(This is not about chances. Im just curious about what others think about my situation…not if I can get in or not)
A little background: female African American junior interested in engineering who has family problems and internal/self problems
So freshman year I was pretty lost. I pretty much had no direction. Basically I was dealing with personal issues that unfortunately caused me to get bad grades.
At my school you have to get recommendations to take honors and ap classes.
Sophomore I made a 180 degree turn. I got almost a 4.0 uw and got 2 awards for having the highest grades in english and world history. I also worked on my internal turmoil so everything about me was better.
Currently im a junior and I have great grades too. All As and Bs in first semester and im taking honors and ap classes.
Overall I have a huge list of extracurricular and alot of leadership positions in them. Lots of volunteer work. I even have a varsity sport and a varsity letter. I may be interning for biomedical science research at a hospital this summer.
So here’s my question: am I foolish for wanting to apply to top colleges next year? I know I can do it. I know my SAT scores will be atleast 2000. I feel like id be such a well rounded applicant but my overall gpas with it is not the best. I know I didn’t always take the top classes but I am now. Would it be dumb to even try to attend an ivy league or other top colleges? Sorry this is so long and thanks for the input
You’d be foolish not to. You have the same chances as anyone else when applying to top schools (which is to say, slim) but that’s still a chance. Just continue taking the hardest classes at your school, continue participating in meaningful ECs, work on getting the highest possible test scores you can, write some stellar essays, etc. You may get in or you may not–but it won’t hurt to try. And even if you don’t it’s not the end of the world, and the hard work you did in preparation is gonna pay off regardless of where you go.
Do not shortchange yourself. I got into a top 10 liberal arts college, and it looks like you have better stats than I do. Just make sure you research the schools you really want to go to and write compelling essays. If you do that, I’m sure you will get into your first choice school. Also make sure that you also apply to schools that you like. Don’t just apply to a college because it has a high ranking.
I would highly recommend that you look not for the “top” University but the University which is “top” at the program you want to study. There can be a difference. Figure out what you want to study and look for the Universities who offer the best program for you…look at the classes they would offer for that degree and see if the University looks like a good fit. My D had an eye mainly on the Ivys until she figured out exactly what she wanted to study, looked at course offerings, etc. She found a very good University which offered her exactly what she wanted to study, and got in, and she is ecstatic because it is her passion. It was simply a perfect fit because everything she had done until now fit perfectly with that program. If you are interested in Biomedical Science or something else, find out who offers the program you like best and one you think fits with you, your experience and who you are
.
I believe everyone should have a well thought-out college strategy, and that stems from knowing yourself well and knowing what you want. For example, I know that I want a very small, personal college with a wide range of strong programs where I could get a boatload of merit aid, as well as one with a more conservative political bent (plus a few more assorted criteria). Not many of the Ivies/“top” universities fit this description, so I didn’t apply to a lot of colleges that people expected me to apply to. They simply weren’t the top colleges FOR ME.
Forget about rankings for a while. Do some soul-searching. In what environment would you really thrive? Read college books (the Fiske Guide, the Princeton 373, etc). Do some campus visits if you can. Don’t rely on other people (the rankings makers) to make your list for you; they don’t know you and your talents and desires. Find quality schools where you would really thrive, and apply there.
Your final list might include some Ivies, and it might not. That’s okay. Not all top students need apply to Ivies. But it is foolish to apply (or not apply) to universities just because they are “top” something or other.
Aim high, sure. But, be realistic. Assuming your SAT is a little above 2000 and knowing you had bad grades freshman year and more than one B this year, ivies and other highly selective colleges will be a high reach for you (unless you are a recruited athlete). It’s fine to apply to a High Reach or two, but your time is probably better spent learning about potential Reaches and Matches. It sounds like you will be a great candidate for some very fine programs. As an AA female, you are in two categories sought after by most engineering departments.
If engineering is your clear focus, research undergraduate engineering programs in the disciplines that interest you. Ivies do not necessarily offer the best options.
Thanks guys! Biomedical engineering is what I definiteIy want to major in. I do have alot of colleges im interested outside of ivies. Ivies are only like 3/15 of the colleges im interested in. Since I live in California and UCs dont look at freshman year I am definitely applying to UCLA, UCB, UCD, UCSC, UCSD, & UCI. UCSD is one of the best for biomedical engineering
Make sure you prepare well for the SAT and also get a good SAT2 math score. The top schools do want to attract diverse students, so if you can prove that you can handle the work with in-range test scores (look those up) and good grades in honors and AP classes, you should be a realistic applicant anywhere. I don’t think they will hold poor freshman grades against you if you have good grades and a challenging schedule as an upperclassman, especially if it’s something you or your counselor can explain in your application. Not all ivys offer the type of program you describe–you need to research each school.
