Do I even have a chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, so I'm a junior in Houston... and I have pretty horrendous stats.
GPA: 3.675 weighted. Rank: 48/192, Top 25% (barely)</p>

<p>I really really really want to go to Johns Hopkins for Neuroscience, or UPenn for Chemistry. I'm also considering Stanford, University of Houston (safety), UT-Austin, Rice, Duke, Cornell, Northwestern, and Chicago. </p>

<p>I am currently a Star Scout in Boy Scouts; I will be Eagle Scout by applications time. I I am also a Beginner Level Title I Black Belt. And I will be researching at Rice University this summer in the Biochemistry Department under a mentor, but I don't know what I'll be researching yet. I hope that will help me. </p>

<p>I went to a Biotechnology Workshop last summer, where we did some pretty cool stuff: Utilized gel electrophoresis to resolve and visualize DNA fragments of different sizes prepared using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Experimented with DNA Isolation and DNA Extraction; Learned about applications of Biotechnology Industry in modern society in forensics, dentistry, and the field of medicine from Lexicon Genetics, Inc. </p>

<p>I am an exceptional writer. I recently entered some writing competitions that I'm almost certain I will place in. And I'm certain that my college essays will be phenomenal. Also, my teachers adore me -- so I will probably get exceptional rec letters as well. </p>

<p>But, of course, I'm concerned... My GPA sucks! This is basically what happened. Freshman year I cared more about making friends than doing well in school, so I recieved 3.25 first semester, and 3.5 second semester. No honors courses, no AP courses. </p>

<p>Sophomore year I get a 3.875 both semesters (weighted) and took honors in Algebra 2 and English. </p>

<p>This year I take all honors/AP: AP US History, AP Lang, PreAP Physics, PreAP Precal, and AP Chemistry. I know for certain that I will attain 5's in APUSH and AP Lang; and probably a 4 in AP Chemistry. And, sadly, despite working my butt off, I recieved a mere 3.875 (again) this past semester junior year.</p>

<p>I also went on rotations to Ben Taub Hospital (I got a public high school that focuses on the health professions) where I was shadowing doctors in the NeuroICU, Radiology, and Gastrointestinal Departments. </p>

<p>I seem to have almost everything going for me except my GPA...</p>

<p>Could you PLEASE chance me? Oh yeah, I'm National Merit Commended (PSAT: 200). And so far I'm looking at around a 2250 projected score because I range around that area in my practice Test Masters exams. </p>

<p>UPenn
Johns Hopkins
Rice
UChicago
Northwestern
UT-Austin
Stanford
Duke
Cornell</p>

<p>Thank you!
-Worried, prospective Junior</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
Could you PLEASE chance me? Oh yeah, I'm National Merit Commended (PSAT: 200). And so far I'm looking at around a 2250 projected score because I range around that area in my practice Test Masters exams.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Unless you've studied hard you should expect a 2000, not a 2250. Assuming you do score a 2250 though..</p>

<p>UPenn - Supertremendous reach
Johns Hopkins - High reach
Rice - Reach
UChicago - Supertremendous reach
Northwestern - High reach
Stanford - No way Jose
Duke - Supertremendous reach
Cornell - Supertremendous reach</p>

3

<p>^ Well That was nice.</p>

<p>Quit being a dick. Reliastically. Anything can happen OP, however your test scores will have to be much higher than usual to accomodate your low GPA and lack of EC'.s</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

4

<p>Godfatherbob may not have put it in the nicest way, but s/he did make a good point. I think that considering your overall package, OP, s/he's about right. Anything can happen, but if you want to be safe and/or realistic, I would consider Grandfatherbob's observations.</p>

5

<p>im so sorry
you will have to lower your standards/hopes a little</p>

6

<p>he says she's an excellent writer, so I would consider Chicago to be more accessible than Rice (10% higher admittance rate, too). We're also assuming you don't have a hook. I should think that Chicago is the most accessible on that list.</p>

7

<p>yea i would argue that your writing skill is the most important thing to master in high school.</p>

8

<p>Yay a fellow h-town member. Debakey right? Anyways ya yur gpa Is low and I do agree with the others that pretty much all those schools r reaches, def get more safeties. Yur ecs do show passion and that could b a great hook. Also not sure if 200 is commended in tx but def if you're a minority it's Hispanic recog or achievement award. I bet you could get into 1 though but hey what do I know I'm in the same boat. Just finish this year and nxt 1st semester with superb grades and hope they look past the stats.</p>

