Chance An African American w/ Low GPA, High SAT (Please, I'm Desperate)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm very well aware that every one that applies to the Ivies have stellar credentials. I'm just not sure if I should give the Ivies a chance or just completely give up on them. I am a Junior. My Freshman GPA was decent (3.3 UW, 3.6 W, nothing amazing though) but Sophmore Year everything changed. I went through a deep depression, I rarely slept, and my family issues got the best of me. In my defense, my Sophmore Schedulue was pretty busy 3 APs and 3 Honors Classes, as well as extracurricular activities. My Sophomore Year GPA ended up being (3.0 UW, 3.63 W). As of now (end of Sophomore Year) I have a cumulative GPA of 3.15 UW and 3.63 W. Besides my GPA all my other credentials are pretty good.</p>

<p>Here are My Stats:
Cumulative GPA: UW 3.15, W 3.63
PSAT: 223 (took Sophomore Year)
SAT I: 2340 ~I'm a good test taker
SAT II: US History (720), Physics (740), French (750), Math (780)
ACT: 33
AP Exams: (Taken 4 So Far)
Freshman Year =
AP Biology (1) --Retaking, Freshman Year was overwhelming</p>

<p>Sophomore Year =
AP Human Geography (5)
AP French (4) ~Only Sophomore to Take (Not A Native Speaker)
AP World History (5)</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
I didn't want to really do extracurriculars in music, environmental awareness, debate, or sports because I am not really passionate about those subjects, but most people usually have extracurriculars in that area. I only truly care about writing, so thats what I chose to focus on.</p>

<p>I'm almost done writing a fictional novel (and I hope to find an agency to publish it)
On the School Newspaper (Editor)
I've won 2 Creative Writing Contest (Small Scholarship money)
Took Summer Classes at UF
Took Summer Writing Courses at A Prestigious program called Inner Spark ~Californial State Summer School for the Arts
Secretary of French Club (Junior Year)
Link Crew Leader-- Organization that helps freshman transition smoothly to HS.(Junior Year)
English Honor Society
French Honor Society
VP of Writing Club (Senior Year)
Debate Club (Officer)</p>

<p>Awards/Achievements:
*National Merit Finalist--PSAT (Once I retake the PSAT, I'm confident I'll score the same or even better and qualify)
*National Achievement Scholar (award for African Americans)--PSAT
*I'm an African American Female by the way--not sure it matters. I keep hearing that ethnicity means everything or that colleges don't care.
*AP Scholar
*Creative Writing Essays and Short Stories Awards</p>

<p>Volunteering: (Working more On)
200+ Hours at Local Hospital (Summer)
150+ Hours at Local Library</p>

<p>The Most I could raise My GPA by the end of Junior Year will be roughly an Unweighted: 3.5 and a Weighted:4.2. I plan on taking 6 (maybe 5) AP classes Junior Year to boost my GPA just a bit. I'm confident now that I can achieve this.</p>

<p>So will my other accomplishments outweigh my POOR GPA or will it be useless to apply.</p>

<p>Im Most Interested in the in the following Colleges:
Harvard
Columbia
Dartmouth
Princeton</p>

<p>I also Have some Non-Ivy Schools In Mind:
UF (In-State--safety)
Howard University
UCs
Rice University
Syracuse University
Vanderbilt
Kings College
NYU
John Hopkins
Duke
Stanford</p>

<p>Thanks in Advance</p>

<p>PS: Do Colleges see senior year grades before you send in applications. (Early and Regular Decisions)</p>

2

<p>To be honest, your GPA is obviously your Achilles’ heel that will probably get you rejected by the Ivies. IMHO, you need to get your GPA to the 3.5UW/4.2W and have a 4.0UW GPA your Junior year to be competitive. If you do that, I would definitely apply to some Ivie because the rest of your application is up to par with other Ivy applicants. If you apply RD, colleges ar able to see your first semester senior grades and it is factored into your GPA. If you apply ED, however, they will not be able to see any grades from your senior year. If you plan to apply to Ivies, wait until the RD round if you can raise your GPA even further. If you get your GPA above 3.5, you should stand a chance, especially considering you are AA. I hope all of the pieces fall into place for you, Rosebuds. Good Luck!</p>

3

<p>Why are you so obessed with the Ivy League schools? I mean how do you expect to get in anyway asking questions like “Do Colleges see senior year grades before you send in applications. (Early and Regular Decisions)” ?</p>

<p>I apologize for the bluntness but come on. Also, let me get rid of the filler in your EC and show you what college would actually CARE about.</p>

<p>–
I’m almost done writing a fictional novel (and I hope to find an agency to publish it)
On the School Newspaper (Editor)
I’ve won 2 Creative Writing Contest (Small Scholarship money)
Secretary of French Club (Junior Year)
Link Crew Leader-- Organization that helps freshman transition smoothly to HS.(Junior Year)
VP of Writing Club (Senior Year)</p>

