Chances of Admission and Scholarship (Updated Again)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
1

<p>Hello, I'm interested in seeing what my chances are for first getting into Emory with the updates and then getting a full academic merit scholarship. I'm aware my grades are low and I don't have any spectacular summer activities, but please take my other credentials into account as you post on this thread. </p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Pakistani American </p>

<p>Age: 17</p>

<p>Schools:
Large Public in IN (9)
Small Private in TN (10-11)
Medium Public in TN (12)</p>

<p>Family: Doctor-MD (Dad), Master's (Mom), 2 younger siblings</p>

<p>Recs (Potential): I hope to always be at the top of my class and do much better than my previous record, so I hope they'll be good. </p>

<p>Essays (Potential): One on being a Pakistani American Ahmadi Muslim (a minority group) Democrat in Tennessee, One on how I found a passion for learning purely for itself rather than as a tool to achieve material gains </p>

<p>Intended Major: Physics, Chemistry, or Math</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>Grades (9-11): Semester 1 (9): 7A/1B, Semester 2 (9): 1A/4B/1C, Semester 1 (10): 5A/1B, Semester 2 (10): 5A/1B, Semester 1 (11): 2A/4B, Semester 2 (11): 4B/2C in All Honors Classes and 2 AP Classes: AP Chemistry (Semester 1: B, Semester 2: C+) and AP Calculus BC (Semester 1: A-, Semester 2: B)</p>

<p>Senior Course Load and Grades (Potential): All A's (100%) in AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP US Government, AP Macroeconomics, Honors English 4, Honors US History, Personal Finance, and Choir </p>

<p>GPA and Class Rank (Potential): Will be about 3.5 UW (9) and 3.97 W (10-11) (Top 20%) when I apply b/c I will only send in previous grades but after first semester of senior year, it will hopefully be 3.94 W and about 3.54 UW and I hope to be ranked in about the top 20-30% of 380 students </p>

<p>SAT: 2400 ACT: 36 SAT Chemistry: 800, SAT Math II: 800, SAT Physics: 800, SAT Biology M: 800, SAT US History: 800</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores: AP Calculus BC 4 or 5 </p>

<p>Extra-Cirricular Activities:</p>

<p>Speech and Debate (10-12): State 2nd Place (10), 350 Tournament Points</p>

<p>Piano (9, 11): Gold Star Rating in Region (9), Participate in Recital (9-11)</p>

<p>Mock Trial (11): Lawyer- 2nd Place in Region</p>

<p>Young Democrats (10-11): VP (11)</p>

<p>NHS and Mu Alpha Theta Member (10-12)</p>

<p>Community Service (10-12): 100 Hours in Mosque and Science Center; Local Library (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Employment (12-Potential): Work at Kumon as Math Tutor for 5 months </p>

<p>Math Club (9, 12): President (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Student Newspaper Member (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Research (12-Potential): Independent "Research" done in Math- mainly in some higher number theory </p>

<p>Other Awards/Distinctions: Regional Math Test Top 5 (9, 10), National Merit Commended Scholar (12), State Math Problem Solving Test Top 10 (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Awards to be sent after initial submission of application (all potential): </p>

<p>Intel STS Semi-Finalist in Math (Sent in Late January)</p>

<p>USA Physics Olympiad Semi-Finalist and AMC 12 Top 1% (Mid-February)</p>

<p>USA Chemistry Olympiad Top in Region and USA Biology Olympiad Semi-Finalist (Early March)</p>

2

<p>Despite your gpa (middle 50% for admitted students is is 3.78-4.00) I think you have a reasonable shot for admissions given your high SAT and ACTs as well as extensive extracurriculars. If you have a legitimate reason for your low gpa and class rank you should mention it somewhere in your app or have a guidance counselor mention it in a recommendation. Otherwise a very high SAT/ACT with a low GPA usually indicates a bright student who doesn’t try in academics, or that he/she cheated on the exam. A low GPA and high class rank can suggest that the school is very grade-deflated and can be forgiven, but that doesn’t seem to be your case. Could it be that you switched HSs and thus in the process of converting your grades to your current HS with a different grading system, they appear deflated? Also if you apply ED I you won’t have your first semester senior grades to show either. Also be sure to show interest in Emory (visit, apply ED, order video, go to a regional info session) since the acdoms usually expect someone with your credentials to be applying to peer or higher ranked schools with the intention that Emory is not their first choice.</p>

<p>Emory scholars will be a bit difficult, you certainly have the test scores and ECs, but your GPA and class rank can be a dealbreaker (most other Scholars applicants will have somewhat lower test scores and equally impressive ECs, but will have 3.9-4.0 and be at the top 5% of their class) but I wouldn’t say you have no chance. Just go for it but don’t count on it. And with your financial situation you would otherwise probably get minimal need-based FA from Emory (I’m guessing only some loans and WS) so keep that in mind. Your best bet for Scholars is to show your unique experiences and how you can uniquely contribute to Emory; that should can help set you apart from those who have the high GPAs. In your essays be sure to mention specific Emory departments or organizations you’re interested in and how your past experiences/ECs fit in with those. </p>

<p>Also, taking many AP courses but not the exams will be an even bigger red flag, especially with your grades. While getting a bunch of 5s can often compensate for the lower grades in those classes you haven’t taken the opportunity to do so.</p>

3

<p>Does anyone think I’ve gotten a decent chance of getting in and sort of an OK chance of being and Emory Scholar?</p>

4

<p>Emory is not that hard to get into (as in, I got in with terrible grades too), but with a 3.9 W GPA, you’ll be in the top 20-30% of the class. wow. how did your grades get so bad?</p>

5

<p>I had all 90’s which went from A’s to B’s and then 2 80’s which went from B’s to C’s</p>