Chances at HYPS (PLEASE HELP)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1
  • 2400 Sat
  • 36 Act
  • 800 Math 2 / 800 Literature / 800 Physics / 800 Biology E / 780 U.S History / 800 World History)
  • (6) 5s on AP Tests and one 4 on APUSH
  • 3.45 overall underweighted GPA (3.28 gpa = Freshman & Sophomore year) (4.0 gpa = Junior year) (5.0 wgpa = Junior Year) My sophomore year was due to a couple family issues where my father had a heart attack, lost his job, and my grandfather got throat cancer.
  • Vice-President of JSA Cub
  • Secretary of Investment Club
  • Treasurer of Debate Club
  • Founded Two Clubs (One on financial markets, and one on politics) for next year (Senior Year)
  • President of the Hispanic Club
  • Varsity Soccer Senior Year
  • Expected to be Captain of Varsity Volleyball Senior Year (Coach hasn't picked)
  • Voted Secretary of my Senior Year class
  • Volunteered 400 hours as a arts counselor for local Arts Council center
  • Volunteered 450 hours working for various congressman
  • Volunteered 500 hours for youth group in poorest town in the state
  • One different business internships in my local area

Update: My main question is that if my low GPA my Freshman and Sophomore year ruin my chances at the top schools. Will schools take into account my family situation Sophomore year? I’m hoping the 4.0 in Junior year (and Senior Year) and my standardized test scores shows I can hold my own academically at these schools. I have gotten three amazing recommendations from teachers and my guidance counselor, my guidance counselor has also explained how I went through the stuff in Sophomore year. Would I have a chance of getting into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or Stanford?

2

Nobody has a decent chance at any of those schools.

3

Your GPA would be the weakest link that would really hurt your chance. Do you have a reason for that?

4

I had a couple of family issues during sophomore year (father had a heart attack, lost his job, and my grandfather got throat cancer). My guidance counselor has included those reasonings and how I overcame them in her recommendation.

5

It’s going to be difficult for you. If you are URM, that will help a lot. Stanford will re-calculate GPA and does not include freshman GPA, so that should help a bit, but your unweighted GPA is quite low. You will need to address your freshmna-sophomore issues in your application. You have some strong distracting factors, but frankly, your volunteer/community service hours could work against you. It kind of looks like you prioritized volunteering over your coursework.

@Upenn2020pleez, had a somewhat similar situation. However, he was a Siemens finalist and had RSI-caliber research credentials in top labs, and his GPA was a bit higher. You ECs - apart from the number of volunteer hours, which is a two-edged sword in this situation - really don’t stand out. Aside from the URM possibility, I’d be a bit pessimistic.

What do you want to do/study? What is your focus? Why do you want to apply to HYPS, other than general prestige?