Chance Me: NYU Stern, Cornell Engineering and AEM, UMich Ross, Amherst, Dartmith, Tufts, Vanderbilt

Hello fellow College Confidential members,

I was wondering what my chances for the following schools in the title are, as I am stuck on making the decision on where to ED or Restrictive early action to, and I honestly do not know if my application is strong/if I have a decent shot at any of those colleges. It would help me out greatly if you guys could tell me my legitimate chance at getting into those colleges (be brutally honest please), based on my resume. Resume:

Rank: 22/275
GPA: 3.6/4 unweighted (I know, my unweighted is really low. In particular, my math grades are low which I know is a problem for many engineering/business schools which I am looking at)
SAT scores: 1520 and 1490, superscore: 1550 with 800 in Math and 750 in R/W
Subject test scores: Math 2 760-800, not exactly sure as I am waiting on scores. Still need to take another.

Extra-Curriculars:

  1. FBLA State Officer (not President)
  2. Founded Organization which won 1st place at FBLA States
  3. Interned at a staffing company
  4. Interned at a software company
  5. Helped conduct medical research at a hospital that will be published later.
  6. DECA member: made it to nationals
  7. JSA local chapter treasurer
  8. Peer Leaders club member
  9. Violin player in some local symphony
  10. JV Tennis

Teacher Recommendations: English Teacher and Bio Teacher, both Average.
Essay: Average
Hooks: None
Income: Very high
Race: Asian
High School rank/prestige: average public school

Thank you so much to any of you guys who chance me. Anyone who chances me, I will make sure to respond to a thread you have posted about to return the favor.

Your GPA would be a problem at UMich.

hows many A’s and how B’s did u get throughout high school?

Solid ECs, good SAT. tbh your grades hurt you. Are you at a competitive high school?

Work to make your essay good, not just average, and I think you have a decent shot at those schools.

I got 3 Bs and 3 B+s. I got the 3 Bs in US history 1 Honors, Pre-calc Honors and AP Stat. I got the 3 B+s in Algebra 2 Honors, English 1 Honors, and Concert Band Honors. The rest of my grades are mainly A-s, with a couple As.

Are those semester grades or year grades, just saying 3 B and 3B+ without telling how many in other grades (or at least out of how many total grades) does not tell us anything more than your original post. I looks like you are having around 1/3 of the grades in Bs and 2/3 in As leading to uwGPA ~3.6.

Those are final year grades. Each year (freshmen, sophomore, and junior year) has 8 grades typically, except for my Junior year which had 7 due to an AP science which takes up 2 slots. So essentially, 3/23 year grades are Bs, 3/23 year grades are B+s, 10/23 year grades are A-, and 7/23 year grades are As. My apologies for the ambiguity.

Bump (I really need help please!)

HIgh enough that you can pay $70k+ a year?

Your gpa/rank will make it difficult to stand out

are you a listed author?

I think that your ecs are good, but the GPA is lower than most averages for those schools. Do you have weighted GPA?
The test scores are good and if i were to suggest some schools (idk if u actually want them) id say RPI, Northeastern for engineering, or a different business school like babson. Lehigh has business and engineering btw. Sorry I cant really chance you

I don’t think your rank puts you out of contention, but please learn to spell Dartmouth.

So your UMich recalculatec uwGPA is right below 3.75, which is better than 3.6 but still below admission average and is around the 25th percentile. As you are within the top 10% of your class, your school may have quite tough grades. UMich LSA may be a low reach, but Ross would be a reach.

I can pay the tuition, so I am looking to ED to a school where I have a good shot at getting in. Out of the ones listed, what do you guys is my best shot? I am in the top 10% of my class, to be specific, I am 22/277. My schools does not have good acceptances every year tbh, it is usually 1 kid going to an ivy and 2-3 going to a tier 1.5ish school, ie. UC Berkely. Where should I ED to in your guys opinions? A school that is good for banking and is also a good overall?

I think that ED Tufts or Cornell might be a good idea because although it is not a guarantee for either it definitly boost chances. Idk where they are on your list but also Vandy and Tufts have ED2. hope this helps

I would absolutely love to attend Cornell, but do you think I have the necessary GPA to even be considered?

The SAT is above average which can compensate for a lower GPA, as well as the demonstrated interest of ED, which looks good to schools. I wouldnt apply ED and give up if you are denied/deffered. Be sure to have EA safeties/targets as well as a possible ED2 if rejected from Cornell. You can always talk to a guidance counselor/ admissions officer via email. Be sure to try and get an interview/tour before ever applying ED. It is BINDING so be 100% sure you want to attend. I am not 100% sure on the GPA tho

If you have to apply to the COE at cornell then i wouldnt apply ED because it would be a strong reach.

I really appreciate you answering! Based on my GPA, do you think it would be better to ED to Stern or Cornell? Does one college have a preference for a higher GPA vs higher SAT scores? I read about a study that found a significant correlation between high SAT scores and acceptance into Stern. Does Cornell have something like that in regards to GPA?

I would say Stern would be a low read ED, tufts would be a high match ED (I think you’d get in) and Cornell ED would be reach/high reach.

Thanks! A lot of people have been suggesting Tufts, but my only issue is that all my extra curriculars are business related. I have no engineering related EC’s and my commonapp essay and commonapp application push a business theme. Do you think this would be a hinderance?