Too much of a reach?

Question

I go to a Catholic HS in the suburbs of Chicago. I have about a 98-99% average, and my school does not rank, but I assume I am top 10%. I am in 3 AP classes and 2 honors, as well as Spanish and Gym (full class load). I have always been in the highest level classes in every subject. I took the ACT for the first time w/ no prep and got a 33, and a 1440 (2180 w/ writing) SAT. I'm retaking the ACT and probably will just not send out my SAT. I am co president of two clubs (environmental and student action) was on student gov for two years, and am a writer for the school paper, as well as in a school theater production (currently). I have done a lot of service work (req. for my school) but am looking for more outside of that. I have had a job for a year.
What are my chances at these colleges?
U of Michigan
Notre Dame (where I want to go most-my grandfather's cousin was a professor and has art around campus not sure if that will help at all)
BC
University of Chicago (legacy)
NYU
Georgetown

Answer 1

Your record is very good and you have a chance of getting into any of them, but there are no guarantees. I looked at the percentage admitted at all of these schools on the College Board's site, and for those that were listed, they admit between 22 and 33% of applicants. The one thing I miss when I read your qualifications is a sense of passion for something. Being well-rounded is wonderful, but when I think of the students who stand out, each of them is really passionate about something, whether it be their major or some other activity in their lives. By the way, Notre Dame is swamped with legacy students, so having a cousin of your grandfather who used to work there isn't going to help you with them. Fortunately, your own record is good.

Answer 2

I think you will definitely get in to U Michigan; NYU is a target. Notre Dame and U Chicago are reaches, but since you have connections there, you will probably have an advantage. BC and Georgetown are targets/reaches. If you do better on your ACT's (which weren't too bad anyway) you will have even better chances. You might want to check if you have to take the SAT II's, because a lot of colleges require them, and maybe you could think about re-taking the SAT's.