chance! low gpa/higher test scores

<p>Hi all, I'm a junior looking apply to these schools in the fall. I attend a public high school in california. I would say my school is fairly competitive, it got a silver medal rating on US news, but most of the top students attend USC, Cal, or UCLA. The top 1% attend Ivies or top LACS though. My GPA is a 3.75 unweighted and 4.34 weighted (soph and junior years). I'm in the top 10% of my class, 30 something out of 620. A big problem for me is that I got 2 C's sophomore year for an honors trig/pre calc class, how badly will this affect me? There's a fluctuation in my grades: I did pretty well freshman year (3.8 both semesters), and then my grades tanked sophomore year, and I only ended up with a 3.5 uw and a 4.0 w both semesters. However, I tried much harder junior year, and I got a 4.0 uw and 4.67 w with 4 AP classes. My SAT score is a 1470/1600, 730 CR and 740 M. SAT II's are: 760 USH, 740 math 2, and 710 chem. My ACT is 33 composite. I will have taken 10 AP and 4 honor classes by the end of senior year. I haven't done much for school, I'm just part of the California Scholarship Federation, math club, and junior committee. I've played HS volleyball for 3 years and club volleyball for 2 years thus far. I've attended Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer programs since the summer of 8th grade. I'm attending the JHU/Northwestern civic leadership program at Cal this summer. I volunteer at a hospital and an orphanage, where I tutor young girls, weekly. I also volunteer at the local Red Cross by setting up blood drives. Next fall, I'll be part of a CNA program where I volunteer at an elderly home and shadow nurses. My intended major is child development at the Peabody campus, and then apply to the 5 year program with the school of nursing. I'm also Asian and will be a first generation college student, if it helps any.</p>

<p>If you’re in the top 10% you’re in good shape. Test scores are obviously solid, but keep in mind the median at Vandy is 1470 - 1590 (so your 1470 means you scored better than 25% of the admitted class of 2016).</p>

<p>Good chances for Peabody, particularly considering the relevant work experience under your belt. Obviously not guaranteed but I would be surprised if you were rejected.</p>

<p>If Vandy is your #1, apply ED.</p>

<p>Thank you for your response! I’m now thinking of applying EDII so that I have time to retake my SAT again. </p>

<p>Are my two C’s going to make a huge negative impact though?</p>

<p>Don’t focus on your C’s. I would Hold on that SAT level 2 which will go a long ways towards softening the Cs in tenth grade. Lots of people haven’t quite matured as students in 10th grade.</p>

<p>Focus on what is in your control. Focus on your first generation status. Apply for the Chancellor’s Scholarships and think think think before you submit their essays. Whether you get a merit scholarship (odds are against everyone) or not…they will read your scholarship essay. </p>

<p>Write a good essay re your Hopkins experiences. Coming from California as a first generation Asian American is not really an advantage or disadvantage except in this respect…your essays could be interesting if you reflect on your life or write about your family or some of your volunteer work. Did working in an orphanage help you think of Child development as a focus at Peabody? REad up on Peabody field placements in Nashville and on Peabody students who received Cornelius Vandy or Chancellor’s scholarships. Read up on the Ingram scholars. Everyone should.<br>
And good luck. Vandy does have a lot of good field placements for people with your interests so read the Vandy liberal arts magazine that is juried and see if any of the articles were in your arena of interest. Dig in. generate good ideas on your essays and best wishes.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for all that information, Faline! Definitely a lot of help, and you’ve made me so much more eager to get this application process going. Are all of these sources something I can find online?</p>

<p>Since you are currently a junior, i doubt much of the courses you take now matter. I suggest you concentrate in reviewing ALL your science courses because THAT is what most Nursing schools look at. I’m currently an RN working my way to a BSN. I got into nursing school with a GPA of 3. You must be out of your mind to think “3.7” is “low gpa” good grief! :S</p>

<p>Our daughter just got her acceptance

  1. Your C’s don’t matter
  2. Your scores are good enough, you don’t need to take them again, unless ofcourse you are sure you can do better.
  3. If you apply ED1 I think you are in.
    Agree with what Faline said, he has the most experience with Vandy.</p>