So my gpa is abysmal, 3.5 weighted. However i got a 35 act and 2380 sat. Assuming my extra curriculars are very good would i even have a chance with a gpa that low? Thanks. Also the main schools i would be looking at would be upenn where i have a legacy and harvard no legacy.
3.5 W isn’t enough. I would need to know your UW GPA. I would assume that it’s about a 3.2-3.3ish range, which put in almost unreachable range for UPenn and not a chance at Harvard. UPenn legacy can help only if you apply ED and only if your parents or grandparents are well known alumni (donate tons of money/year, celebrities or CEOs, etc). If neither of those, I’d say you have very low chances. Also I don’t really believe your 2380 SAT and 35 ACT as on Feb. 16th you posted that you had gotten a a 2040 and that you had yet to retake it and a 34 on the ACT. In fact, you also say you have a 3.8 GPA. It now seems that you are just one of those ‘prestiege-focused’ high schoolers, who wants to prove everyone something and go to a school for prestiege. If your ECs on that post are true (questionable), than your ECs are nowhere near being very good. In fact, they are average at best and definitely won’t make up for your GPA/SAT/ACT or whatever other stuff you have. So overall, if either of what you have said is true I’d say your UPenn chances are incredibly low and your Harvard chances are non-existent.
One question: what is your class rank (even roughly)? I inquire because it’s possible (I’ve seen it before, although it’s unlikely) that in the OP’s secondary school a 3.5 (weighted) might be better than it initially appears. Obviously, it’s a “long shot,” but worthy asking.
@TopTier school doesn’t rank unfortunately
the legacy would help but if your school has a reputation for being REALLY REALLY HARD that would help loads more like if you did well considering the circumstances. otherwise not a chance for Harvard, but Upenn depends on ECs and essays and recommendations but it is possible
Legacy does not provide significant admissions assistance, unless the parent has given significantly – time, talent and/or treasury – and continually to promote the university’s advancement. The typical alum who attends an event or two annually and, perhaps, donates parsimoniously on occasion will not attain any meaningful advantage at the most selective institutions.
What’s your unweighted GPA?
How many IB/AP/AICE/DE classes have you taken and what is your DE GPA/are your AP/IB grades and test scores?
How much do your parents donate and are they likely to be able to donate about half a million (in addition to tuition)?
Do you have one national award or prize in something?
@MYOS1634 dont know my unweighted but I would asusme its somewhere in the 3.2-3.3 range after my senior year I will have taken 11 AP Classes, as of now I have only taken one AP Test World History and I got a 3 on it. I don’t know the exact figure as to how much has been donated but I wouldn’t be surprised if has accumulated to around 250k. In terms of national awards I’m most likely going to be commended if not a semifinalist on the psat
Honestly, even applying ED to Penn would make it a high reach, but I understand you want to try. Just don’t pin your hopes on it and keep working diligently on all other applications.
By “national award” I meant EC-wise.
Now that you’ve got a dream school, time to actually start working on the college list - finding a dream college requires no work, everyone’s got one. Finding actual matches and safeties is going to be harder. 
Get an Insider’s Guide to the Colleges, a Fiske Guide, or a Princeton Review’s Best colleges, read with post it notes and stick one next to each college that sounds interesting AND has a 40%+ admission rate.
Don’t let your GPA discourage you.
A passion, whether its going to an Ivy League School, and not just because it’s an Ivy League school, is never a generic super reach. Show them your passion.
The lowest GPA’s (along with low test scores) that were admitted to Harvard this year were 3.3’s. And no, they aren’t recruited athletes or legacies.
Your parents have donated 250k?? And how have you taken 11 AP classes, but only 1 ap exam?If all of this is true, I don’t think you have a shot at ivies, but you can still go to a top college.
@marcojan369 Lol.
People with 3.0’s to 3.3’s get into Harvard.
Don’t discourage people in hopes of making yourself feel better about yourself.
I would suggest you plan for safety schools and matches. It might give you a better idea of what college are expecting from applicants. Don’t get your heart set on a reach school.