Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>My guidance counselor feels that I'm a far reach for CMU. I would appreciate it if you could look at the information I have posted, and tell me my chances. Thank you!</p>

<p>Test Scores:
-SAT - 770, 640, 710 (2120)
-ACT - 31
-SAT II - Literature 640, US History 760, World History 670, Chemistry 710
-APs - World History 4, European History 4, English Language 4, Chemistry 4</p>

<p>Will be retaking both SATs and ACTs. Aiming for 2200 / 33 </p>

<p>Unweighted Grades (Listed as yearly averages, Included projected senior grades)
- History: H 84, AP 92, H 92, AP 93
- English: 79, 85, H 82, AP 90
- Science: 82, 91, 90, AP 90
- Math: 73, 71, 72, 80</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Newspaper (9-12)
Environmental Club (9-12)
Golf Team (12)
Interact Club (9-12)
Student Council (9-12)
Code of Conduct Review Committee Member (9-12)
Building Level Planning Team member (9-12)
Busser at restaurant (11-12)</p>

<p>Particular accomplishments or achievements:</p>

<p>In 10th grade I was the chairman of the Interact club's finance committee. I organized an auction / concert which raised over $20,000. This money was used to construct a medical clinic and school in Nicaragua.</p>

<p>In 9th grade I attempted to form a GSA, however, there was community push-back and it didn't happen.</p>

<p>In 9th grade a couple of my buddies and I were lamenting how no one our age seemed to know about world events. In response, I arranged for two flat screen televisions to be placed in the cafeteria through the Student Council which I was / am a member of. They are tuned to CNN and the students still love them.</p>

<p>Attedned RYLA and HOBY.</p>

<p>In the summer of 11th grade I interned for the president of an investment company with over $40,000,000 on the books. (Can't go into specifics due to a confidentiality agreement)</p>

<p>I organized a concert for a local man who became paraplegic after a car accident. It raised over $1,000 which went towards his medical expenses. </p>

<p>Personal Profile:
-White
-Income below 50,000 USD,
-First Generation
-Will receive great teacher/ counselor recs</p>

2

<p>I don’t agree with far reach, I think your chances are better than that. You have the hook that you’re first generation/relatively low income, it sounds like you have initiative/the wow factor that comes with things like the 20,000 dollar concert, you’ve got pretty solid test scores, some good extra currics, and some good ap scores to name a few positives.</p>

<p>I think the weakest part of your resume is your grades. I’m not sure what gpa all those averages produce, but ideally for carneige you’d want a gpa above 3.7. Also you might have a problem with the number of ap’s. If your school only offers those 4 then I think you’re fine, but if you could have taken more then you might have a problem. It’s my understanding that Carneige especially values kids that challenge themselves with really hard course loads, in which case they might let a lower gpa slide. Btw, there’s a big difference depending on what college your applying to. You don’t need as a high of a gpa for the arts programs - about 3.5 and sat of about 1950 (if you have the artistic skills you need to get in), For computer science on the other hand, the average gpa is about a 3.8 and the SAT score is a 2200. [Admission</a> > Admission Statistics](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>

<p>Overall I think you have a good chance of getting in, but it depends on what college your applying to and even then it could go either way. Write great essays and emphasize the cool things you’ve done outside the class room. Best of luck to you man.</p>

3

<p>I feel like I’ve seen your threads in quite a few places…</p>

<p>I have a few things I suggest you clarify on for better chancing:

  1. Which colleges within CMU are you applying for? Some colleges are way harder to get accepted into than others (for example, SCS > HSS).
  2. Specifiy GPA (UW and W) and SAT I stuff (640 in CR usually doesn’t hurt as much as in Math…correct me if my thought train is wrong)</p>

<p>Overall, CMU would be just a reach, but not far. If you can boost your scores (SAT I and SAT II) some more, you’ll have much better chances. ECs seem good to me.</p>

4

<p>You’re correct in it being in quite a few places. I put it everywhere I plan on applying. SAT is listed CR, M, W. I’ll edit the posts to specify along with GPA</p>

5

<p>Apparently you can’t edit after 20 minutes</p>

<p>School doesn’t rank. Unweighted GPA comes to 3~ . SAT listed as CR, M , W</p>

6

<p>Mmm…SAT I Math and UW GPA are shaky, but if you can score the 2200 that you mentioned, you should be in decent shape. I also suggest that you take SAT II Math level 1 or 2, preferably 2. I believe most colleges within CMU require one of those tests.</p>

7

<p>I think you have a high chance of getting into Carnegie Mellon. You do need to shoot for a 2000 on SAT, because yoru GPA is kinda low</p>

8

<p>My guidance counselor thought I was a reach for almost every school I applied to! You should’ve seen her face when I was accepted to CMU & Northwestern. Moral of the story is take what advice people give with a grain of salt. In my opinion, once you get to a certain test score they don’t matter as much as the other items on your resume. From what I’ve read you seem like you have a pretty decent shot, but at such a high level it is really hard to say. You pretty much just have to keep up the good work! Good luck & I hope you receive a positive response from the school! :)</p>