Chances of a "unique" student with low GPA

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello everyone,
I was hoping that some of the enlightened minds on this board could help review my profile and offer some honest opinions. Here goes:</p>

<p>Male from SoCal
White, Vietnamese and Abenaki Native American
Public high school ranked in top 250
UW GPA: ~3.4
W GPA: ~3.7 (neither of these GPA has any senior grades. Currently have a 4.4)
Rank: Unsure, but at least top 25%</p>

<p>SAT: Retaken in October, but no results yet. Currently 2020 (M 620, V 700, W 700)
SAT II's in Nov</p>

<p>EC's
Two seperate trips to Africa (Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya) to work with a total of 8 orphanages. I also helped to build an orphanage and worked at several schools.
Camp Counselor since 9th grade, volunteered at a family camp at least 4 times a year.
Volunteered as a teacher's assistant at a deaf elementary school all through summer and last semester junior year. Helped to teach kids new words, games, etc (I'm fluent in ASL)
President of the Animal Rights Club 4 years
Vice-President of the Invisible Children Club 3 years</p>

<p>Music: I have played double bass since 8th grade, and have done practically everything music-wise that my school offers, ranging from being first-chair bassist in orchestra to playing a recital at Northwestern. Other things include teaching workshops at middleschools, marching band, and honors orchestra (an outside program for talented musicians). I will be submitting a music supplement.</p>

<p>I have also held the same job since I was a sophomore (15 hours a week year round) and over the summer was an intern at a defense firm.</p>

<p><em>Okay</em>
Now, what are my chances of being admitted to these fine institutions?
Dartmouth College Early Decision (I've already been chatting with my interviewer and he seems to really like me)
Wesleyan University
UC Berkeley
Middlebury College
Colby College
Oberlin College
Lewis and Clark College
Grinnell College
College of William and Mary
And yes, I have safeties</p>

<p>Thank you all for your help! I truly appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a good chance at all of those colleges</p>

3

<p>Really? Well thanks, I hope so too.</p>

<p>However, I would appreciate anyone else’s opinion as well. Perhaps some specific information too :)</p>

4

<p>Berkeley: reach</p>

<p>The GPA is holding you back. Your SAT score is average, and your ECs are rather average (minus the trips to Africa). Being from a competitive school might help some.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, Berkeley is most definately a reach, as is Dartmouth and Middlebury (Wesleyan too?).</p>

<p>How much influence do you see race and the Africa trips having in the decision? I don’t know how helpful Native American is, but it seems that many schools have such a low amount that they want to accept more.</p>

6

<p>I think being Native American is huge for colleges</p>

7

<p>Native American = serious mega diversity.</p>

<p>I bet that Middlebury would love you –*lots of international interest, and diversity. SATs are fine for Middlebury, and you seem like a strong candidate for most other places!</p>

8

<p>Thanks NewEngSocSciMan! I actually just got back from Middlebury last week, and the music department head was trying to recruit me :)</p>

<p>Yeah, Middlebury is a top school for me because I want to go to an outdoorsy school. </p>

<p>And, the Abenaki tribe is from- drum roll- Vermont! (And New Hampshire, yeah Dartmouth)</p>

<p>I would love to go to Midd. The campus is so cool and the food was amazing.</p>

9

<p>Dartmouth College Early Decision–Reach–despite the interviewer (they really don’t have as much pull as you think)
Wesleyan University–Slight Reach
UC Berkeley–Reach (by law they are not allowed to count URM status)
Middlebury College–Match to Slight Reach (URM helps you here, but the stats are still just a bit light–and Middlebury is a really popular college for applicants the past few years)
Colby College–Match
Oberlin College–Match
Lewis and Clark College–Match
Grinnell College–Match
College of William and Mary–Slight Reach</p>

10

<p>I know by law they can’t look at your race, but can’t you apply for EOP?</p>

11

<p>You’re in at Lewis and Clark, I think… maybe even some scholarship $$, though not too much.</p>

12

<p>I’ve been offered a music scholarship at Lewis and Clark, which is nice since I love it there.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone who’s commented so far! Keep it coming :)</p>

13

<p>Yeah, being Native American helps, but not at Berekley.</p>

14

<p>Alright, score :)</p>

<p>I’d like to get out of CA, so Berkeley is not that big of a deal.</p>