Do I have a chance of getting into top schools with a 3.6 UW?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Before the recent readjustment of SAT scores, I did a quick analysis of the University of Georgia Honors College average SAT scores of students (cannot recall whether it was admitted or matriculated) compared to average SAT scores of the eight Ivy League schools. The University of Georgia Honors College average SAT scores were above the average SAT scores of four Ivies while the smaller Foundation Fellows students at Georgia average SAT surpassed all of the 8 Ivy League schools’ average SAT.

Currently the University of Georgia is ranked at #54 in US News (tied with Ohio State).

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The forums for most individual schools have results threads every year. Go look through those.

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“Does anyone else here have specific examples of where others with a similar profile ended up? And maybe learned something from the application process?”

Yes and I shared that very detailed information and lessons learned with you via a PM. Do you keep asking because you don’t believe me, because you don’t like what it implies for your chances or for some other reason?

Come on. Some posts have been helpful, some less so, but all offered you a more thorough understanding of the situation. Pause for a minute. You are a smart guy. Do some self-assessment here. Do you really think being confrontational and insulting people who are genuinely trying to help you is a helpful approach?

I can only guess, but I think you aren’t angry even though that is what your posts convey. I think you are incredibly stressed and afraid you’ll end up being rejected from every college out there. It’s understandable you are worried, it’s understandable you feel desperate, but pause on the reaction to reflect on where it’s coming from so you can choose how to best direct it.

Most of us are in your court and want you to be successful. I think if you’ll re-read the posts with that in mind - assuming good intent - you will find a lot of good, specific, helpful advice. Even when it’s not what you want to hear.

Didn’t you post that you were working with a good private admissions counselor? What does s/he say about this type of application? Maybe it would help if you shared his/her opinion of how things work for low GPA, high stats applicants.

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“I’m just incredibly stressed”

I know. That’s normal and to be expected. It still sucks.

“I’m just trying to seek validation that things will work out.”

I know. That’s also normal. Things definitely will work out. They may work out in a slightly different way than you expect, but I believe things will work out for you and the path you land on will be a good one. But nobody knows what this will look like, so be patient with them and yourself.

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From experience, I told you how low stem stats will affect stem hopes at a tippy top.
It’s not rocket science. But you said our answers weren’t an option and that you now have a paid counselor. Ask that person.

“Plus, if someone was waitlisted at a college, they’re obviously academically qualified…” Nope. There are lots of reasons kids can get WL. Not all those kids are truly in line.

But again, this thread is for Dynamic Aero. PLease do not impose your endless need for examples on this OP. I could give 30 and you’d say, “Yes, but…” “Yes, but can’t I iexplain?” “Yes, but what if fall semester is better?” “What if I place well in that big contest?” “What if I publish?”

Any kid who wants “advice” has to be willing to listen to it. Otherwise, a) you are not processing. b) you aren’t putting forth the reasonably thinking mindset tippy tops want. That they filter for.

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(said in a kindly way): exactly. But, you can refine what it is that you want, which can help bring the stress down. I said in a previous post that the time the name of the college you go to matters the very most is April-June of your senior year. It is true, hand on heart. Try hard to believe this, to see past the really intense moment that you are in. Neither your self-worth nor your prospects for the future are hostage to the name of the college you attend.

If you really, really, really want a Lamborghini, and it seems as if everybody the neighborhood agrees that is really the only good car, but you only have the resources for a Lexus, what do you do? You remember that you have an exceptional automobile that will take you where you want to go. And, if you still want the Lamborghini when you are a little further down the road (aka grad school), they are still available.

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@WoWMaster, your understanding of the rankings is woefully lacking. Rather than hijacking the OP’s thread any longer, I suggest you look up the methodology of USNWR and then read Malcom Gladwell’s excellent essay on the subject.

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Umm, maybe not Gladwell, but what’s a Fiske Guide Cost?

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@WoWMaster you will go to college. But you can’t find examples of people getting into top colleges with 3.6 GPAs because they mostly don’t get in. But there are hundreds of colleges that can work for both of you.

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MODERATOR’S NOTE:
In case I was too subtle on an earlier post, hijacking a thread is not allowed. It is also is rude to the original poster. To that end, users should not encourage a hijacker by providing answers other than, “Please don’t hijack this thread.” Thank you.

