Asian w/ Low GPA *Gasp*

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I have high SATs/somewhat low GPA at a competitive public school in NJ (sends ~12-15 to Ivies a year and another 10-15 to other top schools). </p>

<p>Race: Asian
Gender: Male
State: NJ</p>

<p>GPA: <em>UW-3.84, W-4.25</em> and <em>UW-3.90, W-4.41</em> (w/o freshman year)
Rank: Easily top 5% in class of over 700, school doesn't give out rank so I don't have an exact position.
***System is difficult: A=95% and above.
SAT I: M-800, CR-770, W-730, T-2300
SAT IIs: Math II-800, Chem-800, Bio M-730 (self-studied)
APs: Phys B (4), Chem (5), Calc BC (5 and AB sub 5), Eng (5), Comp Sci AB (5)</p>

<p>ECs (really brief synopsis):</p>

<ul>
<li>Med Professions (10-12, officer 12th)</li>
<li>NJ Science Olympiad (founded and lead in 11th)</li>
<li>NJ Science League (2 yrs competed)</li>
<li>Research (2 summers); finalist at North Jersey Science Fair; competing at Intel/Siemen's next year</li>
<li>March of Dimes (10-12, officer 12th)</li>
<li>Science Competition Club (10-12, officer 11-12)</li>
<li>JSA (9-12, officer 11, VP 12, regional cabinet positions 11-12)</li>
<li>Math League (11, Calc required)</li>
<li>Volunteering hospital/March of Dimes/Senior Center: ~200 hrs.</li>
</ul>

<p>Awards:</p>

<ul>
<li>USNCO Semifinalist</li>
<li>Competed in USABO (self-studied)</li>
<li>North Jersey Science Fair Finalist</li>
<li>AIME Qualifier (low score on test though)</li>
<li>National Latin Exam (1 silver, 2 golds)</li>
<li>JSA Best Speaker Awards (4 of them)</li>
<li>Chemistry Olympics (2nd place in category)</li>
<li>Commended by NJ Legislature and Governor for work with March of Dimes</li>
<li>Columbia SHP next year</li>
<li>2nd, 4th, and 3rd place finishes at Princeton Univ competition for past 3 yrs</li>
</ul>

<p>Major: Biology/Biochem</p>

<ul>
<li>UPenn</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Duke</li>
<li>JHU</li>
<li>U Mich</li>
<li>NYU </li>
<li>Rutgers (safety?)</li>
</ul>

<p>Should I apply ED to UPenn? Do I have a chance? Or should I not waste the ED so to speak? I'd be willing to apply ED to JHU also, but only if UPenn is out of my reach. Thx.</p>

2

<p>i'd say you're a pretty good match for nyu and jhu.</p>

3

<p>You're GPA isn't low... Good SAT and EC, only UPenn, Cornell, and Duke are reaches although I bet that you'll get in at least one. You have a good chance at getting in on the rest.</p>

4

<p>Ok sounds somewhat reassuring. But for Penn specifically, do you think I should refrain from applying ED b/c of the GPA? I really want to get in, but Penn is notorious for rejecting people without "Top 10 student" status. Anyway, bump.</p>

5

<p>bump 10char</p>

6

<p>Ok...bump again. Please respond!</p>

7

<p>I don't think you have to worry much about that GPA. Apply to UPenn ED, I think you'll get in.</p>

8

<p>your gpa isn't low, don't worry</p>

9

<p>jfs4691: Thx, that's somewhat reassuring! I think since UPenn is my dream school, I could possibly write essays that actually speak the truth. So, hopefully that will help swing it? I'm just a bit shaky about applying cus' of the GPA. </p>

<p>caligurl: Thx, I really need that :)!</p>

10

<p>your gpa...is NOT..loww</p>

11

<p>good chances everywhere, forreal.</p>

12

<p>umm since when is that gpa low</p>

13

<p>I don't know how you've come to the conclusion that your GPA is low. You should be fine and I recommend applying ED to UPenn.</p>

14

<p>"I don't know how you've come to the conclusion that your GPA is low."</p>

<p>From looking at the profiles of monsterously overqualified applicants on this forum and from UPenn's own statistics for their entering class (a large portion of which was comprised of valedictorians/salutatorians). Sorry if I come off as a bit pompous/arrogant, but I'm seriously and honestly scared about my GPA. Thx for responses.</p>

15

<p>And he was.</p>

16

<p>bump ....</p>

17

<p>your GPA is definitely not low</p>

18

<p>NYU and Rutgers should be cakewalks for you...my friend had a 1800 SAT and got into NYU.</p>

19

<p>Your GPA is low by Asian standards. Your parents must be shocked and appalled.</p>

20

<p>Wow, go cry about that 3.84.</p>