<p>Hey, I'm a rising senior at my high school and I'd like to know what the most prestigious college is I could aim for if my Junior year was bad. I earned D's in AP Physics B and Trig honors, and a C in chem honors. However, I've suffered from depression that just manifested itself this year, so it limited me. Also, my extracurriculars are weak by normal standards, but I published a book and worked on open source projects that took up most of my time, along with debate club and martial arts for 3 years. Can you tell me where I may stand given my strange situation? I'm academically talented. I got a 2100 on my SAT and I'm a straight A student through 10 AP classes excluding physics.</p>
<p>What’s your GPA unweighted? Kind of hard to give an answer without that, although I wouldn’t be applying to Harvard/Yale in your situation…</p>
<p>3.5 Unweighted.</p>
<p>What major?</p>
<p>Double major in Philosophy and Computer science.</p>
<p>Where are you thinking about applying? A 3.5 will most likely get you into a great state school (not necessarily UVA or UNC, but you can make the most with what you have.) </p>
<p>Publishing a book is really cool, and explaining your depression situation in the Common App will make it clear to the admissions officer what happened.</p>
<p>Well, I’m looking at William and Mary, Rutgers, U Miami Oxford, U. Virginia, and NYU right now. My home state is Florida though, so I can always go to Rollins College. How poor are my chances for U. Virginia? What would be a reach school in my case?</p>
<p>Since UVA has tons of applicants, they may be more numbers-oriented and thus hold your GPA against you. For any of your schools, it really depends on how many students from your school are applying, and if you show any interest in your essays and campus visits. If you really want to go to UVA, talk with English professors, sit in on classes, send writing supplements, and promote what you’ve done. Don’t linger on your faults. Colleges are looking for reasons to admit you, not reject you.</p>
<p>You should be safe with Rutgers and Rollins, given your stellar SAT scores. Miami is a match (do you mean Miami in Ohio?)</p>
<p>Have you looked at UMiami (FL)? GPA is good enough and you have a near 75th percentile SAT score.</p>
<p>Yeah, U Miami Oxford is in Ohio, not Florida. Now that Colin Mcginn has left U Miami Florida Their philosophy program isn’t that good, so I don’t really care for them too much. Thanks for the comment about going the extra mile and reaching out, MelodicaDinosaur. I’m going to start doing that, because I have a lot of material, and a lot of things to discuss with professors if it’ll help any.</p>