Chance me. Low GPA but good SAT score.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've been getting so many answers saying that my GPA and SATs II are HORRIBLE!!! So I don't know where I am. I'm a kid with good SAT score but terrible GPA.</p>

<p>I'm looking at:</p>

<p>Penn State
Drexel
Villanova
Georgia Institute of Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Carnegie Mellon - ** Early Decision II **</p>

<p>Stanford
Columbia
Cornell
John Hopkins</p>

<p>** Oh before you say something, the last few were colleges my dad just picked. I honestly don't think I can get into any of the those but its always worth a try. Tell me which one I'm more likely to get accepted if by some miracle. Doesn't really matter anyways because I applied to those four already. **</p>

<p>Why is it that people are commenting on my low GPA? I checked Collegeboard and 13% of the students at Carnegie Mellon had a GPA in my range. 17% of the people at Johns Hopkins had my GPA. ** So not everyone who gets accepted always has a perfect SAT score or a perfect GPA. **</p>

<h2>** Chance me on most of the colleges. **</h2>

<p>Major: Engineering
Race: Asian American Male</p>

<p>GPA: All Honors/AP [except for CP english] Unweighted?
Freshman year: 3.2
Sophomore Year: 3.4
Junior Year: 3.5 [Took both Physics and Chemistry Honors]
Senior Year: 3.45
Weighted: 5.77</p>

<p>Classes I'm taking in Senior Year
Stat AP
Calc AP
Physics 2 AP
CP Gov [was AP.]
CP English
Honors Spanish 5</p>

<p>Recommendations: [The best teachers according to my college counselor who once worked as a college admission officer]
Pre-Calc/Statistics Teacher
Chemistry Teacher
Professor/Employer/Ex-Engineer from the University of Missouri.</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:
Math Team! =] 4 years
Chess Club 1 year / 2 hrs 10 wks
Spanish Club 1 year
National Honor Spanish Society 3 years
Accel [English Enrichment Program.] 3 years / 8 hrs 36 wks</p>

<p>Work Experience
Summer Intern at the NAVSEA program. 10-12 hours 10 wks / Summer
Work as a Waiter. Summers</p>

<p>SAT Score: 2170
Math 770
Writing 750
Reading 650</p>

<p>SAT Subject Test Scores I know these aren't the best scores but I tried my best
Math II: 750 [was 670]
Physics: 620 [was 470]
US History: 610 [was 580]</p>

2

<p>Penn State
Drexel-Safety
Villanova- High Match to Match
Georgia Institute of Technology-High Match to Match
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute- High Match to Match
Carnegie Mellon - Early Decision II- High Match to Reach</p>

<p>Stanford-Reach
Columbia-Reach
Cornell-Reach
John Hopkins- Reach</p>

<p>Despite the last four being a reach, you still have a chance. After all, nobody really knows what goes on in those admission offices. Plus, your essays and recommendations also help. But I will say because you have little leadership or extracurriculars that stand out your gpa is lackluster. However, your SAT II and SAT scores are very nice and will help your chances. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>^ Oh. man. Thats not good. Lots of Matches to High Matches. I feel a bit uneasy about this whole list, like I’m going to be rejected by everyone and have to go to Drexel. It stinks to think this way but I’m really wasting my SAT score. I’ve worked so hard on my SAT score. </p>

<p>Side information: [If this helps]
Most of my poor grades were in English freshman and sophomore year. Then it swapped and I got good grades in Junior and Senior year for English.</p>

<p>I was never good at Biology and so I got Bs the whole sophomore year. I got half As and half Bs on Chemistry. I’ve gotten all As in Physics and so far Physics II.</p>

<p>Social studies is very inconsistent. I get As and Bs but it really fluctuates.</p>

<p>Spanish. I have gotten straight As all four years.</p>

<p>Mathematics. I’ve also gotten consistent As all four years while doubling up on Stat and Calculus in my Senior Year.</p>

<p>** Also, I forgot to add **
University of Michigan.</p>

4

<p>Just because a college is a match or a reach, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a chance at getting in. </p>

<p>I got this from the Princeton Review website:</p>

<p>A match school is one where your academic credentials fall well within (or even exceed) the school’s range for the average freshman. There are no guarantees, but it’s not unreasonable to be accepted to several of your match schools.</p>

<p>A reach school is one where your academic credentials fall below the school’s range for the average freshman. Reach schools are long-shots, but they should still be possible. If you have a 2.0 GPA, Harvard is not a reach school—it’s a dream.</p>

<p>A safety school is one where your academic credentials fall above the school’s range for the average freshman. You can be reasonably certain that you will be admitted to your safety schools.</p>

