on Whitney is excellent.

The guys get a B and the girls get a B+ and the quality of life is pretty good.

And of course it is Yale so it has a steller A for academics.



Stanford
The on-campus housing at Stanford gets a B+ and 99% of the undergraduates live there. The other 1% that lives off campus doesn?t fair too well with a D-.

Stanford also offers 16 Men?s Varsity Sports.

The food here is pretty good earning a B for on-campus dining and an A for off-campus dining.

The ladies of Stanford earn a B- and the gentlemen get a B+. The students at Stanford are very laid back casual people, and there is a pretty big ?going steady? culture. So if you?re looking for a place that is good for a long term girlfriend Stanford is the place to have one.

The academics at this school earn an A+.



University of Pennsylvania
The on-campus housing at Penn gets a D and 70% of students live there. But 30% of the students live off-campus and this housing gets an A.

UPenn offers 15 Varsity Men?s sports and they are very well known for their football team. They also have plenty of IM?s and club sports. You should check out our Ivy League Compendium for the extra curricular activities, it goes in depth at each and every Ivy League school and tells you everything you want know about their extra curricular activities.

The food at UPenn gets a C- and freshman are required to have a meal plan. The off-campus dining get an A-, so eating out isn?t a bad idea.

The ratio at this school is exactly 50:50 so you have a girl for every guy. The girls get a C+ rating and the guys get a B.



And here are some basic statistics to help you get a sense of where you are in the mix:
Penn?s SAT scores range from: (1330-1500)
Stanford?s SAT scores range from: (1370-1550)
Yale?s SAT scores range from: (1380-1580)


So SAT wise you are in about the 50th percentile for each school, and your GPA is also within each school's range. You need to tell these schools why you want and deserve to be there because they are looking at many more qualified applicants than they can take. Also you want to think about your back up schools, because application rates are the highest they've ever been, and you most defnitely don't want to be stuck without any other options. Better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison Byrnes
College Prowler Counselor

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Assuming that you did well in all of your AP classes and that you scored somewhere between the high 1200s and mid 1400s on your SATs, you stand very high chances of being accepted by most of the schools you listed. Particularly the fact that you have three generations of alumnae at Boston College will improve your chances of admission there.

Additionally, these schools are good choices for the majors in which you have expressed interest. Several (Notre Dame, Boston College, Georgetown) are affiliated with the Roman Catholic church, and I?m sure that most of these have debate teams, as well, so you should enjoy whichever you choose.

Best of luck when that time comes.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Tom,

As is the case with most schools, the most important factors concerning admission to UMD College Park are 1) Secondary school record and 2) Standardized test scores. These alone are competitive enough: the average G.P.A. is 3.8 and the average SAT score (without the writing portion) is 1150-1370.

However, you were correct in assuming that state residency is still considered in the admissions process. Only about 31% of freshmen come from outside MD. Nevertheless, I personally had a friend who lived out-of-state, had less-than-average academic scores, and was admitted to this university anyway for his athletic abilities.

The bottom line is, if you are a strong candidate, most UMD College Park will probably give you fair consideration despite your residency. It is a strong school, however, so unless you have a solid academic record or special talents to offer, you may want to look at a less selective school.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Hi Jen,

Your list seems pretty solid. No one can say ?you have been accepted? or ?denied? to any of these universities until you get your letter from that particularplace. Everything is up in the air these days. So many students are applying to colleges that even the student with the perfect scores isn?t guaranteed a spot anywhere.

That being said, it is good to be in a schools score range. So here are the statistics to the universities you are interested in:

Emory University
Average SAT score: 1380
Average High School GPA: 3.49

Brandeis University
Average SAT score:
Average High School GPA: not one given

University of Rochester
Average SAT score: 1305
Average High School GPA: 3.41

Boston University
Average SAT score: 1290
Average High School GPA: 3.20

George Washington University
Average SAT score: apx. 1270
Average High School GPA: 3.35

Score wise you are in their ranges, which is good. You're going pre-vet? That's great! You are fulfilling every child's dream. As for which school is the best for pre-vet...Boston's program is good, and so is George Washington's. But no matter where you go you will have the requirements fulfilled to begin your veterinary degree successfully.

Best of luck with the admissions process,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

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Angelia,

Print journalists, such as those who work for magazines, as you mentioned, can get jobs with a B.A. in journalism such as editor, news analyst, reporter, or writer. If you wanted to further your career in journalism and obtain a leadership positions, you could enroll in master's degree programs with an emphasis on media management. Xavier University of Lousisiana has an M.A. in communication, journalism, and related programs, while Mississippi College offers communication, journalism, and related programs accounting, business administration and management, marketing/marketing management, communication studies/speech communication and rhetoric.

If you are interested in reading about Xavier University, check out the book on our website at http://www.collegeprowler.com/guide.asp/1-59658-206-5/index.html. Good luck with your future plans!

Allison G
College Prowler Counselor

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John,

First of all, congratulations on your SATs?you must be one smart cookie to have scored so well.

As with all extremely selective schools, it is hard to tell what your chances are concerning admission to Yale. As may be predicted, alumni, minorities, and Connecticut residents are given some preference, but only subjectively. Thus, the fact that your father is alumnus will help; but even so, Yale still only accepts 10% of its applicants.

