Chances for good schools with average GPA?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi everyone. I have been wanting to get an honest opinion regarding my top schools. I feel like my GPA is more on the lower side, which makes me even more stressed regarding these good schools. I am a senior and have already submitted my college applications. I was in the IB program, but switched schools in my senior year. How much is my GPA going to hurt me?

(Major is engineering VA Resident Male)

Schools I applied to (ranking from top choices):

  1. Virginia Tech
  2. University of Maryland - College Park
  3. Clemson University
  4. VCU (Safety - already accepted)

Stats:
SAT: 1440 (CR/W: 730, M: 710)
UW GPA: 3.6
W GPA: 4.2

Classes: From 9th to 11th grade, I have only gotten one B+ for my final grade in math. Courses for 12th grade - Engineering Honors, AP Physics 1, AP Gov, AP Statistics, AP Literature, and AP Calculus BC.

My grades right now aren’t very strong. I’ll most likely finish off the semester with a couple of A’s and the rest B’s, probably a C in Government (I suck at Gov, which is why I am majoring in Engineering! :slight_smile: ). I realize that my GPA is average for each school’s engineering program, but I feel like my SAT score and classes would somewhat make up for it.

I have shown interest in becoming an engineering by participating in STEM related extracurricular activities. Specifically, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS), Internship throughout VCU (professor and graduate student) regarding electron configuration and their shape. Technology Student Association since freshman year (was the Treasurer my junior year). I have also been playing varsity soccer as a freshman. I have at least 100 hours of volunteering and have a part-time job as a soccer referee since middle school.

Awards:

  • Honor Roll Student
  • 2nd Place in Digital Video Production for the Technology Student Association
  • 3rd place in Manufacturing Prototype for the Technology Student Association.
  • 1st place for Structural Engineering and Design for the Technology Student Association

Recommendations:
Personal Statement: 9/10 - Talked about the importance of family. Showed it to my English teacher and she said it was really good.
Recommendation #1: 9.8/10 - Got it from my Spanish teacher. She showed me the recommendation. It was really good.
Recommendation #2: 7/10 - Other from Psych teacher. Shouldn’t be bad, I did well in the class.

Please let me know where I stand for these four schools. Is my GPA going to hurt my chances of being admitted? Thank you!

2

With good essays, you could get accepted by any of these schools. Your GPA is a little low but your SAT score and STEM related ECs are good.

3

I think you’re about as competitive as you need to be. Your extracurriculars and SAT score especially, if properly leveraged, are pretty awesome.

Your GPA isn’t particularly bad for VT and is around average (eh, maybe just a bit low) for the others. I’ll be honest in saying that VT also sometimes “surprises” candidates, but I think you’re a shoe in.

None of them are out of the ballpark, so I’d say just don’t worry too much. Just chill out, enjoy the nice weather, and pat yourself on the back for all of your accomplishments thus far.

4

Do you think you’d be able to get a paper published from your VASTS internship? That could really improve your chances, even for schools a notch above those you’ve applied to.

5

@doorrealthe thank you! I really appreciate it. I am really nervous for Virginia Tech because lots of kids with similar stats have been deferred from their engineering school. I feel like Virginia Tech is getting harder to get in every year.

6

@MON824 wow, thanks a lot for your reassurance! I somewhat feel less stressed already, but April seems a long time away! :stuck_out_tongue: My number one choice is Virginia Tech, but I feel like my chances are getting lower because of the competitiveness. Fingers crossed!

7

@helpfulalum Hi, I actually received a letter after participating in the program, but it isn’t something I could supposedly submit to colleges. The internship I had throughout VCU is something I could look into. Thanks for your help!

8

if you’re applying to tech engineering from nova, it might be a bit of a stretch. They had an unusually high yield last year, and I head that they’re not accepting as many people this year to compensate. good luck!

9

@illiteratemoron Hi, luckily, I am not from NOVA, but I feel like it won’t make a difference. :frowning: thank you tho!

10

I kinda feel like u could do better than these schools lol, idk maybe people just have connections to my school but people with way worse stats get into these schools easily

11

@hockeygirl77 I honestly have no idea, I felt as if my GPA was kind of low for these schools.

12

Anyone else?