Expert: Bruce - 8/21/2008

Question
I did well in high school. I had a 3.7 GPA, member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Peer Mentor Leader, Eagle Scout, and 300 hours of community service.  My SAT's were horrible though.  I am a first generation college student and I went the community college route.

I have posted a 3.7 GPA, thus far at community college with 2 semesters. I am currently enrolled in 2 honors courses, too.  I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, I am of minority status, and I'm successful college athlete. My top schools are Georgetown and Cornell...do you think I have a shot at getting into one of them?  I apply myself extremely well and I don't feel my SAT's reflect my potential as a college student.  What do you think I should do?

Answer
You've prepared yourself well, Albert. I would apply to these elite schools, but I would also keep some other good-but-not-Ivy schools on the list.

It sounds like you are a northeasterner. How about schools like: Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, Hamilton, University of Rochester, Penn (Ivy), Boston Univ, Boston COllege.

You mentioned minority status- be sure to look into the Gates Scholarship, National Hispanic Schoolarship Fund, UNCF and similar programs.

bruce