Any input on my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
1

<p>GPA:
So my GPA is a strange story. I attended an extremely difficult private school my freshman year, which did not offer honors classes. I then switched into a public school which weights honors classes. So on my transcript it appears like I got mediocre grades in regular classes, pulling my GPA down farther than it should be. Apparently it somehow also affects my unweighted GPA (my counselor explained why, I don't entirely understand why). Either way, this is an inaccurate reflection of my academic performance and my counselor is writing a letter to each college I apply to explaining the situation. According to her, without this error I should be in the top 20% of my class.</p>

<p>Unweighted: 3.4
Weighted: 3.9</p>

<p>Tests:</p>

<p>SAT: First try- 2060, plan on retaking it
CR: 700
M: 650
W: 710</p>

<p>ACT: 33</p>

<p>SAT II:
US History: 710
Plan on taking Math I and Literature</p>

<p>PSAT: Semifinalist, most likely not finalist</p>

<p>Classes: Please see note under GPA for info on my freshman year</p>

<p>Sophomore Year: (all other classes honors)
AP US History (5)</p>

<p>Junior Year: (all other classes honors)
AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Chemistry</p>

<p>Senior Year: (all other classes honors/enrollment in a college)
AP English
AP Physics
AP Statistics
AP Spanish 5
AP Calculus AB
AP Government</p>

<p>Awards:
Two time national finalist at the North South Foundation senior vocabulary bee, two time 1st place winner at the regional level
Three time state finalist for National History Day, one time national finalist
Two time Merit Award (I think this is unique to my school?) winner
NHS Member (and running for vice president)
Semifinalist for National Merit Scholarship
Latin Award Magna Cum Laude </p>

<p>Summer Programs:
Interlochen Center of the Arts- Creative Writing student
Center for Talent Development, Northwestern- AP Chemistry
Volunteered for a nursing home
This summer: NYLF Medicine @ Boston, University of Chicago Research in Biology program</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Freshman year:
EAT (Environmental Action Team)
Think Tank (History club)
National History Day state finalist
Art in Action
Charter (school newspaper)
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Youth Representative
JV Volleyball
Piano</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
SMART Team (Students Modeling a Research Topic, if you want more info, just ask) leading member
Led a V-Day production
Borealis (literary magazine)
Club United senior member
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Youth Representative
Taekwondo
Piano</p>

<p>Junior year:
The 9th Dimension: Vice President (Student led tutoring program with over 50 tutors)
SMART Team senior member
Asian Culture Club committee head
Club United senior member
National History Day club President, state and national finalist
Stage crew
Borealis editor
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Youth Representative
National Honor Society member
Taekwondo
Piano</p>

<p>I have also led a creative writing website where teenagers can connect and improve each other's work since I was ten and plan on writing an essay on the experience.</p>

<p>I am a minority student, and plan on applying early decision.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a great chance. Your activities and academic interests seem pretty varied and I don’t think your GPA will hurt you, particularly if the situation is communicated either through an essay perhaps.</p>

<p>ED, I think you’ll be set, but keep working hard. :)</p>

<p>(I just enrolled the beginning of the month for the Class of 2014, and number wise, besides GPA, my numbers are much lower than yours.)</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much. :slight_smile:
And congrats! that’s great.</p>

4

<p>I think you have a really good shot pending SAT retake, essays, and recs. ^_^</p>

<p>Some general things to consider:
-Make sure your counselor explains the GPA situation in her letter/form.
-It’s hard to process your activities in the way you’ve written it out, especially if you have some things that you did for one year, so this could just be a formating issue and the fact that you’re listing everything out for a chance thread. I guess think about presenting it in a way that emphasizes the stuff that really matters to you and paints a picture of who you are.
-Don’t forget about the Why Wellesley essay. Personally, I found that one more challenging.</p>