<p>So, you do have a chance. Also, Penn State is a safety, as well as RPI. U. of Michigan is a match.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the responses. Anyways. Penn State is also a safety, as well as RPI? RPI is a safety?</p>

6

<p>I’m confused about how your weighted GPA is a 5.77, because even weighted, had you taken all AP classes and made a 100 in every single one, your GPA still could not be that high. Could you have made a mistake (or does weighted GPA go much higher wherever you live?)?</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m sure you have a chance at any of those schools-- your SAT scores will really help you, and bear in mind Early Decision increases your odds even more.</p>

7

<p>^You are right. I did make a mistake. I’m guessing to take all my Cum. Weighted and average them out? But if I took the hardest classes and Aced them all. I probably would have had a 5 and or above? I guess my school just grades differently</p>

<p>To just make it easier. I’ll type out my grades.</p>

<p>** Grade 9: [Cum Weighted: 4.05] **
English Honors: C
Humanities Hons: B
Basic Web Design: A
Algebra II Hon: A
Science & Tech Hon: B
Spanish II CP: A
Teenage Issues: B</p>

<p>** Grade 10: [Cum Weighted: 4.64] **
English 10 CP: B
Western CIV CP: A
Geometry Hon: A
Biology: B
Spanish III CP: A</p>

<p>** Grade 11: [Cum Weighted: 5.4775] **
English CP: A
US History AP: C
Pre-Calculus Hon: A
Chemistry I Hon: B
Physics I Hon: A
Spanish IV Hon: A</p>

<p>** Grade 12: **
Unweighted. Classes above</p>

8

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

9

<p>Drexel-Safety
Villanova- High Match
Georgia Institute of Technology- In
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute- IN
Carnegie Mellon - Early Decision II- Match</p>

<p>Stanford-High Reach
Columbia-High Reach
Cornell-High Reach
John Hopkins- High Reach</p>

<p>Chance back at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1060886-chance-hopeful-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1060886-chance-hopeful-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>Your dad’s list and Michigan are very unlikely.</p>

<p>However, you have a reasonable shot at your other school. I agree with the other posters.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1063017-i-hate-do-but-chances.html#post1066181567[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1063017-i-hate-do-but-chances.html#post1066181567&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>English CP: A=5?
US History AP: C=3
Pre-Calculus Hon: A=5
Chemistry I Hon: B=4
Physics I Hon: A=5
Spanish IV Hon: A=5</p>

<p>total=27
27/6=4.5…no?</p>

12

<p>1st of all, your GPA is by no means horrible, and you will without doubt get into some of these schools. Remember that 1% of all engineers in the US are PSU alum (Don’t ask how I know that) and that is an excellent option if some of the other places don’t work out.</p>

<p>Penn State- In
Drexel- In
Villanova- Match
Georgia Institute of Technology- High match/Low reach
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute- No idea
Carnegie Mellon - Early Decision II- Low reach/High match
Stanford- High Reach
Columbia- High Reach
Cornell- Reach
John Hopkins- High reach.</p>

<p>Chance back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1055573-i-know-its-early-but-chances-junior.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1055573-i-know-its-early-but-chances-junior.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Violator-Thats odd. Whats the difference between Safety and In and In and Match.?</p>

<p>Shrinkrap - No. I’m sure that those Unweighted GPA are correct. I got a transcript from my college counselor and it says that on my sheet. I took out physical education? I really don’t know.</p>

<p>Dantheman1018- Strange. I said the same thing about Cornell. Unless that was a typo, I agree that I feels more reachable than the other three.</p>

<p>Now, I’m getting mixed ideas about villanova, Georgia and UMichigan. ** I also don’t chance back. Why would I chance you if I can’t chance myself? ** Makes no sense when people answer your question just for you to chance them back.</p>

14

<p>Drexel-Safety
Penn State-Low match
Villanova- Match to High Match (because of GPA)
Georgia Institute of Technology- Match/High Match (due only to GPA)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute- No Idea
Carnegie Mellon - Early Decision II- Reach
Stanford-High Reach
Columbia-Reach
Cornell-Reach
John Hopkins- Reach
Michigan- match to high match</p>

<p>Your chances are a little bit tough to handicap. You SAT is high enough for any of these schools. Even your SAT of 650 for critical reading is fine considering that you want to major in engineering (i.e. your math score will be more important). Your unweighted gpa is a little bit low for most of the schools on your list according to there typical gpa range. But truthfully, your GPA doesn’t look that bad. You don’t give quarterly grades so I can’t tell exactly but 2 C’s are not as big of a deal considering they were in history amd English. The grades that matter most for prospective engineering majors are the science and math classes and you have A’s and B’s in those. </p>

