3.57UW, 2100 SAT I... Applying to Ivies.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm not going to sit here at my keyboard and try to impress anyone with my other stats, so I'll just tell you that, despite excellent extracurriculars, my GPA is very low for prestigious schools, and my SAT score is not fantastic, either.</p>

<p>But since I really don't have anything to lose (in fact, the lost opportunities may haunt me longer than the lost money on college apps) I would like to apply to Stanford, Cornell, etc. </p>

<p>Which other schools do you recommend? Any words of advice?</p>

2

<p>You’re free to apply to whichever schools you want to (admissions are often unpredictable so you never know), but definitely write outstanding essays.</p>

3

<p>Actually, you do have something to lose. Wasting time applying to colleges you most certainly will not get into is a waste of time/effort when you can spend that time/effort applying to the MANY GOOD colleges that are in your “range.” You don’t have to go to a top 20 school to be considered smart or do well in life. </p>

<p>This doesn’t really apply to you though. You might (poor chance) get into Cornell if your ECs are really that excellent.</p>

<p>I would not apply to Ivy-Level schools, but instead focus on colleges like CMU, JHU, UVA… Etc like schools because you have a chance to get into one of them. </p>

<p>But it is not like you are going to change your mind, so I don’t even know why you posted this, or why I replied…</p>

4

<p>You could retake the SAT in October. Also, your GPA could go up with your first semester grades of Senior Year.</p>

5

<p>why do you feel that you are qualified for these schools? if you could tell us this, it might be helpful in giving you advice…</p>

6

<p>I will have taken 9 AP courses and 4 Honors upon graduation at one of the top 50 public schools in the nation – I have all 5s and one 4, with SAT II scores from 670-750. I’m in the top quarter of my class of 700, and have a weighted GPA of 4.26, not including this year’s scores.</p>

<p>I have activities ranging from the internship under Assemblywoman Ma at the California State Assembly, all the way to feeding sea anemones at my internship at the science exploration museum I work at. I come from minority backgrounds (I have 8 heritages, being everything from Irish to Portuguese to Goanese). I am a member of the National Forensics League, having earned degrees of Honor and Merit, and have won at least a dozen awards and trophies for placing in local, regional, and state-qual competitions across California in Individual Events and Parliamentary Debate.</p>

<p>I have done work in modeling and in independent film, have had primary roles in school musicals and have done tech crew in college productions, and performed at Carnegie Hall with my choir. I studied abroad in Costa Rica (studied sustainable development) and in China (studied the effects of globalization upon culture), doing community service and language immersion, for two summers, being nominated by the organization to be a Student Ambassador, one of a group of elite alumni chosen to represent the company. I’ve done literally hundreds of hours of community service at local soup kitchens, animal shelters, art camps for children, and with my church. I’m a devoted vegetarian of 7 years, and have worked with several environmental and wildlife protection organizations.</p>

<p>Admittedly, I’m sure tons of people have very good extracurriculars, and far better statistics. I’m an extremely motivated student, and can’t show it in numbers, per se, but I really do feel that I want a better education than a state university could offer.</p>

<p>I really, really really want to get into Stanford. I want to stay close to home, because my family is very important, and I fell in love with the school the moment I toured there in junior year.</p>

<p>Any advice? Thank you.</p>

7

<p>And… What other schools should I apply to, that are more within reach?</p>

8

<p>I’m sorry, but I really don’t think your application has what it takes…</p>

<p>Consider looking at schools elsewhere on the West coast or in the Cal State system (as opposed to the UCs). There are places within your reach where you’ll be able to get a very solid education if you put forth the extra effort to grab opportunities by the horns (which I recognise is often not enough at the flustercluck that is the UC system these days). </p>

<p>Best of luck</p>

9

<p>All of the UC’s - Your UW GPA will hurt you mostly here.
Pomona
Harvey Mudd
Claermont Mckenna
Occidental
Pepperdine
Scripps</p>

<p>And that is just in California…</p>

10

<p>The CSU system isn’t very good. The UC isn’t either, as it takes 5 or 6 years now to graduate, but I’ve worked hard – perhaps not Ivy League hard, but much, much harder than some of my peers who attend CSUs.</p>

11

<p>^^I wouldn’t be optimistic about those schools, either.</p>

<p>Not really sure what to tell you. look elsewhere on the west coast or southwest, maybe?</p>

12

<p>Frankly, the reason for my low GPA is due to my mother’s ongoing battle with her recurring breast cancer, which peaked at stage 3. My dad’s an alcoholic and spent a lot of time in the emergency room after a car crash when we first found out, so I looked after my mother during chemotherapy instead of doing homework. But I really REALLY don’t want to tell colleges that. I sound like I’m making excuses, and in a way, there really isn’t any excuse for a low GPA.</p>

<p>I don’t really know how to help my situation. I can’t imagine settling for a state university, I really can’t.</p>

13

<p>don’t feel that colleges will be so vindictive and judgemental, and don’t be so hard on yourself. your family troubles are a very appropriate explanation for why you haven’t performed at the level you think you’re capable of. </p>

<p>however, you should also consider whether or not you think that going into a very rigorous academic programme is going to be the right thing for you. Your family issues don’t seem like the type to solve themselves, and I think you should very seriously consider how much additional stress you’re willing to add to your life. </p>

<p>No, this isn’t fair. But you don’t need to go to Stanford to be successful in life. Look at some more affordable options more lined up with your stats around the country, and be willing to accept something like a Cal State. But if you end up going to such a place, make it your mission to be the one of the best damned students your professors will ever see.</p>

14

<p>Thank you so much for the advice. I promise I’ll take it deeply into consideration.</p>

<p>I’m sure I’ll apply everywhere.</p>

<p>How should I go about explaining my situation to the colleges? I don’t want my personal essay to become a sob story, I really don’t. Where should I explain what happened to me? Additional info? Oh god, most students will be putting down an academic resume filled with achievements, and I’ll be typing out a sob story…</p>

15

<p>What do you want to study? Which AP courses did you take and in which year? What is your SAT I score breakdown? What subjects in SAT II? How many Cs did you get, in which subjects and in which years? How many Bs?</p>

16

<p>Okay -</p>

<p>AP World History (5) - 10th
AP Biology - 11th
AP Environmental Science (4) - 11th
AP English Language (5) - 11th
AP United States History (5) - 11th
AP Economics - 12th
AP Psychology - 12th
AP English Literature - 12th
AP US Government - 12th</p>

<p>French Honors, English Honors</p>

<p>CR - 760, M - 620, W - 720 [only took once]</p>

<p>SAT II - Literature (670)
SAT II - Biology E (690)
SAT II - World History (750)</p>

<p>No Cs, in any years. Combinations of Bs and As.</p>

<p>I’m interested in studying political science, economics, psychology, or sociology, as those are my strengths. I aspire to be an attorney in the future.</p>

17

<p>Ah. And I’m sending in an arts supplement, for vocal music. I was recruited by a signed band from my Youtube account, so I think I’m okay at it?</p>

18

<p>Miashaw, Top schools like Stanford may think your SAT math score is a little low, especially since you also have not taken any AP math or statistics. I believe social science majors, especially Economics can become extremely math intensive, requiring familiarity with linear algebra, statistics and calculus. So, if I were you, I would retake the SAT and try to raise my math score. Also, you may want to take a course in statistics at a local county college to demonstrate greater competency in math.</p>

19

<p>Do I have time to retake the SAT? I don’t want to drop lower and look bad…</p>

20

<p>

I agree. I strongly recommend applying to top LAC’s in the West Coast. You’ll have just as good an education as in Stanford and it’ll be easier.</p>