Chance a painfully average student at a state university?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>GPA: UW 3.05 (probably bottom 10% on CC, eh :D? Significant upward trend following freshman year, for what little it's worth)</p>

<p>SAT: 2170 (CR: 710, Math: 730, Writing: 730)
one sitting, not planning on any retakes
AP:
Junior-
US History (4)
Language and Composition (5)</p>

<p>Senior-
American Government
Literature
Calculus AB
Physics B</p>

<p>ECs:
In school-
-Key Club
-Guitar Club
(shortest. list. ever.)</p>

<p>Outside school (if these even count for anything)-
-Volunteered 40 hours at hospital over a course of 6 months
-Design/build water guns with a group of friends (thinking I might write my essay on this, and how I've decided I want to be an engineer because of it)
-...summer job at KFC (HAHAHA)</p>

<p>Washington state resident. Hoping I could get chanced for Western Washington, UW, and Waz- er, WSU?</p>

2

<p>1st and only bump</p>

<p>i can't be that uninteresting, guys :(</p>

3

<p>Great SAT score, and the AP classes will somewhat make up for the weak GPA. Most state schools (outside the top 15 or 20) don't really care about ECs.
UW: Tough to say, and your essay matters alot here (according to collegeboard) but SATs aren't as important. I'll say high match
Probably in at the other 2, they don't seem that competitive.</p>

4

<p>Could you clarify the whole "high match, low reach, etc" business for me? I'm new here :(</p>

5

<p>Look--you're not an average student. Nobody who builds their own water guns and gets a 2000+ on the SAT can call themselves that.</p>

<p>I think your GPA is the one thing holding you back; it does seem to be lower than usual for the three schools you applied to. However, if your grades have improved considerably since freshman year, you're in a very good position.</p>

<p>Write an excellent essay that really shows your engineering side, and emphasize your upward trend in grades. If you can do that, you have a chance at each--though I wouldn't declare any of the schools to be locks. Best of luck!</p>

6

<p>"Look--you're not an average student. Nobody who builds their own water guns and gets a 2000+ on the SAT can call themselves that."</p>

<p>Err thanks...I didn't mean to be annoyingly humble, it's just that everyone here seems to have a 3.8-4.0 UW and >2200 SATs so I have to admit I felt dwarfed.</p>

7

<p>When I look at some of the credentials of students posting here, I feel dwarfed myself! My best advice is to stick to what makes you unique. If you have time to improve your GPA, definitely do that as well.</p>

8

<p>Water guns!? That is hilarious, and probably a good essay topic. I'd say you are in everywhere except UWash which you probably have a decent shot at as well.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the feedback on the essay idea, I was beginning to think it was a little too far-out.</p>

<p>I really hope I get into UW, it's been my dream school :)</p>

10

<p>If you think an essay is too far-out, it means you picked the perfect topic. I'm no admissions counselor, but I'd rather read about a kid's homemade water gun than I would an essay on a band trip or a sock fundraiser. (Not that I have anything against sock fundraisers. :-) )</p>

11

<p>i think you're in everywhere!</p>

12

<p>Can't seem to edit my original post, so I'll just add another >:/</p>

<p>I was hoping I could also be chanced for the following, now that I realize there are colleges outside my state :)?</p>

<p>University of Maryland - College Park
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Virginia Tech (...seriously)
Whitman College</p>

13

<p>You’ll be fine. You are a much better student than I was. I graduated in the top of the bottom of my class. My SAT score was 1100. At Indiana State University, where the average SAT score is something like 850, I was told I am a very bright girl! Haha The people who end up doing something great are the people who decide to do something great and do it. Just do it.</p>