Because your school records are so unconventional (I am assuming you will not have class rank, since you do not have a G.P.A., either), I would recommend paying special attention to the essay, resume, and recommendation portions of your application. Extracurricular activities play very important roles in shaping the college admissions officer?s image of you, and you seem to participate in a wealth of interesting ones, so use them to your advantage. Perhaps write your essay in the form of a speech or get a recommendation written by your Tae Kwon Do instructor. Think creatively and make yourself different; your high school is certainly different, so make the rest of your application just as unique.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Ashley,

To apply to Washington St.Louis, you need to apply directly to the particular school in which you will study. For instance, if you will study law, you apply to the Washington school of law. (I use this example because you mentioned being on your current school?s judiciary board.) Here, the median LSAT score is 166 and the G.P.A. is 3.6.

You still have 2 years to bring up a poor first year. Even if you do not make the 3.6 median, you still have several ways of trying to waive this weakness in your application. First of all, you must include a personal statement. If your first year is the only reason you have a poor G.P.A., then you could use your statement to explain the circumstances surrounding this particular year and why your grades were affected. You also have the option of including two letters of recommendation. If these are very strong, the admissions officer may overlook a tenth or two missing from your G.P.A. in favor of someone?s testament to your strong work ethic or generous nature.

Getting into graduate school is a very individualized process. Do the best you can with the time you have left. Then, lay it out on you application, and hope for the best. Nevertheless, keep in mind that it is always wise to have backups.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Here are some statistics so that you can compare your chances for the three schools you listed:

Brown University
17% acceptance rate
SAT: 1310-1520
Top 10% high school class: 90%

Cornell University
29% acceptance rate
SAT: 1290-1490
Top 10% high school class: 85%

Williams College
19% acceptance rate
SAT: 1330-1520
Top 10% high school class: 85%

Nevertheless, despite all of these numbers, Cornell considers talents and extracurriculars very important factors in the admissions decision, and Brown considers talents very important, as well. Therefore, if you maintain a rigorous course load and score well on your SATs, you should certainly try applying to these schools, amongst others.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Micheal,

I think you are well on your way!

The average G.P.A. of incoming freshman at Columbia University is 3.8. Really, your G.P.A. is so high that I would recommend your taking more advanced classes next year. It looks like you need a challenge.

Keep up the good work, and study for your SATs!

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Raj,

Unfortunately, we do not have a guidebook on the University of North Texas but I did look up their website to find some information for you. In order to be considered for any kind of admission at University of North Texas, Denton, you need to score at least a 950 on your SAT?s. Your scores are above this so you?re ok on that requirement. They are interested in seeing your ranking though junior year?so be prepared for that.

As for the ranking of the school, it is a fourth-tier school which is good, and it is within the top 50 state universities in the nation.

If you?re interested in going to this college, then I would definitely suggest putting your application in on the earlier side, and check to see if they have rolling admissions.

Make sure you take a look at their website and familiarize yourself with the school so that you know that you really want to go to North Texas before you get there and decide otherwise.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Darcee,

If you?re looking to go pre-med I must tell you something that you probably already know, but you absolutely must have a strong background in the sciences. It is absolutely necessary for you to take as many science and AP science courses that you can during your high school career, and this includes taking science SAT II?s.

Also, that you definitely want to take the SAT at least one more time in the fall, as well as the ACT, and compare your scores against each other. You definitely want to put your best foot forward when applying to college. As far as your scores are concerned, yes they are low for Ivy League schools, and that might hinder you a bit from being accepted right off the bat, but you also have a great story, and if you are passionate about your dreams and persistent about obtaining your goals you can achieve them.

You?re looking to narrow down your options for great pre-med programs, so do some research. Look online for nationally recognized organizations that rank the top pre-med schools and go from there. Set your goals realistically, though. You want to research into a few ?safety? schools so that if the Ivy League plan doesn?t work out during your freshman year, that you have an opportunity to go to college directly after graduating. And as for the one-week program at Brown increasing your chances on getting in there?it really depends. If you use your time well on their campus and make yourself known to the admissions staff while you?re there then yes it will bring a face and story to your name when they?re reviewing your application, but it does not guarantee admission.

The college process is not an easy one, but don?t let your SAT scores discourage you. If you have a goal you will reach it, so don?t let one thing get to you. Colleges and universities also love to see kids that are working outside of the classroom, so if you can get a job at a local hospital even answering phones that is always helpful. The more exposure you have to your possible field, the better off you will be.

Best of luck with your search.
Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Patrick,

The average ACT score to get into Stanford is a 33, so you want to take it another time. As for the SAT, their average score is about a 2090 for the new test. Otherwise, for admission it is pretty important that you show Stanford that you want to be there. Applying early action is a good idea, so you want to seriously consider that option.

You also want to make sure that you keep in touch with someone in Stanford?s admissions office, and let them know that you're very interested in their school.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Joni,

If you?re looking to go to Missouri State University, you would want to have a 23 on your ACT. We don?t have a guidebook on Missouri State, and they don?t publish very much information, so you want to send their admissions office an e-mail at admissions@missouristate.edu to learn more about what they expect from a prospective student.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Nick,

Penn State matches your scores most closely. The average G.P.A. is 3.6, and your SAT score falls in the upper third of the average range.

