Could I get into UMN-TC (college of liberal arts)? :/ (Long post, need help)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Minnesota
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I need some help/advice. If someone could read this (I know it’s a lot) and give me something genuine, then I’d really appreciate it.
My mother, father, and brother went to the U, so I really want to attend as well. Unfortunately, I am lacking academically (compared to the UMN’s standards)…

I just received my ACT composite score from two weeks ago, and it did not increase :frowning: It was a 24. That darn reading section does not provide enough time. I got a 27 on English, 24 on math, 25 on science, and 20 on reading. I did worse on math–typically I score a 26 or 27.

Anyways, should I test again in October? I loathe the ACT as it is, and I get so stressed before I take it–to the point where I feel sick. On the reading section I have an internal panic attack that enhances as time runs out. And it’s odd because I typically do not have anxiety over tests for school…it’s just something about standardized tests that freak me out. All in all, I’d rather just leave the ACT behind me as a bad memory, but I should probably utilize the last test before the December 15th deadline.

Now onto the topic of GPA. My GPA doesn’t help my poor ACT score either. I currently have a 3.29UW; however, I have a very noticeable academic trend. My freshman year was horrible. I had no interest in school, and my parents didn’t (and still don’t) push me. Seriously, I have no one in my life to impose consequence on poor marks. All of this motivation to do well in school has formed from myself in the last year and a half. Here are some stats. Freshman year GPA: 2.9; Sophomore year GPA: 3.1; and Junior year GPA: 3.8 (this is where I decided I should put effort into academics).

I am now a senior and figured I should probably take a heavy load to show colleges that I am taking academics seriously.

AP Classes from all years (including this year):

  • AP Microeconomics (junior year) I got a 3 on the test
  • AP Macroeconomics (senior year and currently taking)
  • AP Calculus AB (senior year and currently taking)
  • AP Calculus BC (senior year and taking next semester after AB)
  • AP Biology (senior year and currently taking)

So I have no AP’s in my underclassmen years. Again, I have had no one pushing me, and I had no motivation.

Now I want to go into science or engineering. I absolutely love the STEM field. CSE at UMN is crazy hard to get into. The mean ACT is a 31, so there is not a chance in hell I am getting in. However, I heard that transferring from CLA is a viable option. What would be the required GPA to transfer from CLA to CSE after a year?

Would I have a shot at getting admitted into CLA? I know I am still below average for their mid 50% range of ACT scores and GPA, but I can dream can’t I?

Lastly, EC’s:

  • Over 200 hours volunteering (on my own with no school affiliations)
  • Key Club
  • Sports (Lacrosse and Badminton)
  • Philosophy Club
  • Spanish Club
2

Unless you are below the minimums, you have a chance. Could your chances be better? Sure, but you cannot put that genie back in the bottle.

Make sure you have backup options. You could go to another of the UMN schools and transfer in to the TC campus as a sophomore or junior.

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Thanks for your input. I’ll look at some backup options.

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@woodpecker555 definitely look at backups and definitely use the personal statement section of the application (all of them including UMN) to explain your GPA. If it’s a turnaround story that would help you.

However, I’d advise against pinning the explanation (or the blame) on your parents in that essay. No one other than YOU should be pushing you in college either. And, as a parent, I’d put money on there being two sides to your story :slight_smile:

But in any case you need to show that YOU turned it around yourself.

Your senior course load will be taken into consideration so you are doing your best there.

Good luck!

(PS have you considered taking the SAT? My D2 feels the same way about the ACT as you do so she never took it - not even when it was offered for the entire class as part of the state grad. standard. She took SAT and did pretty well. It might be something to think about. ACT is a time pressured test, while the SAT gives you a bit more time for each question but is less straightforward).

5

Another option to consider is to put in 2 years at a community college. Minnesota has a compact with cc’s throughout the state where those years (following a curriculum) would fulfill your general requirements and you could be admitted as upper division. Strong grades at a cc would be the primary consideration for admission, and they wouldn’t even consider ACT scores in that application.

Good luck!