Kind of a broad question but I realized I might need a serious reality check.
I’ve convinced myself that I can apply to some of the top schools in the country, not ivies, but some very good top 20 schools, despite having a low freshman and sophomore gpas and currently only a “good” one, not outstanding by anyone’s measure. So I just wanted to ask if anyone knows if they could tell me whether it’s realistic to be applying to the places I have in mind or whether I’ve been kidding myself this whole time. Here are some stats:
Gpa (my school only reports weighted + dk class rank):
I’ve also taken all the hardest classes at my school which means 7 aps (the maximum number available)
ACT (one sitting):
32 composite + 36 on writing (no clue if that means anything haha)
EC:
I’ve been the class president for 3 years and most likely 4 (and at my school it’s a pretty involved role with fundraisers etc.)
PAWS- just some initiative to help freshman integrate, it’s a leadership whatever and also pretty selective there’s an interview and an application essay and a decent number of people get rejected
Jv lacrosse lol
Varsity golf 2 years
So that’s basically it, if anyone could tell me if I’m an idiot I would appreciate it haha and also if anyone wants to add any schools that are a match for me than I would be in your debt
Note: my school is very tough despite being public and ranked top 5 in the state (NJ) and kids get into the Ivy leage with gpas around the 4.2 range
Many schools don’t take freshman year grades very seriously. You have a major upward trend; with good SAT/ACT scores you should be fine for many universities. What’s the budget? Have you discussed finances with your parents?
I think I’ll be okay, as far as finances go with a combination of taking on some of the debt myself and my parents helping out. One problem is that I have a lot of siblings and I’m not in the right bracket to get any aid. If I got in somewhere really great I think my family and I could deal with paying for it though.
UCLA only uses 10-11th grades (a-g courses) for their GPA calculation which is to your benefit. Here is the calculator. Extra honors points are only granted for AP/IB or DE courses during those years since you are OOS.
Post UC GPA when calculated. https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
I think those schools would be reaches but sure apply and see what happens. But also be sure to apply to a range of schools which include matches and safety schools that you would also be happy to attend. Also, I imagine that your highly ranked HS had decent guidance counselors so take advantage of what he/she has to say based on prior experiences of students from your HS…
Note that the amount of debt you can take out as a student is limited. Plus you don’t want to be riddled with debt for the next bunch of years. Be wary of finances when you select schools.
Low chance at UCLA when the average UC GPA is 4.18 last year. Your ACT is on target but will not make up for your GPA. You need some realistic Match and Safety schools. Are all these schools affordable?
I guess I was kidding myself haha, any ideas for matches/safeties with my stats? I don’t think affordability will be a big issue, I’m fortunate in that regard.
Look to your in-state schools for a safety. Try the SuperMatch feature on this website for some options. Maybe some other posters can chime in with some good recommendations.
Look at your in-state not just as a safety, but as a good choice for someone with financial constraints and a less than perfect academic record who isn’t going to get financial aid or scholarships. You don’t want to graduate with debt if you can avoid it unless you are getting something significant in return. Prestige by itself isn’t generally sufficient since you can generally accomplish the same things at your in-state if you are a top student there.
UCLA probably not - it’s just become so competitive these days with so many foreign applicants. Plus even if admitted you’d be OOS and UC’s are stingy with aid (aka broke).
The others I’d say you have a shot - go for them (and work on upping your GPA, take the ACT again), but have safeties.
good shot at BC, Mich., Miami. I’d replace UCLA with Florida State…you would probably get good aid from them and it would end up costing a third of what the others will. Even if parents CAN pay, nobody likes paying $60k when they can get a reasonably similar result for $20k.FSU would give u at least a half-waiver of out of state tuition, maybe even a full waiver.
Your GPA and ACT combination would guarantee you full tuition scholarship at University of Alabama. It’s not an academic reach for you but if you enroll in the Honors College you could make it a pretty special experience. Check it out. Google “University of Alabama by drone,” watch the video…very impressive.
You might not think finances are an issue, but UCLA OOS and other schools on your list would cost $50k and more without aid. With siblings and you just being able to take about $5000 student loan, it is questionable that your parents would be willing and able to spend $200k per child.
So look into schools where a 3.5 GPA and 32 ACT would get you merit aid.
Keep taking the ACT and SAT…and study HARD for them…they aren’t that expensive, and any increase you can get will help decrease the effect of your lower grades in your first 2 years of high school.
moooop, I would not go so far as to say that the OP has a “good shot” at Michigan. For OOS applicants, Michigan has become very selective. The applicant OOS applicant pool currently stands at over 40,000 for fewer than 8,000 acceptances, and the number of OOS applicants is growing by 3,000 annually. By the time the OP applies, we could be looking at 46,000 applicants for 8,000 acceptances. If the OP’s 3.7 cumulative GPA were unweighed, I would have said a moderate reach, but as it stands, I would have to say a significant reach. Still, it is worth applying to, but it is not a target or safety as you would seem to suggest. I think BC would be a reasonable reach/high target and Miami would be a target/safety.