9

<p>Yay a fellow h-town member. Debakey right? Anyways ya yur gpa Is low and I do agree with the others that pretty much all those schools r reaches, def get more safeties. Yur ecs do show passion and that could b a great hook. Also not sure if 200 is commended in tx but def if you're a minority it's Hispanic recog or achievement award. I bet you could get into 1 though but hey what do I know I'm in the same boat. Just finish this year and nxt 1st semester with superb grades and hope they look past the stats.</p>

10

<p>UT-Austin, Rice, Duke, Cornell, Northwestern, and Stanford- Expect Rejections... With your rank, GPA, and SAT/ACT scores...</p>

11

<p>I think your list is much too topheavy, unless you do quite a bit better than expected on the SAT and SATIIs. You need to look for some more schools that are closer matches, and one or two safeties. There's nothing wrong with applying to several (or even all) of those super-selective schools, but you need to be realistic and apply to less selective schools too.
I don't know enough about UT--is it really that difficult for a Texan with these stats to get in?</p>

12

<p>yeah it is Hunt... UT-Austin has to accept everyone who applies within the top 10% which results in 95% of the class being filled</p>

13

<p>I'm so sorry, but those schools are definitely out of your range. For a quarter of your high school career, you didn't take Honors/AP... top colleges expect you to excel at the hardest levels your school offers. Shoot a little bit lower. You can get into some good schools but not those you've listed. Maybe try your chances on one or two at the most, but honestly I wouldn't waste your time applying to more than two of these extremely competitive schools. Don't worry though you'll have a blast wherever you end up. Sorry if I was harsh, but I'm just trying to be realistic.</p>

14

<p>Thanks guys! I don't think any of you guys were particularly harsh, so no worries at all. Yeah you could say I'm a dreamer. I'll probably just apply to UChicago, Northwestern, JHU, and Rice (for reaches). (I didn't list any of my safety/match schools by the way.)</p>

<p>UT-Austin is HARD to get into unless you're top 10. But my parents will probably make me apply there, anyways. </p>

<p>Err and do you guys think being an Eagle Scout and researching at Rice would be a "hooker"? Would it compensate, even slightly, for my low GPA? Oh yeah, I'm Asian.. which sucks. </p>

<p><em>sigh</em></p>

<p>And... is a 2250 low?! I thought it's high. That's what I usually score on my practice SAT exams (from that Big Blue Book if yall know what that is). </p>

<p>ps: Yeah, I got to DeBakey.</p>

15

<p>get your rank in the top 5% and your good with that SAT scores. Maybe work on that GPA.</p>

16

<p>There's a bunch of old threads here about what being an Eagle Scout does for you. On the one hand, it's not super-unusual. On the other hand, it does say something very positive about your character, your leadership, and your work ethic. It shows that you're not just about academics. It may not be a hook, but it's a positive.
As for your SAT, only in the abnormal environment of CC is 2250 "low." There are twenty or so schools, though, out of the thousands in this country, where that isn't a really high score.</p>

17

<p>No, 2250 definitely isn't low. It's high. Good luck on those! And, I think your time at Rice this summer will help, too.</p>

18

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Just wanted to let you guys know how it went. I applied EA to Chicago (which is now my #1) and was deferred to RD. I’m basically doing several things to show them my interest:</p>

<ol>
<li>New letter of continued interest, and include my recent Eagle Scout award/project accomplishment.</li>
<li>Having my Economics teacher write me a lovely “This guy is perfect for Chicago” letter.</li>
<li>Re-taking my SAT. I scored a 2180 last time, and I’m aiming for 2250/2300. A 2300 would be phenomenal for me.</li>
<li>Mid-year report. Obviously. </li>
<li>I already contacted my regional director and continue to correspond with her.</li>
<li>Send in another essay that talks about why I’m a fit for Chicago, without explicitly saying Chicago, but in a more abstract level that only Chicago would understand.</li>
</ol>

<p>I think they’ll see my passion. The only bad things were my grades, but those have improved too. Also, I’m pretty sure I’ll get into UT because of my EC’s and essays, and I sent in a rec letter from my history teacher who loves me, so that’ll help. And my SAT isn’t shabby… for UT. </p>

<p>Other than that, I did add some safeties like University of Houston, Rhodes and Union to my list, as well as Colby. But I send out apps to Stanford, Yale, Penn, and Rice. I’m not expecting acceptances, but I figured why not.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone! And good luck to you guys too!</p>