Hi guys… So I started out freshman year average. I had a 3.67 gpa both semesters. And then coming into sophomore year I was screwed by finals and that really brought all my a-'s crashing down. I ended up first semester w/ a 3.5 gpa and 2nd semester w a 3.0 gpa. Right now my UW gpa is 3.483 and Weighted Gpa is a 4.427 With an upward and realistic trend. I hope to end high school with a 3.705 and Weighted of 4.8 or greater. My class schedule was rigerous from the start. I took honors algebra 2, honors bio, honors English, and Ap world as a freshman. Sophomore year, I took…Honors Trig/CALC A, honors English, honors chem, APUSH. Next year my class schedule looks like this
Ap psych
Photography
Bio technical engineering (Honors credit)
Ap physics B
Calculus BC
AP LANG AND COMP
GYM
My EC’s are pretty good…
I have over 250 hours of volunteering as a sophomore. I am a Mentor to freshman as i take half of my lunch to explain to a group of freshman how to transition from middle school to high school. This is a very selective process as only 8 guys total are in the program compared to 30 girls. I am varsity debater w a state award. Most likely captain senior year. I am in NHS. I also have an internship w a congressman to teach me about politics and buissness in general because I am hoping to major in buissness and go to law school and become a corporate lawyer. I also started two clubs at the school including an Indian student association and peer leaders.
I am hoping for a 35 on my Act. I also come from one of the most competitive schools in the state (top 15)
Do I have a chance for these schools and if not what are some things I could do to improve my chances.
UT AUSTIN
UCLA
UC-Berkeley
USC
UMICH
UVIRGINIA
VANDERBILT
NORTHWESTERN (I’m from Illinois if that helps)
BROWN
CORNELL
GEORGETOWN
WAKE FOREST
GPA is low for your colleges, have you taken the SAT or ACT yet? And are you a junior or senior next year? All of the public Cali schools (UCLA, UC-Berk, etc) are expensive since its OOS.
Many of these are reaches since I don’t know your SAT/ACT scores, so I suggest you apply to 3 reaches, 4 matches, and 2 safeties.
Where is your home state and what is your intended major?
Your current cumulative GPA is too low for UMich while your projected goal is still near or below the 25th percentile for admission.
I’m from Illinois and buissness is my intended major and then I’m thinking of going to law school to get my JD and become a corporate lawyer. What about wake forest. I’m trying to get into a selective university. Do u have any recommendations? And my act is a 35 I said it.
You said “I am hoping for a 35 on my Act” not “my act is a 35”. I can say that my sat is a 2300, but I would never know unless I actually sit down for the actual test and take it. Even if you scored a 35 on all of your practice tests does not guarantee that you will get it.
And everyone hopes to get into a selective university. Have you done research to see if the colleges are actually a good fit, and not just based on selectivity? The range on college board for ACT is between a 28-32, so if your act is really a 35, then I think you would have a good shot. But your gpa is still low… I recommend applying to some 2 tier colleges as well. It all depends on your preference of environment, school size, location, etc.
For UMich Ross pre-admission, it would be a reach due to the low admission rate anyway. For UMich LSA, your GPA is, and will be, below their admission average of 3.85 although your score is one point above the 75th percentile this year (mid 50 is 30-34 for 2015). Your course rigor is okay but not great so it does not really help your low GPA. UMich LSA would still be a low reach for you from OOS assuming you do get 35 in ACT. Their OOS admission rate is at or below 20% this year (26% overall admission rate).
can u please explain why my course rigor is “ok”. I have one of the toughest schedules for an incoming junior. I don’t mean to come off as snobbish but Idk hat you are looking for… The only non honor class or Ap class is gym and photography (I am just taking it for UC schools because it is mandated as fine arts). Please explain your defintion of 2 tier. And the reason why I am looking for selective colleges is because most of them offer what I am looking for. @billcsho
Course rigor is in the context of your school. So if you are among the highest rigor in your school, that would be fine. Honors classes are still high school level classes and considered moderate rather than high rigor. With a 3.483 cumulative GPA, it suggests either your school has tough grades or you are taking some classes above your level and suffered in grades. Having 2 AP by sophomore and if you do get good grades from them, that would be very good. Otherwise, you would rather get a much higher GPA. With just one AP class in sophomore and get a 3.25 GPA, it is not a very good sign. How is your class rank? Are you within the top 10%? Unfortunately, UMich considers uwGPA and then the course rigor to be the most important factors. Up to sophomore year, your course rigor is okay, but not your GPA unless you are within the top 10% in your class and your school profile would explain that. Your upcoming schedule does show good course rigor, but it cannot explain the lower grades in the last 2 years. FYI, the average admission GPA at UMich is 3.85 and 21% of the freshmen last year at UMich had GPA 4.0 (no grade below A-) from high school.
Your UW GPA is not competitive for the UCs, if your ACT is really 35, that is good but that GPA is a primary concern. Also, the UCs are an OOS, so expect to pay $55k per year.