Hello, I am submitting my college apps in a few days and I am feeling quite nervous. My Intended Major is International relations or Chinese. I am applying to Barnard (ED), Fordham (EA), Tulane (EA), American, Boston University, George Washington, NYU, University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers.
SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t Take
ACT (breakdown): 31 C(33 English, 35 Reading, 25 Math, 31 Science)
SAT II: Took US and am taking Chinese in November
Weighted GPA (out of 5.0): 3.7232
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): School does not release
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP United States History (5), AP Enviro (4), AP Psych (3), AP Micro (3), and AP Macro (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NSLI-Y scholarship ( awarded to study Chinese in Shanghai), AP Scholar
Extracurricular activities (place leadership in parenthesis):
Speech and Debate (Vice President, Captain of Congress): Ranked number one in the state. 9-12
International Concerns Club (Treasurer and Fundraising Director 2017-2018) 9-12
Girl Up (Public Relations Officer) 10-12
Summer: Have done NSLI-Y, AMP Global Youth and Johns Hopkins CTY
Extracurriculars out of school:
My Senators Youth Advisory Council
Intern for the Phil Murphy for Victory Campaign
Run a debate camp
Volunteer at a local elderly home and play piano there.
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major : Political Science
Domestic or International (state or country in parenthesis): U.S.
Classes in High School
Freshman Year
- English 9 Enriched: (A-)
- World Hist/Cult Enriched ( A )
- Algebra I ( B+ )
- Biology Enriched ( B+ )
- Mandarin I ( B+ )
- Business Law ( B )
- International Business ( B+ )
Sophomore Year
- English 10 Enriched: (A-)
- U.S. History I Honors: (A-)
- Sociology: (A)
- Geometry: (A)
- Chemistry Enriched( B )
- Mandarin Chinese III (teacher thought I showed enough talent to skip a level): (A)
- Accounting I Honors: (A)
Junior Year
- English 11 Honors ( B+ )
- AP Psychology ( C+ )
- AP U.S. History ( B )
- AP Economics: ( A- )
- Algebra II Enriched ( C )
- AP Environmental Science ( B+ )
- Mandarin Chinese IV Honors: A-
Senior Year (this is what I will be taking next year)
- Pre-Calculus
- AP American Government & Politics
- AP Human Geography
- Anatomy and Physiology
- English 12 Honors
- Mandarin Chinese V Honors
- AP European History
Weighted gpa is a little low however u still have a chance for all these schools. Chance me back?
Maybe add Tufts, and William and Mary. Your GPA is fine, but have you considered trying to get your ACT score up? Good Luck, I am sure you will land somewhere good and to your liking…reach, match safety. (a few reaches, and hope for the best).
The C’s are going to be worrisome to an adcom. Disagree with a previous post about adding Tufts/William and Mary. The GPA is way too low for those schools.
Most of the schools are going to be reaches if your weighted GPA is 3.72. Rutgers will be a match and Pitt is a low match.
You didn’t mention your ethnicity but I’m assuming you aren’t Chinese. If so that might be your hook-non-Chinese considering a major in the subject.
You might want to take an AP test in Chinese Language/Culture even though it looks like your school does not offer AP Chinese. You should have learned enough Chinese to get a 4 or 5 on the test.
I had a similar gpa and a 33 on the ACT. I was weightlisted at Barnard but got a $30,000 merit scholarship to Tulane so I would say Tulane, GW, American, and Pittsburgh are also possibilities. I’m a freshman at Tulane tho & it sucks so don’t come here
I agree that Tufts and William and Mary are serious reaches. Plus, if finances are a concern, being an OOS student (unless you’re from VA) would make W & M a poor choice. I like your list of schools, OP, which all feel like matches. You could include some reaches, but Tufts feels like too much of a reach (though, I guess, by definition, a reach should be a serious long shot, so go for it if you wish). Reaches might be Brandeis, Emory (which might be more like a low match), and Wake Forest (I’m limiting things to east(ish) schools because that seems to be your target).
Best of luck!
I would say all are possible but a reach for Barnard, GPA is low, which you know by now. Potential low reach for Rutgers, NYU, and Boston College but definitely not impossible
@Hapworth
Emory isn’t a Low Match for anyone. Its just as difficult as Tufts to get into. W&M and Brandies have more similar admissions.
@VANDEMORY1342 Disagree. From my school’s Naviance, everyone above 1520/3.9 (13 out of 13 from last 3 years) has been accepted (usually 25 or so apply per year). Same thing with Carnegie Mellon. Obviously OP doesn’t fit these standards, but since yield protection doesn’t seem to be an issue at Emory (as it is at Tufts or WashU), very high stat applicants could call it a low match.
@curious12345 How much can you afford? Which schools do you feel are your safeties?
@DadTwoGirls My parents said price isn’t a problem and I felt my safeties were Pitt, Rutgers (I’m instate), and Fordham.
“My parents said price isn’t a problem and I felt my safeties were Pitt, Rutgers (I’m instate), and Fordham.”
Makes sense. I have been impressed by the coworkers that I have worked with from Rutgers, and it sounds to me like you will have good choices and will do well. Have you compared your stats with how others from your school have done according to Naviance? Good luck and best wishes!
@wildesfeuer
I’m confused at why you think your schools’ Naviance is important to the conversation. Another person on here told me that Emory rejected every single person that applied RD for their school in the last two years. So is Emory a High Reach for all RD applicants. In the grand scheme of things Emory is not a low Match for anyone not even 4.0’s with perfect test scores. A low Match indicates chances above 50% for admission, some where around 60-75%. OP wouldn’t fall in this category anyway with a 31 and a 3.7.
@curious12345 You have a very good and reasonable slate of colleges. I’d expect acceptances into half, at least. Barnard is a good ED choice, maybe a reach
Hey, Devin! I think you have a great chance to most, if not all of these schools. Barnard is a bit of a reach, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you were accepted!