Caltech, MIT, University of Chicago, chances???

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I guess to begin this post, I should introduce myself. I am a high school junior (female-born in Kenya but the inevitable Americanization has grasped my character) I've been galvanized into action, or...awakened from my slumber, whatever. My academic performance freshman and sophmore year was horrid in retrospect. My GPA at the start of junior year was 2.8. I know But I recently realized that I have a brain and a strong interest in science (in particular physics and astronomy-)--the cause of denouncing fundamental Christian doctrines and wanting an explanation derived through logical means alone--and Carl Sagan. I'm not incompetent and can fully apply myself, I just...didn't figure it out until now. This may be a long post (apologies distributed in advance ) </p>

<p>I'm taking some college classes at my local community college: </p>

<p>First semester: (already taken) </p>

<p>Logic A-
Introduction to Philosophy and Great Books A
Utopia (humanities) A+ </p>

<p>Second Semester (have not taken these yet, but I shall predict my performance) </p>

<p>Applied Piano A+
Applied Flute A+
Astronomy-Stars Galaxies, and Universe-A
Astronomy lab-Stars,Galaxies, and universe-A+ </p>

<p>At my high school (which is competitive and nationally recognized) </p>

<p>First and second semester: </p>

<p>English IIIAP A-
Physics A-
Algebra II A </p>

<p>Senior year, these are the courses I will be taking. Again, i'll predict my performance </p>

<p>High school classes: </p>

<p>English IV AP Literature and Composition-5
Precalculus honors A-
Physics AP-4
American Government and Politics AP-4
Comparative Government and Politics-5
Introduction to Economics-A </p>

<p>At the community college:
Drawing I-A
Drawing II-A </p>

<p>As for clubs and community service and such things:
Leader of Philosophy club (junior year)
2 years of basketball (freshman and sophomore year) </p>

<p>So, I've read that colleges love to see upward trends, but honestly--from what i've been seeing, most "upward trends" are from students who climb from 3.5 to 4.0 or whatever. I've dipped close to the bottom, which will affect my GPA considerably and class rank. What are my chances at MIT, University of Cincinnati, Caltech, University of Washington, Boston University, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon? I'm aiming for these schools because of my major and the the research opportunities they offer.</p>

2

<p>It’s hard to chance someone without knowing their standardized test scores. Have you ever taken the SAT/ACT, what did you get, or what do you plan to get? Regardless of that, your chances at most of these schools are basically 0… Sorry to say that. A 2.8 is extremely low, and I’m afraid that no upward trend i going to help much. Plus, these schools really stress ECs, which you don’t have much of… Maybe try taking less classes at CC and focus more on activities outside of school?</p>

3

<p>I haven’t taken the SAT or ACT yet due to some financial problems my family has been having, though I’ve been practicing for both. my guidance counselor says I should do relatively well on the ACT because of my skills in math and science. </p>

<p>I will be doing a lot more ECs this coming semester, over the summer, and senior year, so hopefully that will help. How high is the college essay regarded in the admissions process? Because I have a very strong case that might explain my low performance freshman and sophomore year. I just don’t want my low GPA to be the deciding factor. </p>

<p>Is university of Cincinnati a high reach as well?</p>

4

<p>ECs started so late generally won’t have as much weight in the admission process - they prefer long-term commitment to a certain area. But it’ll still improve your chances. And essays are really important, as long as you are academically qualified. In your case, essays can make a huge difference, as long as you do them right. If it’s not a secret, what is the “strong case” to explain your low GPA? Just the stuff you talked about in the first paragraph?
Also, not so familiar with University of Cincinnati, although it’s obviously way less competitive than MIT, Caltech, and such. Although schools like that tend to focus more on academics (GPA) and less on the subjective parts (essays).</p>

5

<p>Mainly just my experiences in Kenya as a child and my family’s struggle with HIV/AIDS, and not wanting to be behind in anything in this world, i guess. And religion as well, like was mentioned in the first paragraph. and pretty much all the women in my family getting arranged with marriages to men that were unqualified to emotionally support them. and not having to succumb to pressures of “security” due to my education and my opportunities in America. That’s pretty much it. But I’m not going to focus too much on my short comings in the essay, perhaps i’ll shed more light on the rebound and how i’m rapidly improving and my strong interest in science. </p>

<p>I work very hard, I just wish colleges could see that–my past does not and will not determine my potential.</p>

6

<p>I think your background will give you a boost, and if you take that “past does not and will not determine my potential” angle and work it hard to show the colleges that you really do have that potential - you’ve got a chance at the lower tier schools. They will certainly want to know why you have your current stats, so be sure to explain it thoroughly. I’m interested in how you broke away from religion, and if you can cast it as your intellectual awakening, that would be worth reading.</p>

<p>With the top tier colleges, it’s really difficult to chance anyone, even the most perfect students, but with your GPA you have a smaller chance.</p>

7

<p>Thank you so much for your insight. Even if I don’t get accepted into these colleges for my undergrad, I’ll make sure I do for graduate school. And right now, I’ll get more involved, but I honestly do not see myself joining a bunch of clubs and organizations just to put them on my application to show that I was well balanced. I’m probably just going to start an astronomy, physics, and religious club and see if I can participate in Nasa’s many summer programs for youth. And of course my community service requirements, but those I can do easily.</p>

8

<p>I admire your hard work, the fact that you are passionate about science and taking college classes. I recommend emphasizing this passion in your essays. Also I don’t know your SAT, but you should definitely try to raise your GPA. Good luck! Could you chance me…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597246-chance-me-harvard-upenn-princeton-stanford-will-chance-back-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597246-chance-me-harvard-upenn-princeton-stanford-will-chance-back-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Hmm- that really is a tough situation you’ve found yourself in, Astrophysics. Unfortunately, although your grade improvement is amazing, all of the schools on your list (except for Cincinnati, which I really can’t speak for) will likely not forgive such low early grades unless you were in a circumstance which made it completely impossible for you to do homework (namely, working full time, in such poverty that you could not get to school or were starving, or had a deadly illness), just because of their extreme selectivity. However, please don’t lose heart- large public institutions are much more likely options for you at the moment, and are often really good schools (and very cheap), and after a few years of getting grades in college resembling your senior year grades, I think you have a terrific chance of transferring to a highly selective school or going to a highly selective grad school. (By that time, you’ll have really shown that you can succeed long term in spite of your initial circumstances)</p>

10

<p>Also, waiting to apply to highly selective schools will give you time to get involved in some ecs. Another thing- there’s a saying about college essays- “an essay can heal the sick, but not raise the dead”. Essays can help a borderline application, but will likely have little impact on an application that is already very unlikely to be accepted</p>