2320 SAT, multiple 800's, good EC's, TERRIBLE GPA

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I need a good list of schools to apply to.</p>

<p>3.65 UW GPA/ 4.4 WGPA at highly competitive school (Doesn't rank(
2320 SAT
800's in Math I and Math II in middle school
800 in Spanish
790 in Physics
Taking Princeton Course in Spanish
Medical research at two prestigious medical schools (published 2 peer-reviewed papers)
Silver medal at a well-known national science competition
Other minor awards
two officerships in two different science clubs
Tournament-level chess player</p>

<p>Can anyone list of colleges that I should apply to? Also, what would be a good place to apply ED?</p>

<p>Are you an international?
Is your GPA poor relative to other students in your school? (Unofficially of course)</p>

<p>This really depends on your counselor evaluation. If they state that you are taking the most competitive courses, you should be fine.</p>

<p>Hmmm…</p>

<p>Why is your GPA lowish for someone with your test scores?</p>

<p>No offense, but your statement about being over-qualified for schools other than the “really good” schools doesn’t make sense since you weren’t able to ace high school…which is easier than college.</p>

<p>And, just to clarify…you’re not too smart for other schools. </p>

<p>What is your major?</p>

<p>What is your budget? How much will your parents pay?</p>

<p>Are you a likely NMSF? What was your PSAT?</p>

<p>I can’t think of any ED schools that will take your app seriously. I think they’re going to view your app as a student who has the ability, but not the desire to work hard.</p>

<p>I don’t think any of the elites will consider your app unless you’ve got a serious reason for your UW GPA with those scores.</p>

<p>I don’t realize understand how the NMSF system works, but I had a 225 PSAT. I don’t really know if this is an excuse, but my schedule was INTENSE. I finished MV Calc as a sophomore. Eh. Sorry if I sounded cocky, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that I felt as though I deserve to at least be considered by the top 20 schools. Don’t worry about budget, that’s not an issue. I either want to major in math, bio or Spanish (haven’t decided which). Probably ED’ing to Cornell CALS, though if what you say is true it’s a waste of an app. And I’m not an international, I live on the East coast.</p>

<p>and your gpa isn’t terrible stop crying about it. I think it’s pretty terrible of you to think of it like that when other kids work their butts off every night just to try to be close to that.</p>

<p>But in reality you are qualified for many many great schools but your mindset and obsession with absolute perfection might not necessarily help you</p>

<p>Yes, you’re going to make NMSF. Your score is high enough for any state (223 is the max). </p>

<p>It looks like you may make NMF as long as there aren’t a few Cs on your transcripts…are there? </p>

<p>Unless your school has horrible grade deflation and you’re a tippy top student (top 2% - even if school doesn’t rank), then an elite is very unlikely.</p>

<p>The elites get apps with test scores like yours by the hundreds, maybe thousands. They don’t need a student who (appears) not to have either worked hard or managed his classes well.</p>

<p>Yes, your schedule was intense…so are the other elite applicants… APs/IBs, dual enrollment, you name it. The other kids will have rigorous curriculums as well.</p>

<p>Twang…you’re right…his GPA isn’t “terrible”, but unless he’s top of his class, his GPA will likely keep him out of elites…unless he’s a URM or something…</p>

<p>I have no C’s. A majority of my B’s were freshman year. I guess you’re right. Whatever. Do I have a shot at Cornell ED?</p>

<p>Your shot wholly depends on your school. </p>

<p>Will your GPA be comparable to other applicants applying to Cornell (this year or in the past)?</p>

<p>I don’t really know what to make of my Naviance data. It says the average admitted GPA for Cornell was 4.47 (I have a 4.4), Vandy was 4.27, Penn was 4.53, Duke was 4.6, etc. My school doesn’t rank, so I can’t really tell where I am in relation to everyone else, but my GPA will be below average for Cornell, regardless of what happens. Is it worth applying there ED?</p>

<p>If your school is very competitive and you have taken lots of challenging courses, you have a shot at Cornell and other top schools. Taking multivariable calc as sophomore is quite advanced. I don’t think that means you haven’t worked hard; to the contrary. Research and science competitions are also highly regarded by top schools. Assuming your other course work has been similarly challenging, recommend you try for MIT (EA) , Caltech (EA) and Carnegie Mellon as your reaches as well. You have a shot at many of the top 20, so don’t be discouraged, but it’s tough out there, so also include some matches and safeties.</p>

<p>Given the rigor of your curriculum and the fact most of your B’s came freshman year, you have a good chance of getting into all but the very most selective schools. It sounds like you have a math aptitude and that you are interested in medicine is that correct. If so, try Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Harvey Mudd (looking for East Coast students). Cornell is also a good choice. Some other ideas regarding schools that are not so oriented on math and science but are still strong for pre-med, Vandy (the last few years they have focused on SAT over GPA), Georgetown, and Emory. For safeties, maybe RPI, Rochester, and Case Western.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input! I guess I’ll apply to Cornell, as much as I hate the cold.</p>

<p>OP</p>

<p>Are you an Asian American?</p>

<p>OP, if your school truly is highly competitive and grade-deflated, then the best source of info for admissions is going to be your high school’s counselors. Don’t just look at Naviance.</p>

<p>Some useful discussion threads from the past:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1026754-under-3-6-applying-top-schools-2010-11-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1026754-under-3-6-applying-top-schools-2010-11-a.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/767118-under-3-6-gpa-applying-top-20-parents-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/767118-under-3-6-gpa-applying-top-20-parents-thread.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you hate cold, then why apply to Cornell ED? ED should only be for a school you love above all others.</p>

<p>Have you had the money talk with your parents?</p>

<p>It’s hard to offer good suggestions without knowing what you’re after (size, location, major, budget, etc.) With well-prepared applications, you should have realistic chances at schools in the US News top 11-30 or so (national universities or LACs). At Vanderbilt, for example, about 22% of freshmen had HS GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74. Another 20% or so had GPAs lower than that. </p>

<p>The following are some examples of schools that may be low reach to match schools for you.</p>

<p>LACs
Colgate, Grinnell, Hamilton, Macalester, Oberlin, Reed. As an ED applicant, you might have a decent shot at Wesleyan, Carleton or Haverford. </p>

<p>Universities
BC, Brandeis, CMU, Emory, NYU, Tufts, USC, Vanderbilt. As an ED applicant, you might have a shot at Cornell, JHU or Rice. Maybe Chicago, too, if you do very well with their essays (the chess, early mv calc, and peer-reviewed papers might go over well there). </p>

<p>You’ll need a true admission and financial safety (or two), and perhaps a couple less selective match schools. Consider your own state’s public universities.</p>

<p>Yeah, I should probably talk to my guidance counselor. Bit afraid of what I’m going to hear though.</p>

<p>Bump. This is greatly distressing me.</p>

<p>Why CALS? That would help people come up with other suggestions.</p>

<p>But do go discuss things with your guidance counselor. That person will be able to compare you with others from your HS and can give you a good sense of where you should be admitted.</p>

<p>I’d like to become a doctor, so I thought CALS is a reasonable choice. Idk. I just really want to go somewhere nice.</p>

<p>Did you manage to publish two papers in the last 8 days?</p>