<p>The reality is your SAT helps, your gpa hurts. If you can explain why the grades were so low in 9th and 10th, then you have a great shot. If you can’t it will hurt you. I suggest you use your essays to stress why your jr yr was not a fluke, and how you have matured to realize that you wasted your first 2 yrs horsing around. These essays do matter, especially in the make or break situation. It shows insight into you.</p>
<p>Here’s a couple of my concerns:
- You have not taken enough AP’s, and not the right ones. You have AP govt, but not APUSH. You do not have AP Lit or AP Eng, yet you are applying for journalism. I do not know what SUPA is, but all freshman will be required to fulfill UMDCP Eng. requirements or test out, AP’s can allow you to do this. I also do not know what you scored on AP GOV test…3, 4, 5? 2 will hurt you.</p>
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<li><p>Are you taking the hardest curriculumn offered at your school? Did you take 4 yrs Foreign language, or did you stop at 3? Did you take Physics or stop at Chem? Was AP Calc or Honors offered, and you decided to take Calc. The GC will submit with your transcript, a school profile, This profile includes: how many students graduate, your class rank, how many students (%) go to Ivies, 4 yrs, 2 yrs, trade, etc. It also submits paperwork to illustrate their method for determining gpas, and how many AP/IB/ICSCE and honors courses they offer.</p></li>
<li><p>What state are you from? NY/NJ is incredibly competitive, the amount of applicants from those 2 states are incredibly high, probably the second highest amount after MD residents, however, UMD only accepts 30% from OOS, and although it feels like they take 100% from that area, they don’t. Thus, it goes back to if you are from Maine, Hawaii, Idaho, you have a higher chance than being from NJ.</p></li>
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<p>Finally, after being on here for close to 3 yrs of admissions, (Class of 12,13 and now 14). I will tell you that the only way to be accepted is to apply. There have been kids that people politely say it is a reach and they get in. There have been kids that people say yes, and at least scholars and they got the thin letter. Alot has to do with info that people do not give…i.e. major, somebody with a 3.25 gpa, 1800 SAT applying for music, and being first chair district and state will be in, but if they don’t say that we are looking at 3.25 gpa/1800 SAT it doesn’t look good. Or take a kid who is an American citizen, but immigrated at the age of 10 from Russia, and gives the same facts, people will say reach. The fact that in 8 yrs the child went from speaking no English, to being fluent is a fact that the admissions board will look favorably on. Now would they think the same about somebody who immigrated from Canada? Doubtful!</p>
<p>The more info you give the more people can give a better opinion</p>