<p>We just took a tour of the CSOM and son was very impressed and is planning on applying for admission Fall 2014. What are his chances and what can he do over the next couple of months to increase his chances? I have heard admission is very competitive.
ACT 33
GPA 3.75 (weighted)
Challenging classes (honors and AP)
Will be taking AP Calc, AP Music Theory, AP French, AP English and possibly AP Stats or AP Econ senior year
Not sure of class rank - probably within top 12-15%
NHS, Tennis, Comedy Improv, multiple youth orchestras and groups, volunteer activities<br>
Thanks!</p>
<p>Admission to Carlson is competitive, but the UofM app makes acceptance pretty much based on test scores, grades, and activities.</p>
<p>Your son’s ACT score is great for Carlson, well above the average which I believe is a little lower than 31. That GPA doesn’t quite match, I’m worried what his unweighted GPA is since his weighted GPA is pretty low. Ideally weighted GPAs are ABOVE 4.0, though his school may do it differently and I could be wrong.</p>
<p>Great that he’s on a challenging track though, if he’s pulling at least B+s or A- in those harder classes then that makes the unweighted GPA more forgivable if it’s lower than 3.75.</p>
<p>Activities are good, definitely stress leaderships positions, that’s very important.</p>
<p>If his class rank were in the top 10% I’d say he’d almost have a sure chance of getting in with his ACT, but unfortunately his grades may be a little low for me to say he’d positively get in.</p>
<p>I have many friends who got into CSE (just a little bit more selective) with 30-32s on their ACTs and 3.8 GPAs, but a friend that got rejected with a 34 ACT and 3.5 GPA. The selective colleges at the U (Carlson, CSE, CBS) want both high test scores AND high GPAs.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son! I’d say he’d easiliy get into CLA, and I don’t think it’d be hard to switch into Carlson if he attended.</p>
<p><strong>EDIT</strong></p>
<p>Actually I just checked the academic profile and Carlson’s average ACT is actually only 29.4, and 39% of admits were in the 11-25% of their graduating class. So actually I think you son has a very good chance of getting in! Make sure he applies right away, if he does in the beginning of September he’ll probably find out in October since the U does rolling admissions.</p>
<p>[Academic</a> Profile](<a href=“http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/academics/profile.html]Academic”>Academic Profile of Fall 2022 Admitted Freshman Applicants by College | Office of Admissions)</p>
<p>Looking good to me; just stress leadership positions on the application and make sure he has a backup plan in case something unexpected happens.</p>
<p>Apply early!</p>