Chance me for UMD-College Park and UIUC please!?

Hello and congrats on all these accomplishments!

I am sorry to say that UMCP is almost definitely out of the picture due to SAT scores (a 3.9 kid there often has 1800+). Similarly, UCIC, while a bit wider range on their gpa and sat, still starts their median range at about 1800.

I can honestly tell you though that the biggest factor in how much you get out of college is you, not the specific school, and I wish you luck with your journey.

Both really good schools! So, you have some pros and cons going for you!

Let's start with the cons: Those are not exceptional SAT scores, as I'm sure you know. However, they aren't horrid either. At UIUC (one of my top school choices for grad school) only 31% of students had an SAT of above 1400. However, I can't vouch for the accuracy of that.

Another con is your class rank. You're in about the top 50% of your class, but that isn't outstanding, even at a well regarded Catholic school. You know? I wouldn't stress your class rank.

Your pros are great, however! A 3.8+ GPA is very good (congratulations!) I think that may do wonders for counteracting your class rank (obviously you ARE in a good school if your GPA doesn't put you in the top 10% of your class.)

Another pro is your plethora of "Student of the Month" awards. Have those people write you letters of recommendation mentioning this fact.

As a student from a single parent (not even my mother or father!) household, I know that it's not a huge hook, but you can definitely talk about the difficulties you have had to overcome in your situation that maybe other students haven't had to deal with. You know? Worth a try.

Homecoming King shows that you're popular, but it depends on the institution whether or not they'd care.

Your ECs are very good, too.

So...honestly, the only way you will know is to apply and find out. I think you would make a good candidate, but your SAT scores as well as your class rank will bring you down a bit. That said, you have some very good hooks going for you, and you have obviously done quite well in a challenging school. Market those as well as whatever you think makes you unique (overcoming a difficult childhood in order to be successful...things like that) and I think you will have a very good chance for both of those schools, but again...there are things that detract. Hopefully your admissions officers will see past those cons. Good luck!

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