Hi, I’m currently a junior in high school and wondering my chances at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering.
Class Rank: 219/946
UW GPA: 3.4
W GPA: 4.4
ACT: 33
SAT(new):1400 (only took once, not planning on taking again)
Course Work: AP Spanish, AP Stats, AP World History, AP US History, AP Environmental Science, AP English III, AP Psychology, and Honors Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-cal, Chemistry, Biology
Scored a 4 on all AP tests so far.
Will be taking AP Calculus A/B and B/C, AP Biology senior year (next year), and AP Physics I in the coming weeks.
ECs:
Varsity Track and Field- 4 years
Volunteer at retirement home for dementia patients- 2 years
Biomedical engineering camp at UT Dallas
Started a graphic design company that has worked with professional athletes from the NY Giants, NY Jets, and NY Knicks- 3 years
NHS
Math NHS
Spanish NHS
Obviously my main concerns are my class rank and GPA. I’m not in-state and I’ve heard they really only look at the class rank, GPA, and ACT/SAT. My cousin with identical GPA and ACT was accepted ED last month but his ECs were much better. What do you think my chances are?
Thanks in advance!
You are your own best critic. Correct in that your GPA is low, but great ACT and AP work may bring you in.
Average admit class rank for CSE is 95%.
You should definitely apply and hope for the best. GL !
^^ what @mitchkong is saying. BTW, what direction are your grades, going up or down? That matters because a lower-than-current freshman year isn’t going to count as much as a lower-than-current junior year. Especially if it’s evident that you have hit your stride by now. You might explain some of this in your personal statement and/or get a rec. letter from a counselor attesting to your academic abilities (neither required but both helpful).
You are correct that they look carefully at GPA/class/rank/scores/course rigor. UMN says those are their primary factors. Secondary include stuff like unusual talent or aptitude or first generation status or leadership/entrepreneurship, etc. You seem to be fine on your EC’s.
If you have a hook of some kind, such as URM or (for CSE) a female, that should help as well 
Make sure you finish strong so that you can pack your application with good attributes and won’t have to worry further about your GPA.
BTW, UMN doesn’t have ED. There is a priority deadline of 11/1 and a regular deadline of 12/15. They tend to roll out decisions starting in October but those may well continue into December and January, as they are doing this year.
Congrats to your cousin and good luck to you!
@JBStillFlying sorry, I meant priority deadline. Thanks for the info and I am heading in the right direction in terms of grades this year!