<p>What would my chances of being admitted to the honors/ sapphire program at Smeal? Here are some of my stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.61 unweighted (all honors courses, will have 8 AP's by graduation)
recieved C+ in AP calc though... first/only grade below B
SAT: 1350/2030 (630 CR, 720 M, 680 W)
EC's: Cross Country 4 yrs. (2 years varsity, captain this year)
Indoor Track: 3 yrs. (took junior year off to nurse xc injury)
Outdoor Track: 4 yrs. (3 years varsity, should be captain this year)
Physics team co-captain (senior year only)</p>
<p>What's your weighted GPA? I don't think you have a shot at honors (especially if you're OOS) but you might get in Sapphire, but I'm not sure since they're getting tougher every year. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that the Honors college has a separate application. Sapphire doesn't.</p>
<p>my weighted gpa is apparently 4.75 according to guidance, but I'm seriously doubting that's correct--either my weighted or unweighted gpa is off. I could always go in and check, but I'm not sure if i can get my transcript over the summer.</p>
<p>GPA and SAT scores on are on the low side for Schreyer Honors - amazing ECs might make up for it - yours are average. They only have about 30 business students come in each year in this program.
You might have a shot at getting invited to Sapphire. Not at all sure what the profile is for that program though. As MN said, no app needed.<br>
Smeal without honors is still a very good program. Especially when you get to your junior and senior years, and the less serious students are weeded out. We know quite a few Smeal upperclassman and they are all doing really well with internships and jobs - most of them have also done really cool study abroad trips. All have them have worked hard and are getting the most out of what the school offers. Good luck...</p>
<p>I'll be honest in saying that you might struggle getting into Schreyer, can't speak for Sapphire as I'm not familiar with it. </p>
<p>Your SAT score is on the low side, although still decent. If there is one thing that most admissions folks are willing to overlook (if everything else is stellar) its a low SAT since everyone realizes that it is just based on a single test over a few hours... and even the SAT folks admit that the only thing it truly measures is your abillity to take the SAT test ;-).</p>
<p>However, your grades are also going to throw up a few flags and especially that C+. Many applicants will have straight As. Weighted GPAs are often impossible to compare between schools as everyone has their own system these days so it's the actual grades and the courses that count more than anything else. Your ECs are good, but I don't see anything out of the ordinary for the average applicant. </p>
<p>I'm not trying to discourage anyone, just being honest. With some killer essays and rec letters you could get in but realistically I would say it's a long shot. By all means do apply... just be realistic in knowing that many others will have much better stats in all those areas.</p>
<p>DaneC, do you have any ECs besides the sports and physics team? If that's it, let's hope that is one remarkable high school physics team (on the order of Homer Hickum). No job for a business major?</p>
<p>Just remember that elite programs like Schreyer ect. are looking for sparks of brilliance amoungst the many applications they recieve each year. Such applications are already self selecting (e.g. by posting 'expected' stats only people who think they stand a chance at that level will apply). There needs to be something in your application and essay that will jump off the page and grab someone's attention... something that goes far above and beyond the relatively high 'average' level of applications on their desk.</p>