Brown: Do I have a shot? If I am not good enough, where should I apply?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am planning to apply ED to Brown, but I wonder if applying ED to the school is worthwhile b/c of my GPA. I am a Korean-American living in South Korea.</p>

<p>Here are my stats
GPA: 3.70/ 4.0 (The maximum GPA is 4.0, not 4.3. Anything above 94 is an A and something in between 84 and 93 is a solid B.)
SAT I: 2270 (710 C/R, 780 Math, 780 Writing. I will take it again in Oct.)
SAT IIs: IIC 790, Chem 770, US history 700 (crap)
APs: I haven't checked my scores yet, but I have taken AP Chem, AP English Lang. and Comp., and AP US History.
TOEFL: 280
English is my second language, and I have been under American curriculum for 4 years.</p>

<p>Senior year schedule: AP English Literature, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Spanish Language, Physics (1st year), Global Issue (real easy class), and Strings (which is the same as "orchestra" class in American public schools)</p>

<p>My GPA for the first semester of junior year is really crappy. I got something like 3.15, so my cumulative GPA went down significantly. However, I bounced back by getting a 3.75 in the second semester.</p>

<p>E/C and Awards
* Orchestra for all 4 years (I have been playing the cello since 1998)
* University Interscholastic League Cello Solo 1st Class (I spent my freshman year in Texas and got this award when I was in 9th grade. I moved to South Korea in my sophomore year)
* 1st place winner for The 15th Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association Math Contest (in 9th grade)
* Spanish Club President (12)
* PSAT National Merit Commended Scholar (11)
* National Honors Society (12)
* 200 hours of community service at Chimsulwon (It's a nonprofit organization in Korea where old ppl and the phsically challenged people are treated with oriental medicine. I treat patients with acupuncture and moxibustion)
* Taekwondo 2nd Dan holder
* Internship at two hospitals
* Track and Fields, basketball, and football in 9th grade (my current school doesn't have teams for Track and Fields and Fball. Therefore, this prolly doesn't count at all). I don't play any sports at this moment</p>

<p>I know my E/C and GPA suck. However, I desperately want to go to Brown and will be applying ED to Brown no matter what. Based on the information given, do I have any chance at Brown University? I would appreciate sincere and detailed answers.</p>

2

<p>Your GPA does not suck if the maximum is 4.0. Are you a female and interested in Science? That might be an interesting thing to a Brown adcom. Good luck!</p>

<p>I think you have a solid chance.</p>

3

<p>Been under an American curriculum for only 4 years and u already have a 710/780 reading/writing??!!!! I congradulate you, that'll give you a very big boost in admissions.</p>

<p>What's your class rank? GPA doesn't count for squat if colleges don't see a rank, because at some HS, a GPA of 3.7 would be darn close to val, while at others (like my HS), we have like, 10 ppl graduating each year with a 4.0.</p>

<p>Your extracurriculars aren't looking too great, I agree with you, because most of the heavy hitters are back in 9th grade. You still have some leadership, community service, etc. so your ECs would be rated average by Brown.</p>

<p>If you're in the top 5% in rank, u have a decent shot at Brown (but then again, who knows how Ivies choose).</p>

4

<p>I go to a really small school where there's only about 80 students per class. Unfortunately, I believe I am not in the top 5%. Maybe I am in like top 15%. One thing that ****es me off is that my school doesn't weigh GPAs, so ppl who only take easy classes are likely to have higher GPAs than ppl like me who take the hardest courses. I miss the old days in Texas when I was in the top 1.4% :( . Should I give it up and apply to other schools?</p>

5

<p>NO!!! Don't give UP! :)</p>

<p>Make sure to have one of your teachers explain that you go to a hard school and explain how your school grades. Brown will certainly consider these things when you apply.</p>

6

<p>courseload is very important: There r a few ppl in my school who have higher GPAs than I do, but unlike me, have not taken APs and all honors. As a result, my GPA and rank are superior to theirs because of my heavier courseload.</p>

7

<p>At my school, a student with 4.0 is da #1 regardless of his/her courseload. :( Dumb a $ $ school. If my schools works the same way as yours do, I must be like #5 ,#6, or #7. Something like that.</p>

8

<p>nextyao-
first of all you have a great gpa. It also sounds like we're in similar situations. I was the #1 student at my school with a hard course load but at my new school everything is impossibly hard. It is your GC's job to explain these things. Voice your concerns.</p>