Can being a national achievement scholarship semi-finalist make up for gpa?

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>What type of school do you think I would be able to get into? University of Florida? Cornell? (I really just want to go there b/c of Keith Olbermann...) Duke? Tufts? University of Miami? Anything?</p>

<p>I have a 3.5 unweighted gpa and 4.8 weighted. I could've had a 4.0 but I slacked off majorly when my father died my freshman yr. I know I didn't try as hard as I could but you never really get over death. I think it'll be in the 5.somethings by the time grades lock because I'm taking 5 APs (and have As in all but 1 B)</p>

<p>I took 2 APs my junior year (Bio-3 and Eng-5) and am currently taking 5 as a senior (Eng, Environmental, French, Gov (then Econom) and Art History as an online class) along with keyboard I and debate and business ownership III (honors). </p>

<p>I'm an active member or board member of:
Speech & Debate secretary (1st place regionals, semis for states #12, national qualifier), Drama (backstage techie until this year when i tried out for a part and got it), FBLA secretary (1st place regionals), NHS (i lied. i'm just in this club just 2 be in it. inducted and lots of comm. serv. tho), SNHS (i bake for fundraising...)
I go to health fairs and observe medical procedures and translate when I can. (creole, french, some spanish)</p>

<p>National Achievement Scholar Semi-Finalist and I've turned in my application already to go for finalist status. Is it that big of a deal? Tufts encouraged me to apply and try to get this scholarship for minorities... </p>

<p>I've never taken SAT/ACT... but I will this Saturday!</p>

<p>O yeah. I didn't go to nat. for debate b/c I decided an internship awarded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute over the summer at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis doing research was better. They started on the same date. A week in las Vegas w/ my annoying debate coach v. like 2 months doing research to cure spinal cord injuries....</p>

<p>Well I think you can get into all of those if your ACT/SAT lives up to your GPA(i.e. you score somewhere around 29/2090).</p>

<p>P.S.- If that’s your cumulative GPA then that’s not bad at all. That’s about what my GPA is and I’m applying to some Ivy league schools and I’ve already been accepted to 5 schools(Loyola, Drexel, UMAINE, Albright, and Kings College)</p>

<p>Does your school rank? :)</p>

<p>bluespiano,</p>

<p>I’m 28th out of about 500</p>

<p>^ I meant the OP. :D</p>