Chances of getting in ED for Carnegie Mellon?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, in junior year, I started realizing the importance of education so I quit my video games and started focusing on school... unfortunately my GPA is terrible because of my freshman and sophomore years, and a not so good junior year. Anyway, hope you will take the time to chance me!</p>

<p>-Unweighted GPA (4-point scale): 3.36 total. (3.60 Junior year, and on my way to a 4.0 Senior 1st Semester)</p>

<p>-class rank/size: I go to a competitive public school, there is no class rank for our school. Size is about 400 people.</p>

<p>-SAT/ACT scores -- Just took it in October, pretty disappointed: 2000 / (630 CR) (720M) (650 W) - am going to take it again in December and hope for at least a 2200.</p>

<p>-SAT II scores -- Taking in November, hoping for 800 Math II, 800 Physics</p>

<p>-AP scores, past and planned exams
AP Music Theory - 4 (Didn't study so got a 2 subscore on nonaural)
AP Calculus BC - Planning to take
AP Chemistry - Planning to take
AP Chinese - Planning to take
AP Physics C - Planning to take
AP Macroeconomics - Planning to take</p>

<p>-ECs -- None, I tutor at my school though. Also volunteer for about 2 hours a month</p>

<p>-employment -- None</p>

<p>-honors/awards -- None</p>

<p>-short explanation on recs/essays: Haven't started on essays, probably not gonna be too good; recs not gonna be good either</p>

<p>-additional information: Asian, First Generation (Not sure what this means, is it first generation to go to college in the US?), Planning to take a Gap Year (I don't think colleges will see that I want to take a Gap Year though)</p>

<p>If you guys think my chances are too low, what school would you recommend me to apply early decision II to? Other schools on my list that have early decision II include Tufts, Vanderbilt, not too sure what other schools have early decision II so I am open to recommendations.</p>

2

<p>CMU seems a bit unrealistic. Your GPA is extremely low for them, your test scores are low for them and you have no ECs (which is extremely important for top schools). Tufts and Vanderbilt also seem unrealistic. Don’t apply ED, ED is binding and it seems that you haven’t picked any realistic schools to apply to where ED would be beneficial. What other schools are on your list (if they are ones I know I will chance you for them).</p>

3

<p>Ok so these are my schools: (hoping for a miracle)
Also do you know what ED II to apply to? I feel like Tufts, Vanderbilt, and CMU are the only schools that have ED II on my list.
Vanderbilt
Washington University at St. Louis
University of Miami
Northwestern
Cornell
Boston College
USC
Tufts University
New York University
Case Western
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Merced, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Purdue University
Georgia Tech
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign</p>

4

<p>I am not sure which schools have EDII, if they are members of the common app you can check their member list, if not just go on their websites.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt - Just as big of a reach as CMU, so slightly unrealistic
Northwestern - Just as big of a reach as CMU, so slightly unrealistic
Cornell - Just as big of a reach as CMU, so slightly unrealistic
Boston College - Mid reach from what I know about the school (which is not a ton)
Tufts University - Mid reach from what I know about the school (which is not a ton)
New York University - Just as big of a reach as CMU, so slightly unrealistic</p>

<p>The big issue is that your GPA is extremely low for top schools (especially since you don’t have a rank to try and make it look better) and you having no ECs. Sorry I was only able to chance for like half the schools on your list. ECs are extremely important for top schools, even more so when one has a low GPA.</p>

5

<p>Ok thanks! Would you mind putting a percentage chance on them? Hopefully if they are around 10%, I would get into at least one of them. Also I have all A’s this semester so hopefully that will boost me to a 3.5. Also, you’re saying I should do ED to Tufts?</p>

6

<p>It is a misconception that ED automatically makes your chances better. If you are under-qualified it is just as much of a reach as RD since with ED you are up against extremely qualified applicants with the school in question as their clear first choice. Speaking as a future ED applicant (to a different school, but one that is about as competitive), I have already visited the school twice, met with my regional representative, began my essay and will be visiting again this summer to interview. Once again I want to remind you that ED is binding you should also not apply ED because you think it will increase your chances. One should only apply ED if they are 100 percent sure that the school where they are applying is there first choice. In your case it seems you intend to apply ED just to boost your odds, so I don’t recommend you apply ED.</p>

<p>Honestly, I don’t think you really have a chance at any of your reaches. College admissions is just too competitive these days to have no ECs and a lowish GPA to be able to get into a top tier school. It is your choice if you want to spend your money on applications, but you are up against people with loads of ECs/community service/leadership, 3.9s/4.0s, better test scores, better recommendations (by your own admission) and likely stronger essays (I am saying this because you have not even started yours yet/you believe yours won’t be great).</p>

7

<p>You have a low GPA. You have low scores. You have no EC’s. You are asian. You are not first gen (it includes college outside U.S.). You are aiming at schools waaayyy outside your reach. </p>

<p>Need I say more?</p>

8

<p>I doubt either of you could get 4.0 in AP Chemistry, AP Physics C Mechanics and E&M, AP BC Calculus, AP Chinese, and AP Macroeconomics. So don’t be so rude… (“Need I say more?”… are you serious)</p>

9

<p>I have no idea if I could, probably not, though you don’t need to get angry, we are simply explaining your odds. Even with rigor factored in regarding your GPA the rest of your application is on the weak side, most of it you recognized yourself.</p>

10

<p>Actually, I have a 4.0 and I’ve taken 13 AP classes, including all the ones you listed except for ap chinese. All we’re saying is that you are aiming WAYYY too high. We’re saving you grief from getting 10 rejections.</p>