<p>I'm just asking a general question that may actually be a bit debatable. I've been here a while but never posed a true chances thread. The closest one in my history has been this:</p>
<p>I guess you can call this one another chance thread, but a little different. Really, my stats at first glance aren't too impressive. I have only taken 1 AP class though my school offers 19. I did take an advanced class over the summer at FAU though, but I feel that doesn't really make up for it. My GPA is good enough that I get 100% Bright Futures, but my UF GPA is going to be very low because of the lack of honors classes early on in high school. (For the reasons, look at the other thread I made.)</p>
<p>I just recently got accepted to Univ. Miami and New College. Considering my stats, New College made me very happy, though I definitely have my concerns about choosing to go there instead of a more typical college. In my mind New College is similar in selectivity to UF, and Miami is close to it but not quite as selective. The applications to each one were very similar and the essay was the same between them. Is UF really so unpredictable that getting admitted to New College doesn't really give me a better chance, or should I feel a bit more positive because of it? I just don't want to go into February feeling too confident, considering I've gotten accepted everywhere I've applied so far. I'd also be interesting if people currently at UF could share the Universities they also got into that were close to UF in terms of selectivity; that'd give be a bit of a better idea.</p>
<p>UPDATE: I just got a $16,000 annual scholarship at UMiami. Yes! Man, I sure hope this translates into a UF acceptance! (Crosses fingers 100000 times)</p>
<p>If you checked the disability checkbox, that should mitigate your lack of honors classes early in your high school years. Did you (or your GC) explain the fact that you were unable to take honors classes in the early years of high school? After all, that seems to be the key factor in your GPA. Have you converted your GPA to a "UF GPA"? Just take academic classes, take off the plus and minus signs, and give yourself .5 extra for honors and 1.0 extra for AP.</p>
<p>If you got the Deans Scholarship at UMiami, that must mean you have over a 1350 SAT, which is above the 75th percentile for UF. Did you step up the number of honors classes as time went on?</p>
<p>I talked to my GC before I applied, and she was actually the one who convinced me to check the box. She said she contacted a friend who is familiar with the state policy on that and strongly encouraged it.</p>
<p>I attempted to convert my GPA into a "UF GPA" and got a measly 3.57 weighted. That was a while ago though, and I may have done it wrong. I'll try doing another conversion later tonight to double check. When my actual weighted GPA is about a 4.0, that seems a bit too low. (My unweighted is a 3.7)</p>
<p>Over time, I did take a lot of honors classes. I started with only honors bio my freshman year, which also was the same year I was mainstreamed. Just taking one honors class that year was a big jump for me. Now, I take all honors classes except for one (English) and have one AP. (Environment) Taking AP or honors classes at my school is hard because you need to be recommended by a teacher and sometimes that doesn't happen even if you keep an A for the whole year. (This happened to me in history, where I had an A for two years but still wasn't recommended until I basically begged the teacher.) I did manage to move very quickly though math though. I started in Pre-Algebra in 9th grade and now I'm in Honors Calculus. I needed to take summer classes and double-up during the school year to do that. In an attempt to try to take more advanced classes, I signed up for a summer program at the FAU honors college this summer and took a class intended for college Juniors and got an A. (An FAU transcript was also sent to UF and was processed.) Basically, the whole point of checking the box is to demonstrate why I haven't been able to sign up for as many honors and AP classes, and hopefully the FAU program can demonstrate my ability.</p>
<p>Because UF doesn't take recommendations, my counselor wasn't able to send in a personal note about the honors/AP policy. I can't seem to find my receipt of the application being sent, but I believed that I mentioned in the additional info. session that I only took two years of foreign language so I could use those class periods to advance in math.</p>
<p>I actually met UM's requirements for the University scholarship, though I ended up with the Deans', so I had a 32 ACT, which is my highest test score. I think that converts to about a 1420 SAT. I'll post here in a little bit with a UF GPA. I'm just confused on how to make one. My school doesn't go on block scheduling and my main academic courses last a full year. (August-May) Should I be taking both semester grades, the highest of the two, or what?</p>
<p>Alright, I've got your UF GPA. The one received by UF is the one I mentioned before; I calculated it correctly. (3.57. Ouch) However, if for some reason I'm waitlisted and I get the opportunity to send a midyear report, my UF GPA becomes a 3.62.</p>
