Chances? [Mid to high GPA, very low SAT]

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi Everyone. I'm currently a senior at a public school in NY, and willing to hear your opinions on my college chances.</p>

<p>GPA: 94.27 AVG weighted. [3.9 GPA, according to Princeton Review's conversion chart]
- My average increased every year since freshman year.
- As a senior, I currently have over a 100 average [weighted of course].
- Lowest grade on transcript - 75.</p>

<p>SAT: Low. Latest scores: R570, M550, W600. [October]
December scores: Don't know yet. Probably a little higher.</p>

<p>SAT2: MathIC 620. Math2C 640.</p>

<p>Rank: 108 out of 958 students. Yes, 958 students.</p>

<p>Classes: All Honors and some AP classes.
AP English Language and Composition. - Scored a 3.
AP Literature and Composition
AP Calculus AB.</p>

<p>Dad: Small business. Mom: Unemployed.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: South Asian.
Gender: Male.</p>

<p>EC's, Volunteer work, Awards:
1. Board member of the South Asian Club for 10th and 11th grade. Currently the Vice President.
2. Staff member of a science newspaper. [ 11, 12]
3. Member of my school's Honors society. [ 11, 12]
4. I help out at a religious center in NY [for many years]
5. High School Heroes Program [11th, 12th]</p>

<p>Essays: Excellent.<br>
Recommendations: Excellent.</p>

<p>Finally, the schools i'm applying to are: [ all regular decision]</p>

<p>CUNY Honors City College
State University at Stony Brook
Rutgers University
Cornell University
Carnegie Mellon University
George Washington University
Boston University
New York University
Hofstra University
Northeastern University
Johns Hopkins University
Pennsylvania State University</p>

<p>Intended Major: Mechanical engineering. [As of now]</p>

<p>The Question: What are my chances?</p>

2

<p>You and I are strikingly similar in terms of terrible test scores and high GPA... dont you hate it?</p>

3

<p>Ah, I really really do hate it. I try to do my best to get a high average. But I just can't escape the fact that I'm horrible at standardized test taking. The SAT just pulls me down in all directions.</p>

4

<p>Same here... I definitely feel your pain. We should talk and convince ourselves that we are both going to get in!</p>

5

<p>Your stats are not too impressive overall. However, your SATs scores will not limit you by themselves. I would guess the following as your chances:</p>

<p>CUNY Honors City College- match
State University at Stony Brook- safe
Rutgers University- match
Cornell University- reach
Carnegie Mellon University- reach
George Washington University- match/reach
Boston University- match/reach
New York University- match/reach
Hofstra University- match
Northeastern University- match
Johns Hopkins University- reach
Pennsylvania State Univer- match</p>

<p>not a bad list overall, and always put yourself out there, bc you never know what school will want a studetn like you to complete their class.</p>

<p>Best of luck</p>

6

<p>IvyLeague14: Thanks for the helpful info.</p>

<p>Cycospaz2:
We can always talk here. This college list I have.. has some schools that may seem impossible to get into, and some are safetys/matches.</p>

<p>TOUGH reaches: Cornell, CUNY Honors, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins.</p>

<p>Matches: NYU, BU, George WashingtonU. I think.</p>

<p>Safetys: Penn. State, Stony Brook, Rutgers, Hofstra, Northeastern. I think.</p>

<p>I took the December SAT and waiting for its arrival. I think it's about too late to take another one.</p>

<p>Even if I don't get into the school that i desire, there's always transferring out. I know it's hard to transfer to a more prestigious school, but I definitely have the motivation to kick ass freshman year.</p>

7

<p>Tis what I meant. I wish the SATs werent scheduled so late in January and October. Did you consider the ACTs?</p>

8

<p>Why do they even have the Janurary SAT's so far away? I mean why not have it on the first weekend in Janurary and everyone will be happy. I did not take the SAT's during junior year and took it first in October. By the time I got my scores back I wanted to take it again but it was too late for the November test date. So I took the December one, hopefully I will get a good score there. </p>

<p>As far as your college chances I agree with 0re0zzzzz. I may put NYU at a slight reach because it looks like the competition for spots at NYU is getting tougher and tougher every year. But all in all, you have a shot for each school. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>Thanks, Solsek. I guess NYU can go for reach/match.</p>

<p>cycospaz2: Nope, I never considered the ACT's. I was too busy practicing for the SAT exam that I never explored other alternatives.</p>

10

<p>yeah same here...i have an amazing GPA and my sat scores are terrible...my high is 1770 and im applying to NYU as my only reach....the others im pretty much guaranteed...siena, marist, iona, bing, sb and pace...sigh...</p>

11

<p>Bump!</p>

<p>::Bumps::</p>

12

<p>you have no chance for the ivy calibre or JHU calibre considering your low math score and your intended major as engineering...for example, cornell engineering accepted 0% with math scores below 600 last year 12% below 700 and above 600, the rest above 700</p>

<p>it just blatanty shows that your school is seriously grade inflated..the fact that such a high average without a top 10%?? ***? and correlates to such bad SAT scores and AP?</p>

13

<p>Don't let low SAT scores discourage you. Some people just are not good at taking standardized tests. I know a girl who got like an 1100 on her SATs but she still got into a school of the calibur to which you're applying. SATs are not everything, and your GPA and grades will clearly outshine them. Cornell and Johns Hopkins are reaches for you. I think you have a good range of schools (from safety to reach) and that aside from those two, you have decent/guaranteed chances of getting accepted.</p>

14

<p>I also disagree that your grade is inflated. There are almost ONE THOUSAND kids in your class. Your class ranks are being determined probably by ten-thousandths of points. There aren't even 200 in my class and it comes down to hundredths with us.</p>

15

<p>I'm gonna have to agree with Scabooter here. The grades are weighted just like any other school that weighs averages. And the reason why im not in the top 10 percent is not only due to the size, but the overall competitiveness in my class. I attend one of the best public schools in NY, and the most crowded. </p>

<p>It's December 20th, and most of the acceptance letters are back from EA/ED.<br>
So far, we already have two students who got into MIT (probably more later), and one into UPenn.</p>

16

<p>SAT updates:<br>
New, best score: M600, R570, W600.</p>

<p>Bump.</p>

17

<p>the math gets u nowhere for top engineering...SAT is not everything, but SAT math is a big factor for engineering admission</p>

18

<p>Well, in terms of my reach schools, I'm probably not gonna end up applying to their engineering program/department (knowing the SAT score). I'll probably apply to a program/department that's a bit easier to get into i guess. I won't really care what department I'm in, as long as I get accepted for freshman admission. I can always change things around later on.</p>

19

<p>i agree with bearcats.</p>

<p>sat math is a big factor for engineering admissions. Then...bearcats did decide at last minute to apply to a school at cornell that accepted kids with "lower standardized test scores" to make up for his lousy gpa. </p>

<p>these schools however, look for other characteristics and experience, THAT is why the scores are lower. </p>

<p>my word of advice? dont apply to schools because they have "lower expectations" for scores. </p>

<p>so yea. take everything with a grain of salt.</p>

20

<p>inflation doesnt add up here. im guessing that your good at elementary math to be in ap calc, so yeah. id say your a match for several except cornell, and john hopkins, cuz those places are competitive. good luck man!</p>