Chance a Low GPA?

<p>Hey guys, I’m just another asian kid who wants to go into premed. During my college visits, Middlebury and Bowdoin just stood out to me and the more research I do, the more I wanna go to one of these places. However, these two also happen to be the most selective places I visited, and my stats don’t reflect the typical overachiever that these schools are looking for.
Do I stand a chance?
(also posted on the Middlebury forum)</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.35 >.<
Weighted GPA: 4.0
School doesn’t rank
7 AP classes taken (including this year)
one 4, rest 5</p>

<p>2350 SAT
750 CR
800 M
800 W</p>

<p>770 Bio
760 US History
800 Math</p>

<p>Activities
Varisty Soccer
Varsity Baseball
AAU Baseball
Tutoring at chinese school
2 years research in a biology lab</p>

<p>Awards
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship (state scholarship)
National Merit Commended
AP Scholar with Honor</p>

<p>your stats seem to suggest that your high school is rigorous, since your standardized tests scores are high in comparison to your GPA. i think you stand a legitimate shot at both bowdoin and middlebury. i suspect the essay could make a difference, here since your extracurricular activities don’t paint much of a picture of who you are. also, are you applying from massachusetts? (an inference based upon the state scholarship). if so, these will be tougher to get into than if you were applying from outside of New England. still, attention to the essay and true advocates from your teachers will likely get you into one or both of them. good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks for the response. I’ve worked a while on my essay quite a bit and I think it’s pretty good. Do you know how much ED helps at Bowdoin? I’ve heard some say it doesn’t really make a difference as most of the ED acceptances are from URMs, athletes, legacies etc. while others have said it helps as they really want students who wanna be there. </p>

<p>Also would being asian help? I’ve read Bowdoin is only 6% asian so in this case would my ethnicity give a little boost?</p>

<p>I think ED would help, although being Asian I don’t think would help particularly. Bowdoin is interested in diversity, certainly, but there aren’t quotas they’re looking to fill. Your biggest liability is your GPA, which is not counterbalanced by your ethnicity. If that makes any sense. Look, apply. You’ve got good scores for these schools. If you apply ED, and show a deep interest, I think you’ve got a solid chance.</p>

<p>See the response to your post on the Middlebury site. ED would be a smart move if you feel comfortable committing to Bowdoin or Middlebury. Both are fabulous places and your chances are definitely increased by going ED.</p>