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After weeks of contemplating, I have finally decided on my school to apply
Ive been told by several people that I have no chaces at these schools i want to apply to..what do you think! I live abroad...but im american!

Here are my stats!

SAT I: 1230 hoping to break into the 1300's in october

SAT II's: Bio :670 retaking to get above 700
Math iiC: 740
Writing: 510 Ahhhh...retaking

TOEFL : 623 with 5.0 for the essay

Excellent Cirricular activites such as Amnesty International, Varsity Basketball, Volleyball, and swimming. Won many MVP's and all tournamnets trophies.
In the school band, Newspaper, do a bunch of community service. Will probably get excellent recommendations

GPA: 3.75UW, 4.12 weighted

Next years classes: IB Bio II, AP Stats
IB Chem II, German II, IB English, Physics Independent Study

Hmm...The schools i'll be applyin 2:

Stretch:

Columbia - Early Decision
Cornell
University of Pennsylvania

Match:

Boston University/College
UofI-Urbana Champagne
NYU

Safety:
Penn State - University Park

So what do u think!? I need all the opinions i can get! Everyone thinks im wasting my time applying to some of these places..Just want 2 hear others opinion who dont know me!! Ny response will be appreciated! thnxx
Let me know if some of my schools should be reach, stretches or safetys! Also it'd be good if you could recommend some schools prefable on the East Coast cause I want to stay on that side of teh states!:P
Thanks

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 01:39 pm: Edit

Will you be a recruited athlete?

By Bluebutterfly (Bluebutterfly) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 01:40 pm: Edit

i feel harsh saying this but don't bother applying to Columbia, Cornell, or Penn. I would move your match list up to your reach list. It looks like you are looking at big name schools. Maybe you should look at some lesser known places. What are you looking for in a college?

By Topper (Topper) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 01:41 pm: Edit

I'm sorry to say that Columbia, even ED, will be a strech for you; you put that in the right category. Your GPA is very good, and you seem to be a dedicated athlete, but it's just your test scores that I'd be a little worried about. If you can break 1300, this'll definitely give you a leg-up. Also, I'm not really sure that NYU should be in your match group. I'd put it as a match/stretch at least. I'd recommend some more safeties, and since you seem to be interested in PA schools, try looking at Susquehanna University (they give some good aid here). I'd also look at Franklin and Marshall for a good match (it's in Lancaster, PA). Where it's not Ivy League like some of the other schools you're considering, it's definitely no slouch institution. GL, and let me know if you need anymore help!

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 02:48 pm: Edit

If you are an all-state athlete and interested in Division I athletics, you may have a shot at your stretch schools. Otherwise, admission is unlikely. Unless you really improve your SAT I and II scores, Boston College and NYU are only weak matches.
Have you considered any small liberal arts colleges - LACs? There are many fine eastern LACs, and though they don't give athletic scholarships their coaches are often able to get key recruits admitted where students with similar records are denied.

Knocking out several of the most selective schools(which would be additional options if you got a coach to go to bat for you), here are a few of the many fine eastern LACs you could investigate: Bates, Vassar, Trinity, Colgate, Connecticut College, Skidmore, Gettysburg, Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall.

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 03:01 pm: Edit

I would guess that he is an international student. Universities tend to be forgiving of lower SAT scores because students are not used to the multiple choice format, nor is English their first language. Still, I think his list is slightly ambitious.

By Topper (Topper) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 05:22 pm: Edit

He says that he "lives abroad but is American," which I guess infers that English is his first language.

By Guitarshredder (Guitarshredder) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 08:53 pm: Edit

He took the TOEFL though...

Anyway, I think you have a nice list of schools there. Looking at your matches you have a very good shot at U of I and the Bostons, but I think NYU would be more of a reach. But you have a fair number of schools, and I don't think you'll be too disappointed.

By Pinkearmufs (Pinkearmufs) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 09:08 pm: Edit

Perhaps an SAT preparatory class to dramatically boost your scores, or a lot of dedicated self-study would help you on that october SAT. If you improve your SAT by 200 points, your list would need virtually no changing. Otherwise, it's not a big deal, there are plenty of decent schools in your current SAT range.

