Chance Me 2024 Applicant

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Here is my story:

Freshman and sophomore year were not great in terms of GPA. Freshman year I got a 3.57 and then a 3.73 weighted GPA leaving me at about a 3.65 cumulative at end of freshman year. However, my lowest point occurred in first semester of sophomore year when I got a 3.61 weighted GPA and my first “C range” grade (C+). Second semester sophomore year I started to work much harder and I got a 4.24 weighted GPA. My grades really improved my junior year as I earned a 4.67 weighted GPA. I am working to get a 4.75 this semester and a 4.75-4.8 first semester senior year. For more detail I will give a list of my classes and grades up until this point of my high school career:

Freshman (Both Semesters) : English 1: A-, B; Spanish 1: A-, A-; Algebra 1: A-, A; Honors Geometry: B+, A-; Physics: B+, B; Health/PE: B+, B

Sophomore (Both Semesters): Honors English 2: C+, B-; Digital Photography: A, A+; Spanish 2: A, A-; Honors Algebra 2: B, A; Chemistry: B-, A; AP World History: B+, A+

Junior (One Semester Completed so far): Honors Pre-Calculus: A; AP English Language: A; AP Studio Art: A; Spanish 3: A; AP US History: A; AP Environmental Science: A-

My Senior Year course load should consist of AP Calculus BC, AP Literature, AP Economics, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science (A or Principles)

If I reach my GPA goals for the next two semesters I should finish with around a 4.2 weighted GPA. (I currently have a 3.9735)

In terms of testing I have taken the SAT once. I got a 1420 with a 790 on the math and a 630 in English. I plan on studying very hard this summer to increase my reading score and overall SAT score.

Also, I plan on majoring in either business or some branch of engineering (mechanical engineering or computer science).

FYI I go to a pretty challenging school and colleges are definitely aware of my schools rigor. We get about 35-40 kids into USC each year and last year we got 19 out of 54 applicants into Notre Dame.

Does anyone think I have a chance of being admitted to upper level schools such as USC, U Michigan, UCLA, UCB, Notre Dame, or Boston College.

Will my upward grade trend be valued by these top tier colleges? Could a strong SAT score along with my upward grade trend help present me as a strong applicant and show how my freshman and first semester sophomore year grades are not a true representation of the student I am?

If I got a 1550 or higher on the SAT do you think I could have a serious chance of admission for any of these schools?

Please let me know. All feedback is helpful.

2

No one in the admissions thread can accurately chance you. It’s important to understand that admissions decisions are incredibly random/unpredictable. For example, I got rejected from a safety school (acceptance rate- 40%+), but got into a top reach school (acceptance rate- 25%) That said, you must cross the threshold for STATs. A rigorous transcript filled with MOSTLY As, and SAT/SAT 2 scores within the range of the school you apply to make you a STELLAR applicant . The transcript is more SCRUTINIZED, and that is weighed heavily again in an admissions decision compared to the transcript of applicants from your high school. This worth much more than even SAT scores and subject tests. Your SAT and SAT 2 scores should be within the 50-75th percentile ideally of admitted students.Now, the general rule of thumb is to AVOID any Bs at all on your transcript. You screwed up once sophomore year, but you got back on track, so keep going. The selective schools can RECOGNIZE students who meet the THRESHOLD for GPA. These students are a select batch that regional admissions officers who are familiar with YOUR high school grading system have ADMITTED in the past. They have been doing this for years, so they recognize if you are in the top of your class, and whether your the real-deal. After you get past the objective threshold, your application recieves a closer look, and if the rest of your application is compelling enough (subjective materials- ESSAY/ECs/RECS) to compete with the strengths of the applicant pool, then you may get a wait list or acceptance. I just went through the process. After hard-work, it really is about luck, so fingers crossed.