Chance me for CMU? Will chance back

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>Gender/Ethnicity: F/White
Location: Tampa, Florida
High School: Private (2010-2013), Public (2013-2014)
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes
Hooks: First Generation College Student
Major: English Literature </p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.61
GPA - Weighted: 3.84
Rank: Not available </p>

<p>^The GPA is based on all course I've taken. I have taken mostly Honors and AP Courses (6 AP courses by graduation), all the rest are Honors level except for math, which was regular. However, I'm taking Honors Pre-Calculus this year. </p>

<p>Also, if they take my senior year GPA into consideration (I heard some colleges do), then my cumulative GPA will be around 3.7 unweighted/4.1 weighted.</p>

<p>There is an upward trend. </p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 650
SAT I Critical Reading: 700
SAT I Writing: 760 </p>

<p>Composite: 2110</p>

<p>^The SAT scores are based on practice tests, and will improve by the time the Oct. date rolls around. </p>

<p>SAT II:</p>

<p>Ah DIDN'T TAKE YET! TBD. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars: National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society</p>

<p>Awards: Award for Academic Excellence in Spanish (lol)</p>

<p>Leadership positions: Astronomy club - President (2011-2012)</p>

<p>Athletic Status: JV Basketball, JV Volleyball</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work: Nursing home (150+ hours)</p>

<p>Other: I teach myself foreign languages (I have a penchant for foreign languages; I learn them really quickly), compose for the fingerstyle guitar (9 years and counting), and play the piano (3 years and counting). </p>

<p>So yeah, relatively low GPA, good SAT, decent ECs. Oh and I can write a kick-ass essay. Do I stand a chance for ED admissions? </p>

<p>Thanks, I'll chance you back!!!!</p>

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<p>If you’re asking for someone to give you your chances, what sort of constructive input could you give to someone else’s chances?</p>

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<p>As much as they could give me.</p>

4

<p>Bump please!! :)</p>

5

<p>Why CMU? From what I understand, they really give quite a bit of weight to the “Why CMU?” essay. Why English at CMU? Although it’s my understanding that pretty much every dept. is worthwhile, I don’t really hear about English majors flocking to CMU. Maybe someone else can opine.</p>

6

<p>Mmm. Yeah. CMU is more known for its computer science, engineering, and science departments. I hear architecture is excellent too.</p>

7

<p>Your grades are a bit low, but your ECs offset that. If you apply RD, you have a good chance of getting in. If you apply ED, you’re very likely to get in.</p>

8

<p>One problem: CMU gives very little financial aid. In fact, during the information session we were told not to apply ED because it is binding and we may not like the package. It is the students responsibility to prove financial hardship.</p>

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<p>^ however I heard that CMU meets pretty much 100% of ED’s financial need.</p>

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<p>If you’re going to apply for financial aid, make sure to fill out CMU’s financial aid estimator: [Carnegie</a> Mellon Admission | Financial Aid Estimator Form & Net Price Calculator](<a href=“http://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/financial-aid-estimator]Carnegie”>http://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/financial-aid-estimator)</p>

<p>Unless your parents run their own business or have complicated financial assets, you’ll get a good estimate of the amount of aid you can expect from CMU. Keep in mind that all fin aid at CMU is need-based – they do not give out merit scholarships for fin aid.</p>

<p>If it looks like you’ll be able to afford CMU and it’s absolutely, positively your first choice school, then consider applying ED. CMU will meet your full demonstrated financial need if you are admitted ED. CMU does <em>not</em> guarantee meeting your full need if you are admitted RD; I would say that most RD admits do not have their full need met.</p>

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<p>While CMU doesn’t give merit aid, they are willing to negotiate on a financial aid package (though unlikely for ED). I was able to get a couple thousand extra a year by showing one of their competitor schools had offered me a better aid package. This is a sort of hidden merit aid that is available.</p>

12

<p>I was ED this year and got a pretty good FA package. ED is really your best option if you need money. </p>

<p>RD aid was kinda random this year (from what I’ve seen). I know an RD kid with 1/4 my EFC who got the same amount of grant money as me. I also know a few RD kids who got full-need financial aid. You can bargain with CMU using offers from competing schools, but you still have to bet that you’ll get into those other schools. As always, you should use the financial aid estimate to figure out how much CMU will cost you. I ran the estimate before I applied and it was extremely close to my actual package.</p>

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<p>If I remember correctly, you can get an estimate for ED and RD. I think you have a pretty good shot. Is there any way you can quantify your foreign language and music EDs. If your most significant EDs are the honor societies I think you’re going to need a little boost in that area. Good luck!</p>