I’m a junior in high school and am considering CU as an out of state student. Almost all of my family has attended CU Boulder including both of my parents, my uncle, and my grandfather taught there for a number of years. As of now I have around a 2.9/3.0 unweighted gpa, but plan to take a couple of AP classes next year to boost my weighted gpa and do very well in general. To add to that, my GPA this year has been much better than in previous years (positive grade trend), and I’ve taken 4 honors classes. I’ve taken singing lessons and piano lessons for 4 years, and am a part of a chorus outside of school. I participated in NYSSMA for two consecutive years for singing and scored highly both times. I got a 1300 on the SAT.
I understand my GPA is a bit low for this school but I plan to raise my gpa through 4th quarter this year, finals, and first semester of senior year. Do I have a shot as an out of state student? My family has been visiting Boulder every summer since I was a kid and I love the CU campus. It would be easy to write about how much I want to attend and follow the precedent my family has set as a legacy student. Thanks in advance.
Are you applying in Arts and Sciences, Leeds School of Business, School of Education or? Each school has a different GPA requirement. Study the websites. Engineering has the highest GPA requirement.
I’m applying to Arts and Sciences. I think the average gpa is a bit lower there, but I’m still below it. I’m just concerned about getting in due to my less than stellar gpa and rank.
Apply very early, that will help, so apply in August if you can get all your tests taken again. Try to take the ACT instead of the SAT this summer to see if you do better on that test. Study for the SAT or ACT or both in a summer class and retake the exam in the early fall. CU may want to see your first semester grades, but getting the app in early will help, as CU gets loaded with some high stats students later on in the process.
Call CU a stretch and find schools that match your GPA and Scores. I take it you are from New York State. Have you picked a SUNY campus and toured that too? Is there one that you know you can get in, as a safety? SUNY is a very good state system. Arguably better than U of Colorado, for some majors.
I’m conflicted about applying early action because it would be good to have my first marking period grades on my transcript and to show the harder classes I’m taking senior year. I’m retaking the sat and taking the act for the first time in June so that shouldn’t be a problem because I’ve been studying. I’m not sure what I want to study and yeah I’m definitely applying to safeties in the SUNY system. This is just my dream school because of the location and history I have with Boulder. Do you think my alumni relations will help at all?
I don’t know about legacy at CU Boulder. I do know that Arts and Sciences is easier than other programs, and that OOS students can have lower grades than in state students, because our state budget does not cover the costs of CU campuses. CU Boulder now admits a lot of international students who pay full OOS price, and those students may have a variety of stats, some are strong students. There is no early action, exactly and they will look at your grades when they come in. I do not think you will be rejected without them looking at your first semester grades. But you could write to your admissions counselor and ask what to do. I would communicate directly with your admissions counselor as that will also be helpful to show interest. If you wait until the tens of thousands apply, in December, it may mean that you don’t get in. If you show interest by applying early, especially if your test scores come up, that will be better. They can always ask for your first semester grades and you should submit them. Its highly unlikely that you would be rejected, I think its more likely that they wait on your grades and admit you. For certain, submit your grades though, when they come in. You may get in before Christmas, or they may hold onto your application and compare it with the tens of thousands of applications that roll in during December and up to January. Its not a formal early action program, but more of a “rolling admissions”. So in state students who apply by September , get in in late November. Students who apply in October, get in in December, students who apply by Nov 1st may get in in Dec or January. Students that wait until “regular decision” get admitted in LATE APRIL. The admissions office gets overwhelmed so just be aware, not hearing from them is NOT a reject. Its just the normal cycle at CU Boulder.
I know plenty of waitlisted C students who get into CU Boulder off the waitlist too. Many Colorado students use CU Boulder as their safety school, then choose a different program, at MInes, U of Denver, or out of state, so their yield is low. It is a very solid school though, with great opportunities in a fabulous college town. I think, because you are OOS, and you have high interest, that may help some. Be sure to look up your admissions counselor and talk or write them. Do not bug your counselor every week, but explain your connections and interest and I bet you get in! The essays matter a bit too, so do a good job on your essays. Good luck.
Your SAT is in the ball park. Average has been 1250, but the higher you score, the more likely you will get in. So its good you are taking them again. Also CU Boulder has been discovered by California families so it is getting a bit harder to get in. You can go to SUNY for a year and try again, but I think you have a shot at it.
I think you have a decent shot at A&S, of course the GPA is holding you back, however upward trend and some good grades in AP’s will most likely get you in.
Thank you Coloradomama for all your help and everyone who replied. It’s good to know that applying early probably won’t hurt my chances in terms of them not seeing my grades for next year. The problem is though that my 1st quarter grades won’t come out until mid November in New York so I’m not sure how early I should apply. Hopefully my sat will be above 1350 this time around putting me closer to the 75th percentile. Does talking to the admissions counselors have much of an effect in terms of admission chances? Either way it would be good to get some answers and clarify some things.