Bumpy start, looking toward CMU, Syracuse or Rose

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>** Test Scores **
SAT: 1990 (590M 670CR 730W)
ACT: 32
SATII: Physics and Math II(signed up for October, hoping for 650+)</p>

<p>** Academics **</p>

<p>-- Rank: top 25%<br>
-- 2.8 GPA(awful freshman grades but with good reason)<br>
-- 11 AP classes </p>

<p>* AP: Calc AB(4), English Language(4), Environmental Science(3), APUSH(2), World(3) Taking: Calc BC, Physics C E&M and Mech, Macro and Microeconomics, English Literature, Computer Science *</p>

<p>** Extra Curriculars 10-12: **
-- 9 years flute/ 5 years violin/4 years trumpet, clarinet/3 years alto saxophone<br>
-- Marching Band Drum Major<br>
-- Tri M member<br>
-- summer music camps<br>
-- Future Business Leaders of America, various awards associated with it<br>
-- DECA, various awards associated with it<br>
-- Engineering Club Vice President<br>
-- VEX Robotics Team, founding member, took to World Competition<br>
-- Founding Member, school TSA chapter, president<br>
-- Did a summer program at Johns Hopkins, earned college credit<br>
-- Student Council President<br>
-- Environthon Club officer </p>

<p>** Community Service and Summer Work **
-- 100+ recorded hours community service<br>
-- Ongoing Volunteer work with old middle school promoting STEM careers and education<br>
-- Music ensemble peformance and outreach<br>
-- Summer Music Camp grades 9-12<br>
-- Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovations(gained college credit) </p>

<p>** Athletics and Work Experience **
Baby Sitting Job, 5 years
Varsity Letters in Tennis and Badminton</p>

<p>Applying Engineering(Undecided at the moment)
Possible hook: Double minority: Female and AA.</p>

<p>Notes:
I know that my SAT math is atypical for an aspiring engineering major, but my ACT Math was a 35 and I do plan to take the SAT in November focusing on Math.</p>

<p>The spring of my freshman year was awful socially, emotionally, and academically. I ended up having to be withdrawn from school and nearly failed all my classes but band. I transferred schools for sophomore year and have been considerably more successful in all respects ever since. On the Common App, there’s a place specifically for explaining such things and I plan to in more detail. For non CA schools, I plan to send a letter and have my guidance counselor note my disruption. </p>

<p>My list is as follows, feel free to recommend others you think I should look into. </p>

<p>** Dreams: **
Carnegie Mellon(Applying ED)
Smith College
Rose Hulman</p>

<p>** More realistically: **</p>

<p>Syracuse(although it’s a top pick)
University of Maryland College Park(Resident)
Purdue
Lehigh U
Union College</p>

<p>** Safeties: **
UMBC(Resident and connections with admissions dept)
Morgan State(Resident and stats well above the middle 50%)</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>I don’t know anything about the last two on the list, but the first eight will all be reaches for you. A 2.8 GPA is a very tough think to overcome. You don’t have a hook and your SATs are consistent with your GPA.</p>

<p>You need more “match” schools on your list.</p>

3

<p>Syracuse will be more impressed with your 32 than they are disturbed by your 2.8 especially with those AP classes…which school are you applying to there?..plus your class rank implies a very grade deflated environment; you should be fine…do not submit SAT; unnecessary</p>

<p>add your URM status…like I said, you should be fine…wouldn’t be surprised if you are admitted to CMU ED…not a lock, but it sounds like you have a story…</p>

4

<p>Thanks for replying…</p>

<p>Soze, why isn’t being African American/Female a hook when I’m applying specifically for engineering? It’s a well known fact that women and minorities are rare in engineering and most major engineering programs make an effort to recruit and retain such students. </p>

<p>Rodney, do you think that the school profile that my GC sends out will be sufficient for an Adcom to see deflation within my school, or should I hint at it somewhere on my application?</p>

5

<p>Sorry, I didn’t notice that you were AA.
That might change things a bit at a few schools, but the problem is that there are lot’s of AA women with 3.8 GPAs and 800 math SATs.</p>

<p>Your Math SAT is just way too low for an engineering program and I frankly even if you could get into one, how well do you really think you would do? Engineering is a tough course of study even for someone with top math scores … it’s going to be doubly difficult for you.</p>

6

<p>I have a few friends whom are in the same boat as you with the SAT Math section. They got to Calculus and did really well, but were shaky on some of the geometry and basic algebra on the SAT. Don’t send your SAT, send your ACT, as a 35 in math is ** very ** impressive. </p>

<p>You’re in at the Maryland colleges, just remember to apply early. Purdue is definitely a reach and solid interviews could allow you to squeak by with an admittance to SMU, Rose or Smith.</p>