<p>Your GPA is not impressive but it is not as bad as you think. An important consideration will be class rank. Does your school rank? Where do you fall?</p>

<p>Your EC’s aren’t anything awesome (no offense). You didn’t do anything except academic clubs. A sport or two or some kind of theatre or debate club could have been mixed in there to show that you are not one-dimentional. </p>

<p>Despite all of that here are my projections:</p>

<p>Drexel-yes
Penn State-yes
Villanova-yes
Georgia Institute of Technology-yes
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute-No Idea
Carnegie Mellon - No
Stanford-No
Columbia-No
Cornell-No
John Hopkins-No
Michigan-Yes</p>

<p>Good luck. No need to chance me back :)</p>

15

<p>“Thanks for the responses. Anyways. Penn State is also a safety, as well as RPI? RPI is a safety?”</p>

<p>Uhh…No. RPI is not a safety school for you (or anyone else). Wolf, RPI mainly looks at M+CR for which the 25th - 75th percentile last year was 1280 - 1450. So your 1420 puts you solidly in the main distribution. You also have to look at acceptance rate. It was 38% for
RPI last year and you can count on it dropping again for this cycle (as it has for the past 6-7 years in a row). </p>

<p>Gatech has almost identical student profile for standardized tests as RPI. These two are in the high match area for you.</p>

16

<p>What scales does your school use for weighted GPAs… above 5 would be impossible at most schools haha.</p>

<p>Penn State: in
Drexel-Safety
Villanova: High Match to Match
Georgia Institute of Technology:High Match to Match
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: High Match to Match
Carnegie Mellon: High Match to Reach</p>

<p>Stanford- High Reach
Columbia-High Reach
Cornell- High Reach
John Hopkins- High Reach to Reach</p>

<p>You have decent chances not regarding the last four. I’m sorry to say but those schools, Stanford in particular, take very strong consideration of GPA. After all, it is the best predicator by far of college performance. However, if you recs are wonderful and your essays are truly extraordinary well written, you have a chance. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

17

<p>First of all your GPA is FAR from horrible! I think you have a fair shot at most of the schools, of course Ivy admission is a crapshoot and since you are an engineering major Carnegie Mellon will be tough.</p>

18

<p>Okay. I’m getting confused with all the responses. lol. I’m now understanding whats wrong with the whole safety/match/reach thing. Its too ambiguous.</p>

<p>Since I’m very number oriented, roughly speaking
In- 95-100% Getting in
Low Safety -90-95%
Safety -80-90%
High Safety -70-80%</p>

<p>Low Match- 55-70% getting in
Match- 45-55%
High Safety- 35-45%</p>

<p>Low Reach- 25-35% getting in
Reach-15-25%
High Reach- 0-15%</p>

<h2>** Do you agree with this? **</h2>

<p>** Also ** for my extracurricular activities, I never focused on one particular activity. I focused more on the work experience ** summer internship at NAVSEA. ** Its an Engineer internship where I worked with fellow college students on machine projects. Of course, I was not the strongest suited person but I did learn quite a lot there. Just clarifying what it is. Yeah. My extracurriculars are pretty weak.</p>

<p>** Another thing I want to say ** I’m getting the idea that my GPA isn’t bad but I’m getting responses that I still have a chance. I hate the ambiguity.</p>

<p>** For Penn State, ** I’m talking about University Park. I don’t want to go to a Satellite School. I’ve read on their website and it said that 2/3 of the admittance is GPA. The rest are 1/3. ****. MY GPA IS REALLY KILLING ME.</p>

<p>I would really hate to get rejected by everyone except for Penn State and Drexel.</p>

19

<p>I have an idea: wait and see. </p>

<p>You will get into enough of them to have some good options. Just relax.</p>

20

<p>I just got my mail from Carnegie Mellon. I was rejected. Damn. I’m really sad. I really thought I could get in. Wow. I don’t take rejection well.</p>

<p>Now I’m worried about the other colleges. Many people said Carnegie Mellon and others were High match to low reaches. It makes me question Villanova, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and Renssalaer. So far. I haven’t applied to 3 of them. So I’m wondering if I really should apply.</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon was the lowest of all of my reach schools. DAMN. And I got rejected Early Decision. It scares me that I applied to my dads list. I just pretty much paid for rejection letters.</p>

<p>The only reason I’m so worried is because other people who take all AP courses say “Because of my calculus grade, I might not get into Drexel.” They probably are worried because they got one B. I had plenty of Bs.</p>

<p>RisingChemist. I really hope you are right.</p>