While NYU?s average G.P.A. is also 3.6, the average SAT range for this school is 1220-1410. However, if you make your projected 28 on the ACT, you will fall within their average 27-31 range.

Both Miami U. of OH and VA Tech are also fairly good matches, although these may be more difficult due to your G.P.A. Their average G.P.A. is higher than yours (3.7), but your SAT and projected ACT scores fall within the averages, and your extracurricular activities should help to round out your application. Additionally, both of these schools have comparatively high acceptance rates (71%), so if you are interested in them, it would be worth your time to fill out their applications.

Best of luck.Joey Rahimi

College Prowler Counselor

Rachel,

Here is admissions information that should help you get an idea of where you stand:

Cornell
SAT: 1290-1490
ACT: 28-32
Most Important for Application: 2ndary school record, test scores, recommendation(s), essay, talent(s), extracurricular activities

Brown
SAT: 1310-1520
ACT: 27-32
Most Important for Application: 2ndary school record, talent(s), character/personal qualities

Willliams
SAT: 1330-1520
ACT: n/a
Most Important for Application: 2ndary school record, test scores, recommendation(s), essay

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Zhi,

If you are looking to get into Brown University you probably want to know what kinds of scores their current students had when they applied for admission. Brown is a great school, and because of its selectivity their scores are not at the bottom of the heap. The average SAT score for Brown is a 1370, and their average ACT score is a 28. This schools average GPA is a 3.77, so looks like you?re doing just fine!

If you?re really serious about getting into Brown I would hope that you?ve already been in contact with their admissions office in order to collect material about their school. You most definitely do not want to make a decision based upon hearsay. So make sure you do your reading on the school and that you go for a visit. A very helpful tip is to get to know the admissions officers on campus so that whenever you have questions about the process of applying to Brown, they will be able to help you!

Also, Brown does not just look at test scores they also look at their applicants "special" characteristics. You know...what makes you unique and sets you apart from everyone else. So you definitely want to start thinking about getting across to the admissions staff what makes you you and why you would be beneficial on the Brown campus. Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Tina,

I want to first start off with a quick question. Not to be mean but why Early Decision to Duke? It is a fantastic school, but their most well known majors are not in the journalism/communications realm with the exception of public policy analysis, so it depends if you want to graduate with a ?communications? degree or a public policy degree.

Here are the statistics for all three schools:

Duke
Early Decision Acceptance rate: 36%
SAT I range: 1330-1530

University of North Carolina
Early Action Acceptance Rate: 46%
SAT I range: 1190-1390

University of Notre Dame
Early Action Acceptance Rate: 49%
SAT I range: 1280-1470

To answer your second question, nothing is impossible. Your GPA isn?t extremely low, and you can?t change it now so all you can do is hope for the best.

As for other schools that you should apply to, it would depend on where you would like to be. Syracuse has an amazing communications/journalism program and so does Georgetown. If you want to go to Duke then stick with the ED there. Hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Emily,

I hope that you know that these schools are great schools and good for you for wanting to be at such great places. I've had good friends go to all three schools and they have all loved their experiences! Not to sound pessimistic, but just in case they don?t work out for any reason I hope that you have a safety school or two in mind. Being fully prepared for anything and everything is a true sign of intelligence.

I am pretty sure that you have taken a look in the guidebooks for information, so we should probably go from there.

As for your chances of matriculating at any one of these schools in the fall of 2007, you need to evaluate your scores against their scores, and on your tours of all three institutions you want to sound out the most important thing to each school. Then, you should evaluate yourself to see if it is the right place for you. Some schools are very big on test scores, other schools like a lot of personality and character as well as test scores, and a lot of schools like a whole lot of everything.

Hopefully you have some stellar extra curricular activities, like captain of the Varsity tennis team, to match your test scores and grades.

I?ll give you a quick run down of what each of the three schools are looking for:

Cornell University
Average GPA: 3.75
Average ACT composite: 29

Dartmouth College
Average GPA: 3.7
Average ACT composite: 30

Duke University
Average GPA: 3.73
Average ACT composite: 28

Score wise you are in all three schools ranges, and that is a great start. Next you want to think about if there is a school that you like better than the other two, and then think about applying Early Decision. If you look at the statistics in our books you?ll see why I would say to at least think about the idea. Applying and getting accepted to schools is much harder than it was even four years ago, so you want to optimize your chances if you can.

Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Big Brian,

Well I would love to tell you if you could get into either one of the schools, but you didn?t supply me with nearly enough information to let me accurately tell you what I think!

I can really only give you statistics on both schools?and then you?ll have to check out our guidebooks to find out the rest.

University of Michigan
Average SAT score: 1300 (old) ~1890(new)
Average ACT score: 28
Average GPA: 3.57

Michigan State University
Average SAT score: 1265 (old) 2000 (new)
Average ACT score: 22
Average GPA: 2.97

Hopefully you?ll have a better idea after you take a look at these stats and our guidebooks about whether or not you?ll be attending Michigan State or University of Michigan next fall.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Michael,

You are asking a lot of questions! It really sounds like to me that you need to start getting in touch with those schools!

