<p>so I'm a rising senior looking to apply to Carnegie Mellon's College of Fine Arts in communications design as my first chance. I am an African American female with these stats:</p>
<p>SAT I: 1860 (590 CR 630 M 640)
I am planning to take it again this fall.</p>
<p>SAT II: 620 US History & taking Math II this fall (idk If I should submit my SAT II scores since there are not required for CFA)</p>
<p>ACT: 31 (33 R 31 E 30 M 28 S 29 W) Although I did pretty well I'm taking them again this fall to see if I can do better.</p>
<p>I attend a prestigious private school and we do not have ranking or GPA. But I am an A/B+ student.</p>
<p>AP Courses: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, US History, Physics, Studio Art</p>
<p>ECs:
took college credit graphic design and art foundations courses at Pratt Institute in NYC
took pre-college architecture classes at my local state college, won an award for one of my designs)
internship at an architecture firm
4 yrs of Varsity Track
3 yrs of Fencing
4 yrs of Spanish Club, President for 1 yr
3 yrs of Art Club
2 yrs of Black Cultural Association, 1 yr of Black Achievers Investment Club
counseling freshman students at my school (kind of like sex ed taught by seniors but we talk about broader issues such as peer pressure, drinking, drugs, school, etc.)</p>
<p>With a combination of my portfolio (which I am currently working on) and my stats I think I have a pretty good shot at being accepted. I did hear that CFA is more focused on a strong portfolio rather than stellar SAT scores.what do you think are my chances? and would I be better off applying early decision or regular decision?</p>
<p>You had some pretty good responses on the CMU thread. I see from your ecs that you may be interested in issues around diversity–if so, you should plan on attending one of CMUs diversity weekends…there is one in the fall and one in the spring. You need a 3.5 GPA, I think, but it can be weighted. You can present your portfolio then. CMU will help kids pay for the trip if you demonstrate financial need. My S and his roomate both attended these and the experience really helped them decide on CMU. Presenting the portfolio to faculty was also very helpful. S was doubtful about being admitted but the feedback at the portfolio review was clearly positive. Admissions explained their process this way. The admissions committee at the CFA looks at the candidates and gives thumbs up on the portfolio or not. If the review is positive, then CMU regular admissions looks at the academic stats to be sure that the student can survive the general education requirements and, if so, they will give them admission to CFA. If you apply to another college, perhaps as a backup or to do a dual degree, only regular admissions looks at your app for to see if the student can be successful in the colleges he/she has applied to. When you apply to different colleges at CMU your application is reviewed seperately for each college. So it is possible to be rejected from CFA and admitted to HSS or CIT or the reverse. To do the dual degree you need to be admitted to CFA and one other college. It is possible to minor or take on a dual later, but a little more difficult than if you get started from the get go. You need to explain why you want to apply to CFA and any other college in your supplemental. I understand that this is the essay that actually gets the closest read.<br>
Good luck!</p>