African-American Male
From North Carolina
Public School
Currently a Junior, chance me for UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, Wake Forest, UNC Charlotte, Vanderbilt, Emory, Johns Hopkins and Northwestern
Test Scores:
1550 SAT
35 ACT
SAT Biology Subject Test [800]
SAT Math I Subject Test [800]
SAT Math II Subject Test [800]
SAT Chemistry Subject Test [700]
GPA got messed up junior year
Coursework:
AP Calculus AB [4]
AP Calculus BC [4]
AP Biology [4]
AP Psychology [3]
AP World History [3]
------Future AP’s
AP Environmental Science
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics
AP Microeconomics
------Future Regular Classes
Organic Chemistry
Neuroscience
…etc
UNC-CH may not be a safety - depends on where in NC the OP lives. If in Wake, more of a match.
With a serious drop in GPA* Junior year (w/o some compelling extenuating circumstance), I wouldn’t bet the farm on WF, and imo makes JHU a reach (they put a lot of weight on GPA).
OP, it’s still March- is your GPA not recoverable?
*(hard to tell exactly, as one is W and the other UW)
I would never call Vanderbilt, JHU, Harvard, or Northwestern Match schools (for anyone) as they have such low acceptance rates. I’ve seen a lot of kids with near perfect stats be devastated and confused when rejected from these schools. That said, your test scores and ECs are great, and with good recomendations you definitely have a chance to be accepted to at least one of them. Make sure you apply to safety and target schools that you are interested in as well just in case. Otherwise, do your best to bring up that gpa this semester and next semester. Good luck!
@Siena19
URM male with those test scores?! Yes, I think so. Doesn’t mean OP will get into any of them as URM’s are still rejected with those stats. A Match means you have around a 50% chance and OP does for those schools.
However, Harvard is a Reach.
I’m banking on my first trimester senior year grades, as those come out before applications are due. However, the C’s still worry me. Honestly I just want to get into one of those schools with a decent scholarship.
I think the UW GPA is going to be a problem at many of these schools. Please make sure you have some safeties, meaning schools that are affordable, where you have a very high likelihood for admission, and that you would gladly attend.
It sounds like you moved from a local HS where you did very well to a selective public school known for its rigor. I’m sure it’s a hard adjustment. That being said, the very best thing you can do for yourself is to start with a couple of foundational colleges that you can afford and would be happy to attend - ones that can help you reach your career goal and where you would find like-minded peers whom you would enjoy being around. Then add some reaches.
Don’t fall into the trap of feeling it’s a Top 20 or bust. There are so many great schools where you can get an exceptional STEM education. If you can let us know what size schools you are thinking about and in what regions, the wisdom of CC can steer you to some ideas.
Also, be sure you have talked with your parents to find out exactly how much they can afford to pay per year, so we can help you figure out the best way to maximize schools that your family can afford.
