Chances of getting into cmu?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

Please give me ur opinion based on everything I’m presenting. I want to go for engineering.

Freshmen year (final grades)-
Algebra 1 Accelerated- A+
English 1 Accelerated- A
US History 1 Accelerated- A
Environmental Science Accelerated- A-
Art 1- A
French 2 Honors- A

Geometry over the summer- A

Sophomore year (final grades)-
Algebra 2 Honors- A
English 2 Honors- B+
AP US History- B+
Chemistry Honors- B
Biology Honors- B
Banking and Finance- A
Computer Animation- A+

Junior year (first quarter)-
Pre-Calculus Honors- A
English 3 Honors- A+
AP Chemistry- A-
AP Physics- A
French 3 Honors- A-

unweighted GPA- 3.78
weighted GPA- 4.97

PSAT- 206
SAT scores- 680 CR 750 M 680 W 2110 TOTAL
^^ definitely plan on retaking, this was only first try

AP Scores-
US History- 4

Extra Curriculars-

  • yearbook club freshmen to sophomore year
  • National Art Honor Society since freshmen year, now a treasurer
  • Earth Youth Environmental Society- joined sophomore year, now the vice president
  • volunteer at Rutgers University’s Food Science Lab since summer of 2014
  • numerous amounts of volunteering in church, was Youth Board Head for 2 years
  • question: should i even bother mentioning I did track and field and x country if I only did one season? I got into an accident and never picked it back up…

Background info-

  • Asian (Chinese)
  • parents make good amount of money

I feel like I’m very lacking… I still feel like I have a chance to make my chances of getting into cmu stronger so please give suggestions!
What should I do?! Should I volunteer more?
My first year was all accelerated and I’m so upset I didn’t try harder but how does it look to colleges? Is accelerated looked down on? Can they see that I improved myself or do they not care?
From now on, every thing I do must be meaningful. Thank you!!!

2

You do know that CMU throws out freshman year right?

3

goingnutsmom, so does that mean they will take my grades and recalculate my gpa? With only my sophomore, junior and beginning of senior year?
I’m ruined! I calculated just my sophomore years unweighted gpa and it’s a 3.3. That is the number they will be seeing?
they completely ignore freshmen year? Do you mean the grades or the classes or just everything?

4

Don’t panic. When my son applied 3 yrs ago they recalculated GPA and did not consider freshman year. I cannot find it anywhere on their website so maybe you should call them. No, they don’t throw everything out such as extracurriculars. Perhaps they would consider freshman year if you’ve done well. Go ahead and apply but have safeties. Also show a lot of interest.

5

Have you spoken with your parents about cost? CMU has a track record of having lousy financial aid.

6

goingnutsmom, oooo what does that mean? Is it unreasonably costy?

7

Well you need to have your parents go to the NPC and see what figure comes up for them. My experience from here at CC and from my S is that if CMU really wants you, they will work to make that happen. Their aid appears more concentrated on financial need and merit is far and few. There was one CC’er who claimed a full merit ride for their wealthy sister but I highly doubt it.