To answer question number one I have to be honest with you every school is different. I can tell you that secondary school record (which you did not have on your list) is the most important component to the Ivy League schools. After that number two ranges from essay to extra curricular activities?so lets just say they?re all very important. When you?re applying to top-tier schools you need to have a very decent transcript, and if you lack in one area you most definitely need to make up for it in another.

As for your second question, the more kids from your school/area that apply to each school that you do the less likely you are to get in. It?s the simple diversity fact?they won?t accept ten kids from one place and none from an other, instead they?ll take one or two from each and expand their horizons in a third place.

And for your third question, unfortunately Michael we do not have your transcripts. When our company gets e-mail that can be spam it is automatically deleted, so we don?t have your information. Sorry.

Best of luck in your search,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Jae,

I want to start off by saying that you don?t want to absolutely kill yourself with AP classes. It is really great that you want to challenge yourself and I highly suggest doing so, but I also think that it is imperative that you don?t take courses that you cannot handle. For next year think about taking one or two AP?s and maybe one Honors course instead of all AP?s?if that is what you did last year. If you just took one AP and two Honors courses last year then maybe think about just doing one Honors course next year.

It?s really great that you?re active in your community. Colleges and universities really love it when students do more than just sit at home and do homework.

I have to be honest with you Jae, the schools like Syracuse and Vanderbilt on your list seem to be reach schools considering your GPA. I think it would be great if you applied to one or two of those schools, but you want to think a little bit more realistically. It is true that because of the rigor of your current high school, and the types of courses that you have been/will be taking are factors in a lot of schools decisions, but these schools are seeing prospective students with 3.8 GPA?s and fantastic ACT or SAT scores. I also can?t be totally accurate in my assessment because you didn?t tell me your SAT or ACT scores. Schools do like to see improvement in GPA as the years go on so depending on your age...you could have a very likely chance of being able to be in the qualifying group.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Christina,

Here are some statistics to give you an idea of your chances of admission at the colleges you listed:

Fordham University
GPA: 3.6
Acceptance rate: 50%
SAT: 1090-1290

Pace University
GPA: 3.2
Acceptance rate: 70%
SAT: 980-1170

Marymount Manhattan College
GPA: 3.3
Acceptance rate: 80%
SAT: 960-1190

With your GPA, I believe you could look at even more selective schools than you have listed here if your SAT scores are reasonably high. Another school you may want to consider is New York University (GPA: 3.6, AR: 35%, SAT: 1220-1410), and perhaps include reach schools such as Barnard and/or Columbia on your list.

I mention these in particular because they are located in New York City, as were the three you previously mentioned. However, since you want to study political science, you may want to consider looking at schools in Washington D.C., as well. Good matches for you there are George Washington University and American University, with Georgetown University qualifying as a reach.

Best of luck!

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Kaitlin,

Generally, Ivy League and other prestigious schools have very rigorous standards. On average, the applicants they accept usually have a G.P.A. of 3.7 or better and SAT scores of 1230 and above. However, not even all of these students get in, as many of these selective institutions accept only about 25% of their applicants, and several accept less than that.

Even so, you have an impressive list of extracurricular activities. Coupled with an attention-grabbing essay and flattering letters of recommendation, your application should have at least a fair chance of serious consideration at any one of these prestigious institutions. Just make sure you apply to other schools that fit your standards, as well, just in case.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi James,

To start?if you are at a very rigorous institution the colleges that you are applying to should be informed. There is a report that your school can send with your transcript that ranks your high school in terms of how hard it is to get an A in a class and what percentage of students do receive that A. Ask you?re college counselor about it when you go back to school in the fall.

I agree your test scores are in Vanderbilt and Emory?s ranges, which is great. As for your GPA yes you are below their standard numbers, but you want to talk to someone in both admissions offices about that. They might hear how difficult your school is and keep your file open.

As for what 3-2 business program would be the best I don?t think that 3-2 business is your best option. What about doing a 4 year college and then applying to a great graduate program at a top university?? It would mean working hard in college, but with a strong high school background I have a good suspicion that you would be able to survive.

Best of luck and hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Kelly,

Well this is your lucky day, I?ve looked up the SAT scores for University of Mississippi and they don?t have any averages! And as far as your GPA goes?.it definitely isn?t too bad. I would say that if you state your case in a well written essay and keep in contact with the University, you will have a pretty good idea of whether or not you?ll be admitted.

Your extra curricular activities seem great. Do you do any volunteer work in your communitity? That always gets a college/universities attention, and plus you're helping out your neighborhood.

Also, Mississippi have rolling admissions, so you definitely want to think about getting your application in earlier rather than later.

College Prowler does have a guidebook on University of Mississippi, and you definitely want to check it out before making any final decisions.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Jay,

Your chances of being accepted to Harvard and/or Yale are somewhat considerable. Your SAT scores fall at the higher end of the averages (1400-1590 and 1380-1580 respectively), and Harvard does consider alumnae affiliations of its applicants during the selection process (although obviously the more important components of your application are your transcript, test scores, class rank, etc.). Don?t forget, however, that your extracurricular and volunteer activities play into your chances of being accepted, as well as what you will be able to contribute to the college.

