CC, please CHANCE me ... horrible gpa for the schools I'm applying to

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Dear College Confidential,
I need some honest insight on my chances into getting into the following universities:</p>

<p>University of California- Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine
Caltech
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvey Mudd
Massachusetts Institute of Technology/ MIT
U. Penn/ University of Pennsylvania
University of Oregon (out of state)
University of Michigan (out of state)
University of Washington (out of state)
University of Southern California
Pomona College
Rice University
Stanford (SCEA)
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale</p>

<p>Yes, and my stats (especially gpa) are horrifically low by CC standards for the schools I'm applying to</p>

<p>I am interested in studying Architecture/ Design, but I am not applying to the specific program during my applications process. Any additional suggestions on where to apply would also be appreciated!</p>

<p>As you can see, my GPA is quite low by CC criteria, due partially to a large (but explainable) decline during the first semester of my junior year. Even in spite of this fact, my grades are pale to the epic standards set by most CC posters. I hope to get some insight as to my chances at the listed colleges, as well possible suggestions with other good choices for me. </p>

<p>Premature thanks to everyone College Confidential for helping me with this!</p>

<p>California male (Asian) attending competitive public school</p>

<p>Rank: Top 20% [12% specifically]</p>

<p>School GPA:
Unweighted: 3.84
Weighted: 4.12
UC Calculated GPA:
Unweighted: 3.71
Weighted: 3.86</p>

<p>SAT I Score: 2350
Critical Reading: 800
Writing: 800
Math: 750</p>

<p>SAT II Scores:
Literature: 780
Math IC: 750
Math IIC: 700</p>

<p>(Taking Chinese w/ Listening and possibly Chemistry on November 4)</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores (Both taken junior year):
Statistics: 4
English Language: 4</p>

<p>Sophomore and Junior Course load and Grades:
(My school doesn't offer that many AP courses- one for sophomore year, and up to three for junior year)</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Honors Algebra 3-4: A-/B
Chemistry 1-2: A-/B+
Computer Web Design: A/[n/a]
Honors English 3-4: A-/A-
Speech: [n/a]/A
Newspaper: A-/A
Chinese II: A/A
World History (summer course): A/A</p>

<p>Junior year:
Architecture Design: B/A
AP English Language: B+/A
Newspaper: A-/A
Honors Precalculus: B/B
Speech: A/A
Physics: B/A-
Statistics: B+/A
Chinese III: A/A
United States History (summer course): A/A</p>

<p>Senior Courseload:
AP Environmental Science
AP English Literature
AP Calculus BC
Speech
Newspaper
AP Government/ Economics</p>

<p>Community Service hours: 80</p>

<p>School Activities and Clubs:
High School Newspaper (9-12)
Staff Writer (9) to Section Assistant (10) to Section Editor (11) to Associate Content Editor (12)
Red Cross Club (9-12)
Speech Team (10-12)
Badminton Club
Treasurer (10) to Treasurer (11) to Vice President (12)
CSF member (9-12)</p>

<p>Off Campus Activities:
Art Classes at a local design college (9-12)
Badminton (9-12)
Chess player (9-12)</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Scholar Semifinalist (225)
AIME Participant
Quill and Scroll Awards
Scholarship winner (from 11th grade summer program)</p>

2

<p>You're fine for:</p>

<p>UC--Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine
University of Oregon (out of state)
University of Michigan (out of state)
University of Washington (out of state)
University of Southern California
Washington University in St. Louis (this one is more iffy than the rest)</p>

<p>The others are definite reaches.</p>

<p>BTW, how were your first-year grades?</p>

3

<p>Your GPA is not too bad, but iffy for your reaches. It's not good that your drop was in junior year, but it seems like you brought it back up. Your ECs and awards are nothing special when considering your reach schools. I would say you are in at all UCs (not 100% about Berkeley) and in at USC and the other state schools you are applying to. No real chance at Stanford SCEA as an Asian male from Cali, but you can always try and maybe you will luck out. The rest of the schools (save Rice, Cornell, and WashU) are out of your league, but again, no harm in applying to them. What's the worst that can happen? You somehow get in. Rice, Cornell, and WashU you have a shot at, but it will depend on your essays and where your classmates with better GPAs apply. Also, going to school over the summer may not have been the best route to take in retrospect. Maybe a job, internship, or big volunteer thing would look better for college and teach you more than school will. Good luck, and remember, love your safeties and match schools.</p>

4

<p>When you explained the low gpa, I thought we were certain to see something special in the EC department to make you think you had a shot at a Stanford or Yale. Since that didn't happen, I'd have to say that every ivy except Cornell, Caltech, Stanford and MIT are highly unrealistic. Cornell and WashU, Cal and UCLA are reaches.</p>

5

<p>I think you guys are being a little ridiculous... your GPA is low for MIT, Pomona, Yale, etc but honestly, you have a shot at most of those schools. I don't see how Berkeley, UCLA, Cornell are reaches, I think you have a good shot at those.</p>

6

<p>By explanation I meant personal dilemmas (strained relationship with a close friend), would that mitigate some of the damage (gpa-wise)</p>

<p>thanks</p>

7

<p>It's not the gpa, it's the rank. Gpa has to be looked at in context.</p>

<p>Read around the CC board to see how many kids have a reason similar to your for a drop in grades. Fact is, lots of kid's have rades that decline junior year, the tougest year in hs. </p>

<p>Honestly, even with a top 5% rank, your ECs are not ivy calibre and you're an ORM from an overrepresented state.</p>

8

<p>If you go to the ivy boards, you will see plenty of applicants get in with your GPA. Nice SAT and NMF by the way.</p>

9

<p>Xitt:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Slight Reach
UCSD: Match
UCI: Safe Match</p>

10

<p>IsleBoy:</p>

<p>I had 6 A's first semester and 4 A's 2 B's second. Thanks everyone else for your help! Does anyone have more suggestions for good architecture schools (matches/slight reaches), and can anyone else chance me for the schools that I've already listed? Thankss</p>

11

<p>For architecture definitely look at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (The Originial Cal Poly). They are amazing in architecture.</p>

12

<p>bump bump </p>

<p>Anyone else</p>

13

<p>Way too many reaches. Too many Bs for top colleges.</p>

14

<p>Then my next question is, seeing how there is little I can do for my academic/extracirricular record, how much bearing do essays have on admissions? I know every applicant believes they will write "the" essay, but in reality, how much would a really great essay sway admissions chances? Significantly? Moderately? Minimally? Haha again everyone thanks for your help... Can anyone give me an answer to that?</p>

15

<p>bump BUMP BUMP</p>