<p>I have a bit of a problem, which I'm really stressing out about. </p>
<p>My SAT is a 2320 (one siting, probably won't be retaking), and my subject tests should be comparable based on some practice tests (i.e. >750).
However, my grades, to put it lightly, are terrible.
I received a grand total of 4 B's and 3 C's in both freshmen and sophomore years (no -'s or +'s). This, at least in my school district, translates to a 3.26 un-weighted and a 3.83 weighted. My course rigor is good, and I have taken 7 honors and 1 AP so far, which is the most rigorous schedule I could take. This year I am enrolled in 3 APs and 3 Honors, but even if I get straight A's (which is unlikely given both my background and the nature of my school), my GPA would only rise to about a 3.5UW/4.15W. </p>
<p>My school doesn't rank either, but if it did my rank wouldn't be that great either (I'm estimating I am in the top 40% or a little higher). </p>
<p>My main issue is that my extra-curricular activities (which are really good/unique) and my scores are good for top colleges (top 20s), but my grades pretty much shut me out of every top college. I have one hook (Black Male), but I personally doubt that it will help me that much.</p>
<p>So, what should I do as far as college applications? I am currently thinking of just applying to a WIDE range of colleges (about 20) and hoping for the best at the top ones. I am a prospective engineering major with side interests in business, so my top choice is the Jerome Fisher Program @ UPenn, but I probably won't even apply given my gpa haha. </p>
<p>Edit: For some more context, I have a downward trend so far (from a 3.42 to a 3.11), and some of my bad grades (cough cough C's) were in math/science.</p>
<p>First, applying to 20 colleges sounds like a horrible idea. That’s thousands of dollars worth of application fees and official test scores, not to mention all the hours you’ll have to put into the essays. Second, GPA and transcript are more important to most colleges than standardized test scores. Your SAT only reflects your skills in one 4-hour time slot on some Saturday morning. Your GPA shows your work ethic and abilities over a 3-year period. The downward trend doesn’t help either. And unfortunately, most of the people applying to schools like Penn have similar or higher test scores, but a higher GPA, as well. Here’s what I would do. Apply to 1 super reach if you really want to (Penn, for example), find a safety or two, and then find some matches (no more than 5/6 of these or you’ll lose both your sanity and a lot of money) and maybe a few reaches based more on your GPA, not your test scores.</p>
<p>For engineering, provided the program is ABET accredited, it really doesn’t matter all that much where you go. Truly. Yes, there are differences between programs, but ABET defines the program outlines so the differences between those programs are much smaller than differences between programs in other fields of study. There are scads of engineering programs that would be perfectly happy to admit you, and several that would throw very nice merit money at you even with that 3.26uw 3.83w.</p>
<p>Have a chat with your parents about how much money they can chip in for your education, and then pop over to the Financial Aid Forum and read the threads pinned at the top on the topic of merit-based aid.</p>
Goodness, I hope you won’t bother retaking that. A higher score won’t help your application.</p>
<p>You mention the nature of your school. Is this a highly competitive prep school? If so you need to talk to your GC and look at your Naviance data to see where similar students went to college. </p>
<p>And @happymomof1 is spot on about engineering schools and ABET accreditation. Certainly look at your state flagship as an option.</p>
<p>What is your state flagship? Of the three states you list only CA would be a real issue with your GPA and scores. Getting to a 4+ weighted will get you a good scholarship at Alabama.</p>
<p>I am not located in CA, however I was still looking into applying to either UCLA or Berkeley, although my stats would most likely lead to a rejection. </p>
<p>I am not applying to Alabama because I would rather not be located in the south. </p>
<p>Perhaps some good engineering schools that also have a business program so you can take an elective or two in business? Lehigh, UDelaware, UMD, Stevens, Manhattan College, RPI, URochester to name but a few. You really need to see where your GPA ends up and how it is trending.</p>
<p>In general, it’s a good idea to separate schools into safety schools, “just in case,” schools you feel you will get into and will be comfortable going there, and reach schools that you don’t necessarily have a high chance of being accepted to, but are going to give it a shot.</p>
<p>Think of the top 2-3 schools that you would LOVE to attend, regardless of your grades. Write a killer essay and be sure to get letters of recommendation that highlight all of your greatest achievements. Apply to them even if you think you have no chance. You never know!</p>
<p>What can your parents/ you afford? Please have that discussion with them before you apply anywhere.
I actually think you might have a better shot with smaller private schools, where people will really read your application, not just look at numbers. Make your essays count, and use the short Q & As to explain your gpa. </p>
<p>Obviously you want to keep working on the GPA, but with your test scores, your hook, and your strong/unusual extracurricular, I wouldn’t count yourself out. I think there are a lot of schools that would find you an attractive candidate, and you won’t know unless you apply. That isn’t to say you should scattershot a lot of applications, but if you choose them based on good fit for you, there is no reason you can’t include a handful of reaches, and even a high reach, along with your matches and a safety or two. You might want to come up with an explanation for why your grades started out low (and hopefully they will be going UP so you can look like a student who has matured and got things together!) Maybe address this in a strong essay, or in an interview with the school. The key is the college does not want a student who won’t be a success, so they need to know you’re committed to fulfilling your potential.</p>
<p>Really, don’t sell yourself short. There are plenty of kids with perfect or near-perfect GPAs, but not necessarily an outstanding extracurricular. Also, if you’re interested in a particular school that you aren’t sure will take you, maybe call someone in their admissions department and see what they think. I DO think you’ll need a good explanation for the prior low grades, but if you’re doing well now you can get past that.</p>
<p>Any idea of what type of engineering you are interested in? Are you willing to take the math/science courses you will need for this major in college- typically Calculus (1, 2, and 3) and Physics, perhaps basic Chemistry?</p>