Best of luck.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Ashley,

It is difficult to tell from any one person?s profile whether or not they are an ideal candidate for an Ivy League school. To get a good idea of what Ivy Leagues are looking for (and so I do not repeat what is already here), I would recommend reading the other questions answers under this category that pertain to the Ivies.

You may also want to look at our book Untangling the Ivy League 2006. It offers advice on getting in, reasons concerning why admission is so selective, and information regarding the schools? similarities and differences.

Briefly, however, concerning your individual profile, your GPA and test scores look slightly low for the Ivies. Your extracurriculars and leadership activities still seem strong, however, so this does not mean that you should not be able to get into an academically sound institution. Make sure you divide your choices into Reach, Match, and Safety when it comes time to apply.

Good luck.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Melissa,

There is a chance?there?s always a chance. Admissions officers do not look strictly at test scores, and sometimes, if a student is a strong enough candidate, they will overlook a weakness in an application and admit a student in spite of it.

However. A number is a number, and if you do not meet the basic minimum, the admissions officer may not even look farther than the score on your application. (After all, consider how many applications that person must see every day!) Therefore, you need to consider some ways to bring up your score. Why are you so sure your math score will not improve? You yourself said that your math score was far below the expected score. Did you study for the test ahead of time? Did you take classes or try using one of the many books available for SAT-prepping students? Another option is to focus on raising your verbal score, also, if you are so certain your math score cannot be improved.

Consider these options. Meanwhile, be sure to find some other schools you will be satisfied with attending if your dream does not come to fruition. Going to a college other than UMD is certainly a better option than going to none at all.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Henry,

It?s hard to tell you what schools would be best for you without knowing what your preferences are. You need more than a test score and GPA to find a good school match!

As for the schools you listed, your SAT scores are certainly high enough for all of them, but your GPA is too low. The students being admitted to these schools have GPAs of 3.8 and higher.

In Texas, a few colleges you may look at with GPAs closer to yours are Austin College, University of Houston, and Dallas Baptist University.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Stephanie,

Hopefully, by getting a year older this year you have started to realize that you are good at something, and that you shouldn?t be so hard on yourself!

I?ll go through the schools that you listed and give you some statistics on them. This will help you figure out what your realistic chances are at every school.

Haverford College
Average SAT score: 1970
Average GPA: 3.67

Wake Forest University
Average SAT score: 2080
Average GPA: 3.60

Case Western Reserve University
Average SAT score: 2080
Average GPA: 3.49

Cornell University
Average SAT score: 2012
Average GPA: 3.75

University of Rochester
Average SAT score: 1790
Average GPA: 3.41

Elon University (Honors Program)
Average SAT score: 1330 (old SAT)
Average GPA: 3.8

Franklin and Marshall College
Average SAT score: ~1910
Average GPA: 3.17

Without taking your Sophomore and Freshman year grades into account, I would say that you have a good list. These schools all seem to fit your test scores nicely and they mostly compliment your GPA.

Good work and best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Kevin,

I?ll give you the basic statistics that Stanford publishes so you can see how you stack up against the incoming freshman this year.

Average GPA: 4.06
Average SAT score: 2090
Average ACT composite: 33
Percent of students in top 10% of high school class: 87%

So, Kevin, it seems that your GPA is good and your SAT score is in their range. I would say to use your SAT score instead of your ACT. Stanford also highly recommends 3 subject tests (SAT II?s) be taken. One should be the Writing supplement to the Reasoning test (which you?ve already taken) and also Math 2C. The third is up to you.

Being involved in the dance program is great, and so is Quiz Bowl. Those are two great possibilities for your admissions essays!

Hope this helps,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Hi Sally,

The SAT I test is a hard test, and not everyone scores a 2400. As for your scores hindering your chances of getting into University of Georgia?I?m on the fence and I?ll tell you why. Georgia has a very big philosophy of taking a look at a students GPA and rigor of courses taken before they look at test scores. They will more likely accept a student with a 4.0 and possibly under a 1000 on their SAT over the student that has a 3.0 with a 1450 SAT score. (I?m talking in terms of the old test.) Schools are still transitioning from the old test to the new test, and most still go by the old test with the Writing section as an SAT II.

University of Georgia does look at each application on a case by case basis, which might be able to help you. But, you need to raise your GPA in your senior year to help solidify your chances.

As for Auburn, they say they assess each application individually as well, but your SAT score is below their average.

You definitely want to get an SAT tutor before the last time you can take the test in October, and you also want to think about doing a year at Community College and transferring to Auburn or University of Georgia if you do not end up getting into either place.

Best of luck,

Madison B.
College Prowler Counselor

Kevin,

I think you have a very reasonable chance at each of the universities you listed. See the numbers for yourself:

Elon University
GPA: 3.6
SAT: 1090-1250
Acceptance rate: 41%

University of Richmond
GPA: n/a
SAT: 1250-1390
Acceptance rate: 40%

Washington and Lee University
GPA: n/a
SAT: 1310-1450
Acceptance rate: 30%

You used the terms early decision and early action interchangeably in your question, but they are not the same. Both early decision and early action plans let you apply early (usually Novemember) and inform you of the college?s decision earlier than the usual notification date.However, early decision plans ?bind? you to attending that college if you are accepted and offered an adequate financial aid package. You may only apply to one college early-decision, but you may apply to any number of other colleges under regular admission. However, if and once you are accepted by the early decision school, you must withdraw all other applications. Early action plans, on the other hand, inform you of the college?s decision early, but they are not binding, and you may inform them of your final decision in the spring, at ?normal? time.

