Do I have a chance ANYWHERE?!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ugh...I've really been a lazy, "wait-'til-the-last-moment" sluggard through much of high school. Now I have to pay the price for being such a slacker. Grown-ups often say that the "best years of your life" are in high school, but for me, it has just been missed deadlines and missed opportunities. </p>

<pre><code> I have made a significant improvement senior year. Although working hard now will prepare me for college academics, it won't make much of a difference in admissions. I mean, junior year is supposed to be the most crucial and I even managed to screw that up. I received a D as a final grade in my favorite and usually STRONGEST subject, English. It’s often been said that success is how high you bounce when you’ve hit rock-bottom, and senior year has certainly been my “bounce”, if you will. I don’t know what colleges will make of this sudden upswing in school performance at such a late point. I mean, if there was a time to screw up, it was freshman year. I should have shown better judgment as a high school junior. I still regret that if I worked consistently throughout high school, I might have ended up an Ivy League school like my brother. Too bad I can’t turn back the time. When I look at my transcript, the D still jumps out and bites me in the nose! I can never expunge it from my record no matter how well I do in the future. Now, I fear that with my horrendous grades, unspectacular test scores and lackluster extracurriculars, no college would want to accept me. Over the summer, I look visited some fine liberal arts schools like Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, and Colgate, but I knew that they were looking for more motivated, committed students who have put forth a consistent effort. This obviously is something that I have not shown. Until recently, I didn't live up to my potential. 

  I have already applied to/am planning to apply to the following schools: Rosemont College (someone called it the Catholic Bryn Mawr!), Albright College, Penn State U, Temple U, Ursinus College, Muhlenberg College, Gettysburg College, Bloomsburg University, Susquehanna University, Arcadia University, West Chester University, and Lycoming College.  Although I haven't heard back from any of them, but I sense a deluge of thin envelopes coming my way.  Do I really have a chance anywhere?  Can someone (preferably from the northeast US) point me in the right direction based on my stats and interests? Thanks!

          Me in a Nutshell

</code></pre>

<p>Academic interests: English language and lit, Spanish language and lit, History, Art History, Environmental studies, Anthropology, Area/ethnic/cultural studies (i.e. Asian studies, Latin American studies)</p>

<p>SAT I: 1330, V: 750, M:580
Scoring in the 99th percentile in verbal MIGHT compensate for that unsightly blemish on my transcript!
No SAT II's </p>

<p>Type of high school: elite public. It is one of the top five public high schools in my state. This MIGHT give me an edge in admissions.</p>

<p>Child of alum.: no</p>

<p>Disadvantaged minority: no</p>

<p>Star athlete: NO!!!!!!</p>

<p>GPA (weighted)</p>

<p>9th: 3.3, Honors US History, Track 2 Bio and English, Track 3 Algebra I, studio art, investments, second year Spanish</p>

<p>10th: 3.3, AP US History, Honors English, Track 2 Chemistry, Track 3 Geometry, music theory, third year Spanish</p>

<p>11th: 2.83, Honors World History, Honors Spanish, Track 2 English (the class I messed up in :-( ) and Earth Science, Track 3 Algebra II, law, psychology.</p>

<p>12th so far: 4.45, AP Government, AP Spanish, Track 2 Environmental Science, Anatomy & Physiology, and English, Track 3 Math Analysis/Trig--I dropped this class almost two weeks ago. My transcript will say "WP" for withdrew passing. Although the lack of senior year math doesn't look great, an C for for first quarter and an F for second quarter will look much worse. Plus, the teacher scared the crap out of me, so I'm glad I don't have to see him!</p>

<p>Extracurriculars/Volunteer/Work</p>

<p>I have been playing the harmonium for over seven years </p>

<p>No real leadership role in school clubs I participated in...</p>

<p>International Club (9, 10, 11): I performed in and helped organize cultural shows, potlock dinners, fashion shows etc.</p>

<p>Environmental Education Club (9, 10, 11, 12): Teaching elementary and middle school students, waitressing at annual spaghetti dinners, working at local nature reserve</p>

<p>Model UN Club (11, 12): Took part in simulated summits, represented India</p>

<p>Volunteer at local hospital (11, 12)</p>

<p>Volunteer at local library (11, 12)</p>

<p>Worked for pay at library (12): shelved books, helped patrons find what they needed, made sure books were in correct order, straightening up library, closing it up.</p>

<p>Took part and won award in _________ County Oral Proficiency Contest for Spanish in 10th grade</p>

<p>School champion of Shakespeare competition, will go on to regional competition in a few weeks.</p>

2

<p>Sure you have a chance. You will get into some of these schools. Your SATS are good and the rest of your record is not that bad. Really. And you are showing a big improvement now. You will do OK.</p>

3

<p>Elbereth, this is a case where the MidYear report can be key in getting some acceptances for you. Please meet with your GC and ask for another rec/letter, highlighting the turnaround to go out with the transcript. Also send a letter yourself, so that this is not overlooked in the assessment. Even schools who do not request this report should definitely get one. Also many of your schools are the small LAC type where interest is a definite factor. If you can possibly schedule visits to them, and pop your head in to say hello to the adcom for your region, it could make all the difference in the world. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>Not to worry, you'll do OK. If you're still not sure where you want to go, this link was posted by a member on another thread - <a href="http://www.nacac.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nacac.com/&lt;/a> They post a list of collegese that still have room after acceptances are in. Good luck, work hard and things will work out.</p>

