Any Chance At Ivies (low GPA)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I'm interested in a couple ivies...I have an ACT score of 31 right now, but I have only taken it once so project ~32-33 final.</p>

<p>But my concern is my GPA. I had numerous family issues going on freshman year so I had ~3.3 (not even in the hardest schedule possible, but no C's thankfully). Without freshman year my current GPA would be a 3.8 (the average accepted GPA for a couple ivies on my school's naviance), but with it I have a 3.6. I have heard that ivies don't even bother recalculating GPAs and only 7% of admitted students have a GPA from 3.5-3.75. </p>

<p>In addition to the low GPA, I am worried because I am not taking the hardest course load because freshman year slacking made me unable to move up in classes. I am in the 2nd highest level for math and science -- while almost everything else is highest level. </p>

<p>Senior year I plan to take practically the hardest schedule possible, but besides then I have not. I talked to my guidance counselor and he made it very clear that he didn't want to write about my family issues and the fact that I could not take more challenging courses because of it. Therefor I am on my own for it, so is it worth writing about? ? Should I just mention the family problems, or also that it was a setback in taking more advanced classes (or is that obvious?). </p>

<p>Also is a 3.6 just too unrealistic or would they actually take the family issues into account?</p>

<p>(I go to a very competitive target school in NY where no one has exactly a 4.0, but there are very high GPAs).</p>

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<p>You’re going to need some holistic fairy dust. Do you have some very strong EC’s for the holistic fairy?</p>

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<p>@sosomenza haha I agree.</p>

<p>I do believe that I have impressive EC’s, which are probably the strongest part of my application. (Not going to bore everyone with the list). No crazy awards or anything, but they are rather unusual, focused, and genuine.</p>

4

<p>bhchamp, if you tell me your “impressive ECs” I could give you a decent idea of what your chances might look like. PM me if you don’t feel comfortable posting your ECs here. Chance me as well!</p>