Sometimes, in either case, admissions will ?defer? you. This means that, for all intents and purposes, you have been rejected from an early decision or action but have been automatically ?reapplied? and added to the pool of regular admission applicants. If this occurs, it may be to your advantage to send another letter of recommendation to add to your application, schedule an interview, or otherwise show increased interest in your school of choice.

Elon does not offer early action, but it does provide early decision, the acceptance rate of which is 68%. This being said, you should only apply to Elon under early decision if you are absolutely sure you want to go there and if you do not intend to weigh financial aid packages offered by the various schools to which you apply.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Joe,

After looking at the Cooper Union admissions website, I am assuming you mean to apply for computer engineering within the Engineering School, since this seems to be the only compute-related major the institution offers.

Your GPA looks very respectable, and the fact that you have high scores in your computer science classes helps enormously. However, the other math and science scores on your transcript will count significantly, as well. Additionally, you may want to consider taking the SAT again, since your score is a little low for admission to this school, especially since they rely so heavily upon numbers in the admissions process.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Wolfie,

You are awfully ambitious! While it is hard to guarantee acceptance into any college, it sounds like you are on the right track. Just so you know what you are up against, Columbia?s overall acceptance rate is 13%. Of this fraction, 86% were in the top 10% of their graduating class, and 96% were in the top quarter.

The bottom line is, Ivy Leagues are fickle. You might have an outstanding application, but even this will not guarantee your acceptance. These schools receive thousands of outstanding applications. Therefore, don?t set your heart on going to Columbia. It?s a great goal to have, but the ultimate goal is to get the best education you can. Just continue to work hard, and when it comes time to apply to colleges, apply to several different ones that have the qualities that you want. You shouldn?t be disappointed.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

April,

As long as your education vocational school fulfills the college preparatory requirements of each college, your attendance there should not affect your chances for admission. For instance, Bowling Gren requires that you have taken 4 English units (a unit being a year of study or the equivalent), 3 Math, 3 Science, 2 Labs, 2 Foreign Language, and 3 Social Studies. Ohio has the same requirements, except no labs are required, and Toledo does not require labs or foreign language units. If you have these units, then you should have the same prospects for admission as any regular high school student with your same academic record.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Nicole,

As you no doubt already know, both Brown and Georgetown are very selective schools. Brown?s overall acceptance rate is 17%, with its early decision acceptance rate only being 12% higher (29%). Meanwhile, Georgetown?s overall acceptance rate of 22% increases by only 3% (25%) for early acceptance students. You definitely need to raise your SAT scores as well as your GPA in order to be competitive with other high-ranking students.

Meanwhile, you may want to also consider applying to George Washington University, Fordham University, Pennsylvania State University, Northeastern University, American University, and/or Franklin and Marshall College. These all have the majors/minors in which you are interested, and many have prime locations for political science and international relations studies. Either way, I would recommend doing a bit more research to find colleges other than Brown and Georgetown to which you will want to apply. Finally, before you decide to try early decision at Brown, make sure that if you are accepted there, you are willing to go no matter what other colleges may accept you or offer you in the way of financial aid, since early decision admission is binding (early action is not).

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Brett,

Here are some facts you should know regarding the probability of your acceptance to Cornell: The school?s acceptance rate is 29%. The average SAT scores range (without the writing portion) from 1290-1490.

Comparing these numbers to yours, it appears that you would be about an ?average? applicant. However, I think your activities are what may make you stand out to an admissions officer. Your mention of being a volunteer firefighter certainly peaked my interest!

Thus, I would encourage you to apply to Cornell, but certainly to apply to other schools that you find acceptable, as well. The most important portions of your application to Cornell include your secondary school record, recommendation(s), standardized test scores, essay, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability. Make sure to take special care in preparing these and making yourself appear as qualified as you truly are.

Best of luck.Joey Rahimi

College Prowler Counselor

Wolfie,

As I am sure you are aware, Columbia is a very selective university. Thus, you could take all the AP classes your school has to offer, ace every test, participate in tons of extracurricular activities, and still you may be rejected. The admissions process is very fickle at such schools, so really all you can do is try your best and present what and who you are.

You seem to be on the right track academically. However, as you are only taking geometry in tenth grade, may consider doubling up with Algebra II (if this is the order in which your schools teach math courses) in order to be ready to take the SAT your junior year. Be sure to prepare well for this test, as it weighs carries a good deal of weight in your application.

