<p>So first let me say that while I put Newhouse as my first choice, I am well aware that it is out of reach. I put writing & rhetoric as my second choice in the A&S college.</p>
<p>stats:</p>
<p>GPA 2.8 UW (I know, I know. Affected by unmedicated ADD and father's terminal cancer diagnosis)
Have taken AP's, scored 4's
SAT: 760 CR, 710 W 580 M (2050)
EXCELLENT letters of recommendation
Took comm. college classes during Jr year, made 3.7 GPA and on Dean's List over both quarters.
I am biracial (hispanic and white) and go to a public school where the average gpa is 3.25</p>
<p>I've had a lot of success in student film, I've won 10+ awards in state, national and international festivals including 1st and 2nd place at a national college festival, official selection of Seattle International Film Festival and National Film Festival for Talented Youth and 2 Northwest Emmy Nominations. </p>
<p>I also have interned at Seattle Intl Film Festival for 2 years and founded and run a youth film committee of 23 other kids there. </p>
<p>I am copy editor of my school newspaper and have done very well in DECA, placing at state for 2 years in a row and I've created an ad campaign used by Seattle Public Utilities. </p>
<p>My essays are also very strong. I know it's a long shot, but I've kept very good communication w/ the school, met a rep at a college fair, had a phone interview, emailed and followed on twitter, on mailing list. I'm just talking about a chance at the college of arts & sciences. </p>
<p>I think you’re looking a bit too down on yourself for your GPA. Because that appears to be the only weak part of your application.</p>
<p>I am currently enrolled in Newhouse. I had no real life experience, no internships. I didn’t interview. My SATs were target range. And while I did have a 4.0, I truly believe the only thing I had carrying myself was my passion.</p>
<p>Everyone who applies there is some hot shot private school honor roll kid. If you don’t fit the cookie cutter mold, I think they really try to look for someone special and truly determined to succeed. </p>
<p>Although with all of that experience under your belt, applying to VPA for Film would probably have been a lock. They are very strictly portfolio driven, which you certainly had in the bag.</p>
<ol>
<li>make sure you include a supplement with details about the terrible stuff that happened to you and how it affected your GPA or talk about it in your interview. they really do understand–i had a similar problem with only a slightly higher GPA and slightly higher SAT. if you bring it up and explain it, they don’t have to guess about whether something went wrong. it’s not an excuse, but it puts your performance in context.</li>
<li>make sure your 1st and 2nd semester grades come out very strong this year.</li>
<li>your SAT score is strong, but not so terribly excellent for newhouse. it will be much higher than average in CRS since it’s the easiest program to get into in the school. </li>
<li>if your low grades were in freshman and sophomore year, that should help cause it shows growth. </li>
<li>you’ll get a geographical bump for being from the northwest. there’s no one from the northwest at SU.</li>
</ol>
<p>what @meeshellmybell said is also true. i have friends in newhouse who only scored 1500 SAT scores and had mediocre GPAs, but who also showed an extreme passion for journalism.</p>
<p>I think you have a decent chance for Newhouse, and a really good chance for A&S. Your SAT and being Hispanic will help a lot. Being Hispanic will also help for Newhouse, especially with credentials like yours. Perhaps they will look past the GPA and you will get into Newhouse, but regardless you will probably get into A&S.</p>