Chances at GA Tech, UMich, and USC with High ACT but middling GPA

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I've already applied to GA Tech, UMich, and USC (all of which are out of state) and I just wanted to get your opinion...</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.46
Rank: Unranked high school
Senior Year Course Load: 3 AP's 2 Honors and three trimester electives (Max allowed at my school)
Major Awards: National Merit Commended
ACT w/ writing: 35 Composite (33 English and writing combined)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: 4 years of principal/lead parts in school musical, 4 years of acting, Swim/Dive, Various College courses (STEM classes, mostly), Extensively involved in my small group choral ensemble (18 people), Competitive wakeboarding from time to time, and an espresso club at my school (founder)</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: Paid tutoring, not much else...
Volunteer/Community service: Tutoring stuff, Singing for disabled kids with my choir, volunteer at food banks, etc.
Essays: Pretty darn good? Worked on them for weeks and had them edited a fair number of times.
Teacher Recommendation: Great. UMich alum, Cornell Alum (both STEM teachers) and a Columbia alum (english.)</p>

<p>State (if domestic applicant): TX
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male</p>

2

<p>I think you have a decent shot at all three schools. Your gpa is rather low and that’s the only thing that wil hurt you. </p>

<p>Your ECs are pretty unique, but not entirely.
You have an avocet average application so good luck</p>

3

<p>Your GPA is rather low but your ACT is great. UMich does value GPA a lot though.</p>

4

<p>You say your school is unranked, do you have your class rank within the school? That will put your GPA in some sort of perspective.</p>

<p>Your intended major? STEM majors tend to be more stats oriented, so your GPA hurts more in those situations.</p>

<p>USC is a private school (unless you mean South Carolina) so your out-of-state status has no bearing there.</p>

<p>The short answer is that you need to look at Michigan and USC as reaches and Georgia Tech as a match school. If you’re applying to engineering at Michigan or USC then the odds are even longer. According to news reports here (I live in Ann Arbor) the average GPA for entering freshman this year at Michigan was 3.75 with Engineering being closer to 3.9. Out of state students need similar stats and you should expect to get no financial aid beyond loans if admitted - so make sure you can afford it.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/documents/FreshmanProfile2013FINAL.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/documents/FreshmanProfile2013FINAL.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The above link paints a similar story for USC. Your hope there is that SC takes a ‘holistic’ approach to admissions, so your essays and recommendations will have a greater impact. You’ll have a chance there but with a GPA well below the average and a 20% admit rate, I think it’s wise to consider it a reach.</p>

<p>Georgia Tech is the statistically most likely school, though I have no useful information about OOS admissions.</p>

5

<p>I think you have a pretty good chance at all three schools. The only real detractor is your GPA though. Good Luck!</p>