The bottom line is this: do not set your heart on attending Columbia. You (along with many other students) seem so concerned with whether you will be a good match for it, you have probably not considered whether it is a good match for you! Chances are, you have not visited many (if any) colleges yet, so it is unlikely that you know what qualities (aside from brand name prestige and high quality of academics) you desire in your college of choice. Begin by making decisions regarding key characteristics and then you can begin seeing how you fit the standards of the schools you find.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Gary,

No matter who you are, your chances of getting into Brown are slim. The overall acceptance rate at the university is 17%, only rising to 29% for those students (such as yourself) who choose to apply Early Decision. Your SAT scores and GPA qualify you as an ?average accepted student,? but this does still not offer you good odds. Other schools that you may want to investigate (that have both Art and Social Work majors and are in the west) include: University of CA (Berkley, Davis, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Los Angeles), University of Southern California, Pomona College, and Rice University.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Derek,

Your chances of being accepted into University of Pittsburgh are not good, and applying early decision would not improve them, nor would declaring a major in advance. However, you may want to consider trying a branch campus such as U. Pitt Bradford or Johnstown. Those branches have marginally less rigorous academic admissions standards, and you may be able to transfer to main campus if you improve your academic record.

Other Pittsburgh/PA schools you may want to consider include: LaRoche College, Slippery Rock University, Robert Morris University, and California University of PA.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Eric,

Students of your caliber stand the best chances of anyone, which unfortunately aren?t good chances to begin with. You have high SAT scores, an admirable GPA and course repertoire, and a variety of outside interests and extracurricular activities. Nevertheless, the admissions rates of Ivy League Schools demand that many such qualified candidates be excluded from their freshmen classes. Thus, I would encourage you to apply hopefully but with other schools as backups in the case that you are not accepted to these three.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Candice,

Your chances are decent. Your SAT scores are not significantly high, which hurts you as a potential applicant, but your high GPA and various activities make you look like a highly qualified candidate. At Holy Cross College, your chances are even better because they do not consider SAT scores as strongly as other factors such as your transcript and class rank. The acceptance rate there is 44%, 69% if you apply Early Decision. Gettysburg has similar acceptance rates: 47% and 77% for ED.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Eric,

To be honest, your chances do not look great. Consider the fact that you are competing against students who do have the SAT scores within and above those listed ranges. Also, many students attending these schools are within the top 10% of their class, which you may or may not be depending upon what sort of school you currently attend. However, with only 1 AP class on your transcript thus far, you are at a slight disadvantage. Continue looking at schools, particularly ones with similar qualities to the one you ?fell in love with.? And I would advise taking your SATs again. Hopefully by doing so you will be more familiar and comfortable with the test the second time you take it.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Veng,

No student is constrained by state lines, no matter what his/her GPA or SAT scores may be. Therefore, it is certainly feasible for you to be accepted by a college/university outside of MN.

Grants ordinarily depend upon your amount of demonstrated financial need, as they are basically monetary gifts and do not need to be paid back. Private schools often use them as equalizers in order to compete with more affordable public universities for well-qualified but economically disadvantaged students.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Candice,

The portion of your application that looks as though it will be the weakest is your SAT scores. Consequently, I would recommend better preparing and then retaking them. Other than that, you look as though you are an academically sound, well-rounded individual.

The following are the acceptance rates of the colleges you listed in order to give you an idea of your prospects:

Gettysburg: 46%
Holy cross: 44%
Boston College: 32%
Notre Dame: 30%

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Jeremy,

The ACT range for University of MI Ann Arbor is 26-30, and the SAT range is 1210-1400. Nevertheless these are averages, which means that outliers do exist. Hopefully your score will improve significantly the next time you take the ACT, but even if it does not reach the average range, this should not discourage you from at least applying. Your GPA and outside activities still make you a decent candidate. Plus, luckily for you, alumni are considered in the admissions process, so your relation to both a former and a current student should give you an advantage.

Meanwhile, keep looking for other schools that interest you and try to apply to at least one or two backups.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Alex,

Georgetown
GPA: 3.9
SAT: 1280-1470
Acceptance Rate: 22%

U Penn
GPA: 3.8
SAT: 1330-1500
Acceptance Rate: 21%

You are correct in assuming that your dad having attended U. Penn will give you an advantage, as alumni relations are considered in the admissions process. Otherwise, as you can see, these two schools have very comparable admissions standards. Even if you were to apply early action to Georgetown, your chances of being accepted (according to acceptance rates) would only increase by 3%. What is sure is that you will want to work on raising your GPA this year, as that seems to be the weakest section of your academic profile. Good luck.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Nick,

The good news is that a 3.0 GPA is not a bad grade point average. Granted, it won?t get you into an Ivy League school, but it certainly will not prevent you from getting into college, especially with your list of extracurricular activities, particularly those in which you have volunteered and worked with children. I don?t think you should change your extracurricular activities just to make them ?look better? on a college application, particularly because no one activity is considered ?better? than another. Volunteering is particularly admired, though, and you already have that on your record, so you are off to a good start.

The bad news is that it is doubtful that any of our A+ or B+ ranked schools would accept you with only a 3.0 GPA. Nevertheless, this does not mean that a ?good? school will not accept you and provide you with a very thorough education. What makes a school ?good? depends upon what you want from it as well as what you put into it. I looked up several schools in the Midwest that offer elementary and special education teaching programs and would accept a student such as yourself, and several familiar names came up such as: Trinity Christian College (IL), Bethany College (KS), Manchester College (IN), Kent State University (OH), Bowling Green State University (OH), and Indiana State University (IN).

Make sure you take time writing your essay and getting good solid recommendations from people who know you well. These components will help to make your application strong. Otherwise, the best you can do is to determine where you want to go and express strong interest in those schools. Visit them; spend a night in a dorm; interview with an admissions officer.

