Chances at American University (DC) - lower GPA, good SATs...

<p>I am an american citizen, but lived in France from age 7-16. My 9th and 10th grades are therefore in France, where education is very tough and I had poor grades. </p>

<p>My cumulative GPA is therefore 2.91, and this is explained while "defending" me as a studious and strong student, in my Counselor Statement which will be sent with my transcripts. The GPA of my Junior year in US high school is 4.1 weighted, and my senior year grades are pretty much the same so far.</p>

<p>AP Tests:</p>

<p>French: 5
Psychology: 5
AP European history: taking this year</p>

<p>SAT I: 1900</p>

<p>CR:660
W:720
M:520</p>

<p>SAT II:</p>

<p>French:800
Literature:640</p>

<p>I have two strong teacher recommendations, one from my AP Psych' teacher, the other from a teacher who was my Honors English teacher last year, and is my Honors Humanities and World Cultures teacher this year.</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Work: Babysitting (a loooot of hours), French Tutoring (for a mother and her sons)
Volunteer work: Habitat for Humanity, a small organization to help give dogs shelter in my town, and The Salvation Army (not too too many hours though)
Other: I'm in my school paper as the photographer/web designer. I'm involved in paid portrait photography as a hobby. I was lead actress in drama class 9th grade. French Club and FBLA club junior year. Piano student. </p>

<p>My essay (there is a minor change in the beginning sentence of the essay): <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13717693-post8.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13717693-post8.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Opinions on my chances?? I'm applying in the field of "french studies".</p>

<p>For the Volunteer work, I know i’ve volunteered 32 hours for Habitat for Humanity. Don’t know if that’s good or not.</p>

<p>No one has an opinion??</p>

<p>Can someone PLEASE give me an opinion? I’m very worried, I really want to go to AU.</p>

<p>Hi Im applying to AU as a transfer. Well your sats pretty good, in their range. although your stats are a bit soso, extra curricular aren’t blowing me away. explanation for poor grades is excellent. They are quite selective. What is your career path that you put into you application?</p>

<p>I also have a document in the additional info part of the common app’ application, where I inform them of the circumstances/reasoning behind the low grades for 9th and 10th, and how much I have improved and changed since I moved to the USA. Hopefully that will help too?</p>

<p>Career path/academic interest: -Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics (first choice)
-Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities
-History</p>

<p>

I don’t think this type of thing would necessarily help, but it does give something to take into consideration. AU has a large international studies school and it seems like it would be academically a good fit for you.</p>

<p>Yes, that is one of the reasons I really want to go to AU, I think that I would fit right in, and academically it would be perfect. I hope they’ll feel like I’d be a good match as well.</p>

<p>Would applying ED II increase my chances?</p>

<p>Definitely do it if you’re set on it. AU loves people who show interest in the school and I think you’d have a great chance donig ED.</p>

<p>Really? I’ve been seriously considering it, being that in all cases I don’t think the other schools I’ve applied to will accept me anyways (which would have been my only probable regret), guess I’m going to have to make a final decision by tomorrow. But if you seriously do think I’d have a great chance by doing ED II, then that helps me make a choice. Thanks!</p>

<p>Now that I see my total tuition with a room would be 53K, I’m pretty sure ED II is out of question. Too bad…</p>

<p>Haha. Nina!!! Yea so about gw. My only tip is that if you apply you should put into the career path the less popular majors and worry about getting into the foreign affairs college when you are already in since you have loads of gen Ed classes to take anyway. I think that may increase your odds. </p>

<p>About au. That truly is my first choice, gw is more for prestige if I get in and go there but I’m not sure I can hang with the yuppies at foggy buttom. They seem all so wrapped around their dc. My last chance for Ed as transfer is actually today, and I can’t do it for the same reason. The tuition! I visited the campus and it’s just right, small properly situated buildings, and right in more peaceful suburban dc, you just ride the Wisconsin metro bus and 30 minutes later same street is downtown.</p>

<p>I’m not sure what the less popular majors are? As my third choice I put “History” thinking that it isn’t a very competitive major? I honestly didn’t think that Foreign languages, literature, and linguistics was popular?</p>