I have a pretty low GPA (4.7 weighted/3.8 unweighted for my old hs, 3.6 unweighted for my current hs) but decent-ish test scores (34 ACT w/ 36 English, 35 Math & Science, and 31 Reading fml i ran out of time + 2160 SAT but I probably won’t report it). No class rank bc my current school doesn’t rank. For APs, I have a 5 in AP Chinese & 4 in WHAP bc I go to STEM school that basically lets you go to college Junior year (it’s also known for sending students to Ivies). Also, I’m an Asian female, and applying as international even though I’ve lived in the U.S. for 8 years (Canadian), in state for UT and A&M though.
ECs :
- Orchestra - class representative, played violin in the top orchestra 6th-10th grade (new school doesn’t have orchestra)
- Science Olympiad - secretary, 1st place regional level
- FBLA - 1st place regional level
- Key Club - president/co-founder (around 100 hours of volunteering)
- Class officer - sophomore year
- Research - got a research scholarship from my school and did research in biology/environmental science over the summer and this semester
- ECs at my current school are a bit different, but I’m an executive of a big club (a pretty unique one) and 2 smaller ones.
- No outstanding awards besides NHS, SciOly, FBLA, and state orchestra competition
I want to major in Civil/Environmental Engineering, maybe backup as Urban Studies I haven’t really made up my mind yet. I’m really worried about my GPA bc it’s pretty low for my school and I got a C last semester. I signed up to retake ACT in October just so I don’t feel so guilty about the 31 in reading, but I may not do it depending on if I’m too busy with college apps/exams. My essays will probably be okay, and I have a p good counselor rec and teacher rec (English professor) coming in.
I know Cornell and Berkeley are reaches w/ my gpa, but I just want to know if I have a chance.