Objective:
SAT: 2120 (CR-660, M-800, W-660 Essay:10)
SAT II: 740 Math II, 710 Physics
UC GPA (Capped at 8 Honors) -4.0
9-11 UW- 3.68
9-11 W- 4.16
10-11 UW GPA- 3.69
10-11 W GPA (Uncapped)- 4.23
UPWARD Trend:
Freshman (8 A’s 4 B’s)
Sophomore (6 A’s 4 B’s 2 C’s)
Junior (13 A’s)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10% (Not sure exactly how I made it LOL, maybe course rigor?)
AP (12 AP’s total (rigorous):
Chemistry (3)
European History (3)
Calc AB (5)
Physics 1 (3) (LOL)
Spanish Language and Culture (4)
US History (4)
Senior Year Courses:
AP Literature
AP Gov
AP Physics C
AP Computer Science
AP Psychology
AP Calculus BC
Major Awards: None are major, but OCMC 5th place (math competition for my county).
Subjective:
Extracurriculars:
Summer@USC Summer Camp- Discover Engineering Course (Got an A)!
Co-Secretary of a club at my school
CSF (3 Years)
Key Club (3 Years)
Taekwondo 3rd Degree Black Belt (13+ Years)
1st Place Cal State Open Taekwondo Tournament
Junior Leadership Team for Taekwondo
Taekwondo Instructor Experience (200 Hours)
Volunteer as Taekwondo Instructor (50 Hours)
Intern at Social Security Office
OC Math Circle Competition-5th Place
Love 2 Read (Library Reading Program)
Teen Advisory Board at Library
AP Scholar With Distinction
600+ Community service hours
Major:Computer Science
What would my chances ED vs Non ED look like?
Looking for any advice to increase chances! Thanks! Will chance back!
To be completely honest, your GPA and test scores are a bit low for Hopkins. Especially with the increasingly competitive environment that is college admissions. You can see the statistics yourself, but the average UW GPA for the class of 2020 admits (most recent class) is about 3.9 and the average SAT score is between 1440 and 1560 - I would translate this to between 2160 and 2340. You do have an upward tend in your grades, but statistically your GPA is below the JHU average and your SAT scores are at the low end of the average range.
Your taekwondo is a pretty significant EC and, if you write a good essay, you do have a shot. But in general I think JHU is a reach for you.
http://hub.jhu.edu/2016/03/18/johns-hopkins-class-of-2020-admissions
@vrhou98 how much of a difference do you think ethnicity would make given OP’s stats?
@saif235 I’m saying that it does make a legitimate difference. There are people that seem to have gotten in to top schools that is at least in part due to their ethnicity.
Regarding @MathFan21, The GPA is a little low, but if you can bring your SAT up to that 2300+ range and get your SAT 2 tests up, you have a decent chance
What coursework did you receive B’s and C’s in Sophomore year? If you’re applying as a science major and your lower grades are in science classes, then of course there will be questions. Your lower AP scores are in Chem and Physics which is also telling to a committee. You can only change what is in your control, so I would definitely focus on the SAT II subject tests in subjects that you got poor grades in to attempt to counteract lower grades and lower AP scores. Additionally, strong recs from science/math teachers will be immensely helpful. Be logical about this and imagine you are looking over your application from Admissions’ perspective. For example, if you are applying as a chem major and have a C in chem from Sophomore year and a 3 on the AP (a standardized test they can directly compare against every other student who took it), then I would want to take the SAT II in chem and get the highest score possible, etc. You want to tell a clear story regarding your qualifications and who you are as an individual (which you express through ECs and your personal statement). Most importantly though, don’t spread yourself too thin and aim for stellar grades for your first semester of Senior year. While ED might not be affected by your first semester grades every other RD will, and that is much more important than ED - you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. This is probably the most important thing you can do to demonstrate that the upward trend in your grades is clearly a trend. Also getting the SAT I score up (and you have lots of room in the verbal sections to raise it) would help your case as well. Given you got an 800 on SAT I math and a 5 on AP Calc I would think you can get the Math IIC higher, just a thought. I realize I just basically told you to raise everything, lol, which of course will help, so you need to be realistic on what you can accomplish. Honestly, I would simplify your senior year schedule and take fewer APs to focus on standardized test prep and the application process. Getting a C or two in an AP class since you were overwhelmed is about the worse thing you can do at this point (I would say AP Psych and AP Gov are bringing the least value to the table, at least AP Lit counteracts verbal SAT scores to some extent and the other APs show your interests in what you’re applying for).
@vrhou98 this is true, but (from what I’ve seen) only to a point. I’ve yet to actually meet a URM at Hopkins who’s high school GPA, SAT scores, etc were significantly below average. Rather ethnicity seems to play more of a subjective deciding factor (like ECs, essay, rec letter) between two candidates with similar objective stats.
I second everything @NixonDenier said. I would recommend you don’t apply ED. That’ll give you more time to raise the GPA and SAT score and write a better essay.
@NixonDenier @saif235 I have a general question for all privates, if you apply RD, do they calculate GPA based on 9-12(first semester) or just 9-11?
I think they’ll still calculate GPA based on 9-11, but they’ll take the first semester into account when your school sends them the mid-year report.