<p>Those GPA's were calculated by taking the grades from all semesters (two from each class) and averaging, assuming that's how UF calculates when block scheduling isn't used. Now what if UF were to take the highest grade in a class out of both semesters when calculating a UF GPA? Well, without the 1st semester of senior year, it's a 3.65. On a midyear report, it would be a 3.71. To me, these are big differences. Also, these low GPAs are mainly the result of not being able to take honors classes in middle school. Basically, I'm hoping they look more closely at my Sophomore, Junior, and if there is a mid-year report, Senior year grades. The later, the better because of my large upward trend. How much of an upward trend is it? If you use ONLY my Junior year grades, my Junior year UF GPA is a 3.95, so rounded that would be 4.0. What if we were to take out only freshman year grades? My UF GPA is then 3.72. Add a midyear report? It doesn't go up much because it's essentially half a class, but it becomes a 3.77. Sorry to bombard you guys with all these GPA statistics, but do you see where this is going? If you take out freshman year, the GPA goes up a LOT. Take out that and sophomore year, and the GPA soars from a 3.57 to almost a 4.0. Also, that 4.0 doesn't include any brownie GPA points I would get for taking that advanced FAU class. Also, combine that with a great 32 ACT score, and suddenly I look more impressive when more recent grades are weighted more heavily.</p>
<p>I believe it's this type of analysis that admissions committees at UMiami and New College used and determined what kind of a student I really am instead of my overall cumulative GPA. They were able to see the impact of the upward trend and my numerous awards (placed in county sci. fair twice, 1st in school fair twice, 2nd place National History Day in Florida and participant in national contest, etc.) Of course however, UF has many more applications to sort through, and I hope they're still able to do the same kind of thing. Though I got that UM scholarship, I will always have my doubts about getting into UF right until Feb. 15th.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have some very good options just in case you are not admitted to UF. Our friend got into both Penn State and UNC Chapel Hill and was rejected by UF two years ago so don't take a rejection too personally if it happens. Usually you end up in the direction that is best for you. Best of luck wherever the admissions road leads you.</p>
<p>If it will alleviate some of your concern/curiousity there is always something else you can do. You can call the admissions office. You don't have to give your name. You can simply tell them the situation- that you were placed into a special program prior to high school such that you were unable to take honors level classes in the first two years and were behind in some subjects. Since then you have made serious strides and are you are now in honors with one AP. You checked the disability box. And your question is- should you have had your counselor explain the situation- would it help; if so, is it too late to do so now?</p>
<p>When you checked the disability box- did the application ask for any explanation of the disability and how it affected your academic record? Seems like the answer to that question would be in order.</p>
<p>Actually it did. They asked for documentation from my psychologist, which was sent, and UF confirmed they received it and put it in my file.</p>
<p>UF's policy is that before my application goes to the admissions committee, the Department of Disability Services looks over my file and documentation to inform the committee of anything that could have impacted my schedule or grades. Also, because I read the documentation, I know it describes every school I went to and program I attended from preschool until now, so I'm set in that department.</p>
<p>I feel like they'll know what my argument is. My essay is actually a shortened version about my experience. My counselor recommended I do that because it's a great essay topic about overcoming something and explains a special situation, so you kill two birds with one stone. Really, I very excited that I got a great scholarship from Miami, and got an additional scholarship from New College to go with Bright Futures. (I also recently got into the UCF honors college) This kinda got my hopes up for UF, but I'm trying to be careful.</p>
<p>Doh. I found my application summary and I didn't/forgot to say I didn't take more than four years of foreign language because I needed to double up my math classes. I'm going to feel sick.</p>
<p>Well, I usually know more selective colleges like having at least three years instead of the two years required for graduation. (Kind of like having four years of science or math instead of three.) It's kind of like saying UF only requires a 950 SAT score. Sure, the requirement exists, but do non-athletes actually get in with that score?</p>
<p>But I can kind of see where I worded my statement wrong. I meant to say it may hurt that I didn't take more than the two required, instead of the four years possible.</p>