5

<p>a lot depends on ur ethnicity...</p>

6

<p>callthecops...it's true when one is disadvantaged minority that is underrepresented in colleges and universities. But being Asian American (Indian to be specific) probably won't give me much of an edge in admissions because they pursue post-secondary education in higher numbers. I'm not at an economic disadvantage--I go to a good quality public school in the suburbs, have access to a plethora of resources, and have the love and support of my family. However, being Asian might help me in getting into Gettysburg, Muhlenberg , and Lycoming which have pretty homogenous student bodies.</p>

7

<p>"Sure you have a chance. You will get into some of these schools. Your SATS are good and the rest of your record is not that bad. Really. And you are showing a big improvement now. You will do OK."
(Originally posted by OneMom)</p>

<p>You said that I will be accepted to "some" of these schools. Which of the schools I mentioned would be safeties? Matches? Reaches? </p>

<p>Thanks again for the support, guys. By the end of junior year I was so depressed--I felt that only University of Phoenix-Online would accept someone like me! I suppose it's easy to feel ordinary when your brother got a 1600 SAT and goes to Harvard, and you attend a supercompetetive high school full of overacheivers. Hopefully things will turn out for the best since I've shown academic/emotional growth recently.</p>

8

<p>Remember that not everything is on stats. I assume that all this energy and passion to get into a good college translated into your essay and apps. If you interveiwed for any, or are planning to, I'm sure it came across as well.</p>

<p>I cant really give you a reac/match type run down, because Im not really that familiar with those colleges. But your improvement is amazing, and I can assure you that you'll be accepted into more than one of those schools.</p>

9

<p>::tj::, Yes, I've gone on campus tours and did interviews for several of these schools. I figured that showing enthusiasm/interest in the school and having frequent contact with the admissions office would increase my chances of getting in.T he interviews definetely weren't as nerve-wracking as the ones depicted in movies/tv shows--they were all very informal and low-stress.</p>

10

<p>I got into Bryn Mawr ED this fall with similiar stats (lower SATs). And I think Mount Holyoke has easier admissions than Bryn Mawr, so you shouldn't worry about that one. I definately think you would get into many of these schools. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>BrightEyes09: I gave up on Bryn Mawr. :( Although I loved the picturesque campus, gorgeous dorms, great English/anthropology/foreign language programs, and the professors (who encouraged discussion and made their classed very stimulating), I have absolutely NO chance of getting in with that D. Part of Bryn Mawr's motto is "an intense intellectual committment" and that is something I've not shown during high school. Plus, I applied to a summer writing program and was rejected from that.</p>

12

<p>Oh by the way, I've had a terrific first day at College Confidential. You have all been very warm, helpful, and encouraging--CC is definetely not brimming with snobbery and elitism as I have from others. Thanks!</p>

<p>P.S. Can ANYONE, preferably from the mid-atlantic, help me in determining which schools would be safeties, matches, and reaches? (Try checking the school profiles on collegeboard.com or U.S. News and World Report Rankings.)</p>

13

<p>You def have a chance at Mt Holyoke. A D in Jr year English is hard to overlook, though.</p>

14

<p>Elbereth Gilthoniel,</p>

<p>From mid-atlantic (South Jersey) here. The D isn't great but overall it looks to me you have over a 3.0, if this year is as good as you say it seems you could graduate with 3.3 or 3.4, unless I'm missing something.</p>

<p>Yes Bryn Mawr would be tough but I think you'll get into many (most) of your schools. I'd be shocked if you didn't get into Rosemont, Albright, Temple, Bloomsburg, Susquehanna, Arcadia, West Chester and Lycoming. Any of these schools would be lucky to have you. I'd go so far as to say all are safeties or at least match-safety.</p>

<p>My guess is you have a good chance for Ursinus (I think their acceptance rate is like 70% not sure), at least a fair chance for Muhlenberg and maybe Gettysburg. Penn State is formula driven but even here your high SAT
might get you into University Park.</p>

<p>Make sure everyone gets that midyear report ASAP. I think you'll be fine.</p>

15

<p>Yes, my high school automatically sends mid-year reports to all the schools I applied to. Also, I took the January 22nd SAT's. Do you think I will have a much higher chance of getting into the tougher schools like Muhlenberg, Gettysburg and Ursinus if I get a 1400+ despite my awful junior-year grades?</p>

16

<p>Yes, you will have a much higher chance. Hope it works out.</p>

17

<p>Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Agnes Scott College, a private, all-womens, liberal arts school in Georgia. Back in November, I received their "Priority Scholars Application"--no essay, no app. fee, and priority consideration for scholarship money. They said I was sent this special application based on my "exemplary performance" or something like that (hahahaha...:p). I sent it online before the deadline on Dec 31. Today, I got a fat envelope in the mail from ASC-- ** I'm accepted! ** Woohoo!</p>

18

<p>Hoorah! And you didn't even have to sweat it out until April. Keep up the good work with your classes - it will be good practice for when are in COLLEGE next year.</p>

19

<p>no chance anywhere, i suggest u take a rope to the basement and hang yourself lol jks
but seriously, i think you have great chances even at good schools. i think anything above 1300 is pretty respectable :)</p>

20

<p>^Hehehehehe :D</p>

<p>I'm just curious--how did Agnes Scott College know about my so-called "exemplary performance" in school? It's not like my high school's guidance office randomly sends students' transcripts to colleges without their consent , so I'm not sure how they would know how I did in school. I was indeed surprised when I received the Priority Scholars Application (2.83 last year :eek: ).</p>