By Vm00 (Vm00) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 11:24 pm: Edit

If you are an all-star athlete, you shouldnt have any problems getting into any Big 10 (Illinois, Penn St.) or Big East school (BC). You could also consider such sports schools as Wisconsin, Wake Forest and UNC.

By Par72 (Par72) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 11:53 pm: Edit

Might want to look at Holy Cross and Colby-2 very strong schools. Holy Cross has a Div.1 athletic program.

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 01:04 am: Edit

i agree move your match to reach.

By Tamy02 (Tamy02) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 07:45 am: Edit

Well I forgot to add that my GPA is actually 3.86! Considering I am an international student, it will be extremly difficult to be recruited as an athelete. I am trying to look into it though.
I actually have dual citzenship, I have 2 passports and one of them is American. Technically english is not my first language that is why I did the TOEFL, and my SAT II writing score is weak!
I forgot to add that I am a minority (African American), but I dont know how much of an impact that will make on the admission process. I do have hope that I can break the 1300's in the SAT's as I have been practicing alot!
Additionally, none of the schools im applying to will i be considered as an instate candidate which will probably make the application pool alot harder!
I'll be thankful for any more comments and im actually looking into the LAC's that have been recommended!
Thnxx

By Tamy02 (Tamy02) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 07:52 am: Edit

Additionally, I have dropped BC off my list and im only goin for BU! Wat do you guys think of Penn State- University Park as being my safety. Is that more of a match?!
thnx again 4 all the comments..really appreciate it!

By Jonw222 (Jonw222) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 11:28 am: Edit

Here's how I would classify the schools on your list:

Match/Reach:

Boston University/College
UofI-Urbana Champagne
NYU

Match:
Penn State - University Park

A 1230 SAT score is simply too low for schools like NYU to be a match. It's also far too low for Columbia even if you did apply Early Decision. They commonly accept people with much higher SAT scores than that and even a 1300 wouldn't be enough to make it a match. Even Penn-State might not be a sure thing so I would try to add some more safeties and more match schools.

JW

By Vulcano (Vulcano) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 12:21 pm: Edit

I'm afraid to say that NONE of those are safeties and only a few are matches. NYU, Columbia, Cornell, and Penn will never happen. Your friends were right, you will have to make a new list.

By Pinkearmufs (Pinkearmufs) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 02:39 pm: Edit

I still say NYU could be a reach.

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 03:19 pm: Edit

if you practice you can definitely expect a increase in your score. it's easier to increase a lower score than it is a higher score. if you try hard enough i wouldn't be surprised with a 1400.
i'm cautious, but my friend with a 1250 barely got into suny stony brook so maybe i'm right.
1. forget about your stretch
2. bu and u of i-uc are "dangerous matches" or reach/match. forget about nyu unless you have a 1400.
3. penn state is a match
here's my suggestions for someone with a 1300.
reach:
ucla
unc- chapel hill
uc- san diego
match:
u of washington
penn state- u park
syracuse
purdue
u of georgia
rutgers- new brunswick
fordham
umass- amherst
u of vermont
suny- stony brook
safety:
indiana u- bloomington
u of new hampshire
washington state u

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 03:41 pm: Edit

for lacs:
reach:
c of the holy cross
colorado c
lafayette c
union c
depauw
occidental
dickinson
furman
skidmore
match:
wabash
c of wooster
st lawrence u
hobart & william smith
muhlenberg c
ursinus c
allegheny c
goucher c
ohio wesleyan
juniata c
safety:
spelman

By Tamy02 (Tamy02) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 05:49 pm: Edit

WOW....this is soo overwhelming..Really appreciate your comments...and yes I am definetly looking into more matches...I know my SAT scores are very weak for most of the schools Im applying to!
Well Ive been practicing a lot for the SAT's so hopefully I am expecting a high score!
I have a friend with a 1360 who got into Stanford(Currently attending), Princeton, Columbia, Cornell and 2 other Ivys...so thats y i have hope for myself somehow..but then again, we are two different people you know!
Thnx again 4 all the comments!