Just found this website, I thought why not give this a try?
I am looking at Ivies and other top schools such as MIT, WUSTL (to which I’m a legacy and am thinking of applying ED), and Bowdoin. My intended major is computer science.
Scores and stuff:
My school has a weird GPA scale so I self-calculated my GPAs on a 4.0 and 4.5 scale
GPA (unweighted): 3.70
GPA (weighted): 4.07
SAT: 1540 (790 Math 750 English) - 18/24 writing
Subject tests: Math 2 and Physics (I have yet to receive scores back)
Course Load: Basically the most rigorous course load offered by my school. I have always taken a class that was honors or harder when offered. I currently have taken 5 AP classes and will have taken 7 after senior year. I have also taken 2 semester long duel enrollment college courses and will have taken 4 after senior year. I am in a special computer science program so I will be taking 4 years worth of comp sci classes.
Extracurricular:
ACSL 10th and 11th (almost certainly I will be Pres/VP next year)
Cyber Security 10th and 11th
DECA 11th (VP)
Science League 11th
NHS and MHS(to which I plan to apply for a leadership position next year)
I plan to create a new technology club next year
Soccer(not for school) 9th, 10th, and 11th
I created a mobile application that is available for iOS and Android
I was webmaster of my temple’s website
I worked as a camp councilor over the summer 10th and 11th
Awards:
Honor roll every marking period
“hack of distinction” at a hackathon held by my district
State finalist in Cyber Patriots competition
Winner of a Xerox award for Innovation and Information technology
Not dead in the water. A 3.7 UW is not bad at all plus you have pretty decent SAT scores. MIT and Ivies might be high reaches but you have a decent chance at WashU, especially with the legacy. Bowdoin is a low reach. If you want to try for an Ivy, Cornell might be within reach.
My son got into WashU ED this year with roughly the same GPA and similar test scores, so I feel you’re a competitive candidate for admission.
At the Ivy’s and MIT a 6-7/10 GC letter is more of a concern than the GPA. An enthusiastic GC letter can help overcome a 3.7. A lukewarm letter can sink even a 4.0. See what you can do to boost your standing with your GC. Also, starting a club in senior year is pointless if you’re doing it for colleges.
Hmm. What exactly should I be doing to increase my standing with my GC? I have only spoken to her infrequently and when I do it is usually just about school or scheduling stuff. I would want to connect with her on a more personal level if I could, but it just feels weird scheduling a guidance meeting just to have a personal conversation, especially because I know almost nothing personally about my councilor and have no idea what we would talk about. Do you have any suggestions?
Also I would be starting club because I want to, the college aspect would only be an added bonus.
I had a similar relationship with my GC before as well, but I knew I had to get closer to her soon. So, one day, I walked up to her office and asked her if she had any time to talk. After replying that she did, I struck up a simple conversation of how my year was going so far. We ended up talking for almost the entire lunch period and now we are really close. So, all it takes sometimes is to just start up a simple conversation even if it isn’t about something you both enjoy. Most of the time, your GC will be more than happy to get close to you so it shouldn’t be too hard to get close to them. Good luck!
I am in a pretty similar boat as you with a similar UW GPA, but after seeing some of the comments on my chance post, I think I can offer you some advice. Your test scores this far are pretty good and colleges will understand that you have a strong interest in comp sci by the subject tests you have taken. Furthermore your ECs are pretty out-of-the-ordinary so they may be enough to overshadow your GPA. As always, I recommend applying to some safety schools in case, but I do think if you apply to 5 or more of these elite schools, you have a pretty decent chance of getting into at least one. Good luck! I would appreciate it if you could chance me back here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1995754-chance-me-low-gpa-rank-cornell-rice-wash-u-ucla-etc-p1.html