Chances for an Average Student

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, this is my first real post on this (awesome) website! I know some of these don't get replies, but here's hoping.</p>

<p>Here's a list of colleges I was planning on applying to. But, due to lower grades and scores than expected, most of these have turned into reaches or far reaches:</p>

<p>Rice University
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of Washington (in-state)
NYU
UCB
Cornell University (sister graduated from here)</p>

<p>Well, a little intro about myself -- I'm a rising senior, with less than spectacular performance throughout high school. Not sure how I got so lazy. I'm also Chinese American, though I'm not quite sure how that'll affect me during this whole process. Well, here goes nothing.</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.54, school doesn't weight, not sure about class rank.</p>

<p>Freshman: Physics C: Mechanics, Advanced Algebra (Alg II), Honors World History I, Honors LA, Spanish II, Japanese I.
Sophomore: Math Analysis (Precalc/Trig), Honors World Studies (history and english block), Spanish III, Japanese II, Honors Biology/Chemistry
Junior: AP Micro+Macroeconomics, AP Physics C, AP Language and Composition, regular US history, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry
Senior: AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP Government, Art + Digital Media and Photography (so I can graduate high school), AP Calculus BC, AP Literature and Composition</p>

<p>-That's 6 honors classes and 10 AP classes.</p>

<p>SAT I: 700R , 750M, 760W (superscored), 2210 composite. Looking to retake in Oct.
Subject Tests: 800 Math II, 760 Chemistry.</p>

<p>AP Tests: World (4), Calculus AB (expected 5), Chemistry (expected 5), Microeconomics (expected 4 or 5), Macroeconomics (expected 5), Physics C (expected 4), AP Lang (expected 5)</p>

<p>EC: Barely ANYTHING! :(. Did NHS in 9th grade after volunteering like 20+ hours. 4th year of VEX robotics -- the good thing is that our team was the World Championship High School Finalist (2nd place at international competition, 400 of the world's best teams). I'm also an officer for that. I play recreational tennis, but I'm hoping to join the school team or join CC if I get fit enough, as I'm training this summer. I would say robotics a real major passion of mine, but lesser ones include video editing/movie making (I've made ~10 shorts, documentaries, school presentations, etc), and guitar.</p>

<p>Will be getting fairly good letters of recommendation.</p>

<p>That's about it. I'm kind of stuck in a rut now, not sure where to apply to this coming fall. What schools from the list above, if any, would fit me? Which ones are reaches? What schools would you guys recommend for my "safeties". I've kind of been in denial about my grades this year, so I haven't been looking into many backups; UW was my safety school.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time. And sorry if I included a lot of useless information, I'm basically dumping my entire life into this post. :D</p>

2

<p>This is a bump.</p>

3

<p>Your GPA is very low, what percentile do you think you fall in? Right now, looks like Cornell and Rice are unrealistic.Test scores are good though.</p>

4

<p>Rice University- Reach
University of Michigan Ann Arbor- Reach
University of Washington (in-state)- Match
NYU- Lower Reach than the others
UCB- Reach
Cornell University (sister graduated from here)-Reach</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much for your responses! I know, the GPA is fairly sad, but it’s hopefully going to rise a bit with some B to A grade changes. I’m asking my counselor for class rank atm.</p>

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<p>I’d definitely like to know the weighted GPA. That changes a lot.</p>

7

<p>Not really sure if [Staples</a> High School–Info–GPA Calculator](<a href=“http://www.stapleshigh.net/info/grades/academic-calculator.html]Staples”>http://www.stapleshigh.net/info/grades/academic-calculator.html) is a good enough resource, but it says 4.06 weighted academic GPA. On a 100 point scale, that converts to 101.48.</p>

8

<p>Rice University–Reach
University of Michigan Ann Arbor–High Reach
University of Washington (in-state)–Match
NYU–Reach
UCB–Reach
Cornell University (sister graduated from here)–High Reach</p>

<p>With almost no EC’s and a good (not great) GPA, there are a LOT of people just like you. Maybe do something great this summer/school year, like an internship or a job.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

9

<p>I agree with everybody else. Grade are viewed as more important then SAT’s (if you have high SAT’s and not great grades it looks like you are unmotivated). I feel like Rice and Cornell are unrealistic with your current stats, also the fact that you lack community service will hurt you.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the realistic responses. Do you think sacrificing GPA for challenging coursework isn’t the way to go? I really can’t stand regular classes.</p>

11

<p>There is a fine line in choosing. Schools want to see you that you where challenged and got good grades. I am the same way as you, I would take the lower grade and the harder class (I think I am destined to always have a B in honors math, yet I keep signing up). That being said if honors challenges you so much (or gives so much homework) that you can’t realistically pull a 3.5 every semester you should probably drop down in your weakest subject/s.</p>

<p>In response to your question, it depends on the person. I have friends that have chosen both paths and we will see what will happen when we apply to college. Either one will hurt you in admissions though. Strong grades in hard classes is really the only option for most applicants to top 50 schools.</p>