Here are my stats:
Old SAT: 2170 best sitting, 2240 superscore
SAT II: 750 in Math II and 790 in Physics
Unweighted GPA: 3.3 (very low, I know, will explain later in the post)
Weighted GPA: 4.0
Class Rank: top 20%
AP: 14 including senior year (passed all the tests so far)
Senior Course Load: AP Gov, AP Calc BC, AP Physics 2, AP Lit, AP Stats, AP Comp Sci
Awards: Ok so here is where I’m a bit different. I’ve won 1st award (not best in category) at ISEF for project in astronomy, been to ISEF two years in a row, won CERN special award, NASA top award, etc.Won Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year Award
ECs:
Played badminton for 4 years, varsity for 3
Other stuff:
I’m extremely passionate abt astronomy, been doing it for more than 10 years. Discovered several exoplanet candidates, validated one (working to validate others). After science fair project in 10th grade, was invited to give a presentation at NASA and subsequently got an internship (but was working on research well before then).
But as a result of focus on astronomy research, didn’t focus on grades and had a lot of slip ups. Also compounded by absences during AP test week due to ISEF and california state science fair. Although I got Bs and Cs in subjects, I still passed or got 5s on AP tests in those subjects.
Obviously the one major flaw in my application is my GPA. Will the top tier colleges consider me at all given this deficiency? What chances to I have?
UMich views GPA and then course rigor to be most important. Your chance would be low there.
GPA is very low to be considered for these schools. You can try, but I recommend finding schools within that GPA range.
Bump. I’d like a few more opinions on my application. To be more precise, my uw gpa is 3.37, and I have many more ECs which I haven’t listed for the sake of brevity. I have also already applied to other safeties and gotten some acceptances, just wondering what our chances would be for our reaches…
Hello,
The other two posters are right. Your GPA is very low to be considered for Cornell, UChicago, or UMich. If your GPA was low for a reason such as a family emergency or something, that would be explainable, but since it’s just a lack of focus, they won’t like that. If you have a lot more ECs where you have a leadership position, you’ll be better off. Best of luck.
Perhaps I should ask this: Which of the above colleges (or other colleges too) might be the most willing to overlook my gpa? Also, would my passion for astronomy (and awards at international competitions and invited presentations) be considered as a hook by any of these colleges?
Realistically these colleges are a slim chance for anyone so I hope you still apply cause it’s one of those things you just gotta try! UC schools are known to be holistic reviewers though. Although it looks like you’re a senior already and if so that deadline has passed lol. And Sure your GPA is hard to ignore but I think your EC add a lot of weight to your application. I mean going to ISEF is a Huge deal (congrats btw) and the NASA stuff really help your app. I don’t think it’s completely out of the question to apply to these places w the resume that you have. Hopefully you have some safeties on your list as well tho! Best of luck!
I agree. Work on your GPA, and if it ends up being too late look for other schools.
But nonetheless, from what I’ve read, your EC’s and awards are quite promising. ISEF is a big deal - as is your NASA internship (I’m actually a current sophomore trying to look for one myself)! This is especially true because it seems like NASA needed you more than you needed them, and that’s definitely a type of student MIT would admit, considering the size and significance of NASA. But as the above poster noted, your GPA is hard to ignore because it’s indicative of good time management, an integral quality of an MIT admittant. So your essays are where you need to shine. I don’t think I need to explain as you’re already quite aware. In summation, just let your passion for astronomy pour out on to your application. Your GPA isn’t the be-all-end-all, but it is a slight issue and the rest of your application should compensate for it. Best of luck.
Statistically speaking, schools with an average GPA of 3.9ish (probably all schools you listed) cannot possibly accept but one or two outliers every cycle (which a 3.3 is) and keep their average GPA as high as it is.
Are you that one or two? Maybe - those are kick-butt ECs.
But I wouldn’t bet my future on it. Make sure you apply to GPA match’s and safeties.