Good job getting started on this so early.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Brooke,

Here is what Florida State expects of its average admitted applicant:
GPA: 3.7
Top 25% of high school class (93% incoming freshmen)
SAT: 1070-1260
or ACT: 22-27

Of everyone who applies to FS, 65% are admitted. Looking at these numbers, your prospects don?t look great. Your ACT score is on the low end of the average, and your GPA is not anywhere near what this school expects. What will make things even more difficult is that FS considers your secondary school record the most important factor in your application. Meanwhile, they also consider factors such as state residency, which will work to your disadvantage. Their last freshman class was composed of only 12% out-of-state students.

This is not to say that you should not apply, but you should definitely find other schools you like in the meantime. There are other comparable schools (large student body, in the south, etc.) with nutrition-related majors to which you can apply with better prospects of being accepted. A few include Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Radford University (VA), and Eastern Kentucky University. Louisiana Tech University even has a dietetics/dietician major within the field of health professions and related studies.

Good luck with your senior year and the application process.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Adam,

Your chances aren?t terrible. Your GPA falls below the average?3.5?but your SAT scores are comfortably within the average range of admitted students. Meanwhile, your extracurricular activities are important, so your positions of leadership will serve to enhance your application. Meanwhile, to give you a general statistic, Emerson has a 48% acceptance rate (55% for Early Action applicants). You should take this coming semester (and year, really) to bring your grade point average up as best you can. Meanwhile, find some other schools you like and apply there, too.

Best of luck

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Dayton,

Your chances of admission at these Ivy League schools are about average. Your GPA is on the lower side of what they expect from incoming freshmen, but your SAT scores are on the higher end of their average ranges. You cannot really ?spin? your class rank; you will merely have to hope that by looking at your transcript, SAT scores, the number of people in your graduating class, and the caliber of your high school, an admissions officer will be able to deduce that your class rank does not reflect the caliber of student you really are. Just continue to work hard and take challenging classes, participate in extracurricular activities (since colleges like to see dedication and leadership), and volunteer. It sounds like generic advice, but it is really the only advice anyone can give you, because when it comes down to acceptance time, only the individual admissions officers can really tell you what will make them accept or reject a student.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Bryan,

Unfortunately, UNC-Chapel Hill considers state residency a ?Very Important? factor in the admissions process. Only 18% of its freshman class comes from out-of-state each year.

Nevertheless, UNC also considers academic record, class rank, and SAT scores ?Very Important? factors for admitting students, and you appear to have strong marks in all of these areas. I would encourage you to apply, but make sure you have several other schools upon which to fall back in case you are not part of that 18%.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Allison, (nice name!)

The biggest mistake students in your position make is trying to figure out how to make a university interested in them. What you really need to be doing at this juncture is deciding what colleges/universities interest you. I realize that you listed many Ivy and almost-Ivy League schools as your ?schools of interest,? but by generalizing in this manner, you are basically saying that you want to attend a prestigious, challenging school with little regard to the many other factors that play into choosing a college. I suggest that you look at the What Is the Best School for Me page and answer the questions that one of our counselors poses for choosing a college. These questions will help you to determine what qualities you desire in a school. Once you find schools that possess the qualities you seek, then you should begin to assess whether or not each school will be willing to accept you.

In the meantime, your class ranking, GPA, list of courses, and range of extracurricular activities is certainly impressive. If you are able to maintain these, you may have a shot at being admitted to an Ivy League school. Just remember that their acceptance rates are extremely low and that you are competing against other students who are near-prototypes of yourself: good grades, many extracurriculars, and plenty of ambition.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

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Michelle,

?Good college? is a relative term, depending what you want from a college. However, your chances at the schools you listed aren?t great. Most of these schools demand GPAs close to 4.0 and relatively high SAT/ACT scores. Nevertheless, you do have two more years to raise your GPA, and strong dedication to and leadership in extracurricular activities always helps. If you can handle the load, I would recommend taking some AP classes to challenge yourself academically. These are traditionally regarded as college preparatory classes, so in addition to preparing you for a challenging college curriculum, they will also show colleges that you are challenging yourself in high school as much as possible.

Allison G.
College Prowler Counselor

Zain-

Your SAT scores are strong, and will be an asset to you in the admissions process. The top schools on your list are, however, going to wonder why you stopped taking AP/IB classes sophomore year and only took one junior year. If there is a reason for this, you should include a paragraph or two of explanation in the ?Additional Information? sections of your applications. While you can?t make up for the past, you should definitely take the most difficult courseload you can handle this year. Also, you did not give any info re: your class rank, but you should know that colleges will get a general sense of where you are in your class ? especially at the top schools ? and this does matter to them. From an extracurricular perspective, your work at the OC Heart Institute is impressive and you will want to both keep that up and highlight that in your resume and the activities sections of the applications. Regarding your college list:

BU sounds good
BU Med a big reach
Emory and Tufts = OK to keep on the list as reaches
I?d scratch Harvard Stanford MIT unless there?s something that you didn?t reveal about yourself that makes you a contender.

Work on the target/likely section of your list ? sure you?re applying to UCs, maybe think about GW or American if you?re thinking about urban E Coast schools?

Hope this helps! Good luck Zain!

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