<h2>Debate Club (Officer)</h2>

<p>And if you’re not doing anything Journalistic/English/Writing related then all of your EC’s are worthless as it shows a lack of focus and just becoming officers of clubs just to become them. Also, why are you taking 6 AP classes with the hope of raising your GPA? With that difficult of a course load you will most likely lower your GPA. I would take 4, get all A’s and write some stellar essays (You did win writing awards) to justify your previous lackluster grades.</p>

<p>Fortunately, you are only a Junior now, so you have time to bring up your GPA. Even in the best case scenario with you getting all A’s your junior year. You will likely be denied from most of the colleges you’re looking at. Out of the ones you are interested in. I would put them like this (with best case scenario)</p>

<p>Columbia - Low Reach
Darthmouth - Low Reach
UF - Accepted
Howard - Accepted
UCLA - Match
UC Berkely - Match
UC San Diego - Accepted
Rice - Low Reach
Syracuse University - Match
Vanderbilt - Match
Kings - Accepted
NYU - Accepted
John Hopkins - Med Reach
Duke - Low Reach
Stanford - High Reach</p>

4

<p>you might be a candidate at the most selective schools but it is a tossup whether you’ll get into one. That said you are an amazing transfer candidate. Worst case even if you go to a less selective school, just get a good GPA your first semester (should be easy for you) and you’re in at one of the top schools.</p>

5

<p>It’s a shame that your UW is a 3.15 because, if it was a 3.8 or higher, you’d be a shoe-in for many of the schools you’re listing, and would certainly be admitted to at least 1 Ivy, probably more.</p>

<p>But a 3.15 UW GPA is incredibly weak for top schools. If it was, say, a 3.5 UW, then I’d say apply anyway. But schools like the Ivies, Duke, and Stanford are not going to admit an applicant with a GPA lower than 3.75 unless he or she overcame extreme hardship or won national competitions. For Harvard, I don’t think anyone admitted had a GPA below 3.5 with the exception of a handful of recruited athletes and perhaps some very low-income applicants.</p>

<p>In addition, I realize you’re only a junior, but with an UW GPA that low, it’s highly unlikely that it’ll rise to a 3.5 by the end of junior year, let alone a 3.75 UW.</p>

<p>Basically: you can apply, but you’re probably not getting into an Ivy. It’s really not a big deal; most people attend for the prestige, and there’s plenty of other first-rate schools that would give you a fantastic education and provide you with a great college experience. You should set your sights a little lower and keep up the hope. There’s certainly a good school out there that’s a good fit for you. UF, Howard, UCSD, and Syracuse are all possibilites.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

6

<p>I read a book called A is for Admission (or something like that) and it says competitive schools will generally accept an URM with high test scores because it demonstrates that you can do the work. And with those SATs, I think you’ll get into at least the lower end Ivies.</p>

7

<p>I have to agree with the other posters and say that the GPA is weak for the top schools you are looking at. Most Universities have said that the classes you chose and the rigor is more important than standardized tests. Don’t despair. If you have passion in writing, write an essay about what obstacles you have faced in academics. Obviously, by your SAT scores, we know you can achieve. Make the colleges believe that you can do better.</p>

8

<p>If your maximum GPA by the end of junior year is 3.5, then you probably have a good shot at getting that 3.5 by the end of first semester senior year (this being the point at which your cumulative GPA will be used for regular decision applications).</p>

<p>Let’s see, then: 3.5 UW GPA with like 12+ AP courses, 2300+ SAT, and URM</p>

<p>I say you’re in everywhere, including Harvard and Princeton. Browse the aaccepted/denied/waitlisted threads for these schools from previous years, but look at only those who are URM, and you’ll see you have a great shot. Don’t believe these gloomy forecasters, conventional wisdom doesn’t apply when you’re URM with maxed out test scores.</p>

9

<p>^ what he said. Your junior year is going to be HUGE for you. If it goes well, I could see you getting accepted anywhere except maybe Harvard or Princeton. I’ve seen absolutely perfect kids, also URM, get rejected.</p>

10

<p>As everyone else has said, your GPA is quite lacking. I don’t think you’d be able to compete with Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, Duke. You’re a mid-reach at Dartmouth, JHU, Berkeley,UCLA and Vandy. High-match at Rice and NYU. And match at Kings, UCSD and Syracuse. [In everywhere else.]</p>

<p>Hope I helped!</p>

<p>Please chance me back!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/988558-chance-special-case-promise-chance-you-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/988558-chance-special-case-promise-chance-you-back.html&lt;/a&gt;
Thanks</p>

11

<p>Romulus, you did not read the book carefully. A high SAT, when coupled with a GPA that’s good, would surely be an ace in the whole for a URM. But URMs don’t just walk in the door at ivies, and as with everyone else, GPA remains the number one factor. </p>

<p>I don’t think ivies willl happen here. Good schools with a strong junior year? Yes, but not top 10 schools.</p>