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You guys just want to argue. It is HIGHLY UNLIKELY. The OP is NOT HOOKED. They can apply to a few, but if they don’t look at some lower ranked schools, they’ll likely be shut out next spring. Peace of mind comes from FINDING OTHER SCHOOLS THAT MATCH YOUR STATS WHERE YOU CAN ALSO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. Not from pretending that grades don’t matter that much, and that magic fairy dust will fall upon your application, and they will let you in.

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Encouragement without perspective isn’t constructive.

No one should think, “Well, someone got in, so there’s a fair shot.” No, not a fair shot. That thinking is not proactive. OP hasn’t yet said what courses were less than A or the fuller range of activities. The ECs noted are not in an “it.” OP has a handful of ideas to make the situaton better, but they aren’t trump cards, aren;t strengths. Rather, they’re excuses. Aren’t even the sort of things highly activated kids who do get admits usually consider or have to resort to.

It is reasonable and solid advice to tell OP to focus first on safeties. Frankly, dreams do not get you in to these most-competitive colleges. To encourage that is not responsible. Later, he can pick a reach or two.

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OP, why not go to your state school?

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Best to have two safeties, it guarantees that you at least have choices in the spring. And make sure you like them and can afford them. Especially if you are hearing from a lot of people that you are probably overly ambitious with the rest of your list.

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@DynamicAero This is about the focus on the top twenty.
None of this is as simple and obvious as one or two, including another high schooler, would encourage you to believe. A possible upward trend for half a semester (the progress report) can’t change the rest of the record, not for the top twenty.

So far, there is no upward trend. You have two B in soph year and three in junior (on top of four in freshman.) So far, we don’t know what those B’s are in. It matters. But the volume alone suggests it includes many cores. Probably, including the classes most related to econ, law, and engineering. The math and reading/anaysis intensive courses. The 3 score in APUSH is a flag for econ or pre-law goals. We don’t know your stem record, at all, for engn. The competition is that fierce. Lightning doesn’t just strike.

You are in a difficult position. Senior first semester isn’t like taking finals, not a second chance to recover a grade or mask the ups and downs of a semester. Thousands of applicnts will have full 4.0 records, no slips, no near misses, a record of rigor, plus a balance of ECs that reflect more than starting something or organizing or working with younger kids.

Despite someone saying to do “something big,” he doesn’t realize even a completed research paper would not get published by 12/31. (And you have no research we know of.) It doesn’t work that way. And there are no Hail Mary’s (no last minute saves.) There is no competition you enter and get results by 12/31. And that’s not a magic eraser, wiping away the actual grades in academic courses.

The teachers who write LoRs are going to reflect the work you did for them. Or not. “Glowing” is a matter of reality, not hopes. Not who “likes me.” (Not for top 20.) A good letter reflects the work you did- and needs to be from relevant teachers. You can’t pull “excellent” out of a hat via a brag sheet.

A “reputable college counselor” can’t change your record in 3 months, your record. There are no “tricks” for anyone not able to grasp what matters.

And a 40% admit rate, for a kid with 50% B grades, is no shoo in. 60% of those kids get rejected.

It’s a mistake to think that, when we say, focus on safeties and matches first, then try one or two reaches, that we mean you have a solid chance at a top twenty.

Sorry. But it’s sometimes important to wake up and smell the coffee. Find some great true safeties you can like and grow at.

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I did not read this whole thread so will likely repeat what was already said.

OP … students in the top 1% of their class with perfect scores and GPAs … and very very good resumes etc get rejected from the schools you wish to attend. It is too late to do “something big.” That would have happened already over the years … if you were inclined and had the drive to do so. Passion is not built in 3 months… it’s who you are and what you are about. It’s how you live your life.

My advice is to find safety and match schools where you will be happy, and throw in a reach or 2. Keep in mind that schools such as MIT or U Chicago are NOT in your reach category. These schools are way beyond a reach for you. Apply if you want, but understand the realities.

Nobody wants you to get rejected and have no school to attend. Do your research and apply wisely. Yes… wake up and smell the coffee.

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I respectfully disagree. Seven months is not enough time to suddenly decide that you want to show passion and ability to impact the world. It’s not a checklist. Passion is who the student is … and is shown throughout the years. Through activities, in classes, the level of discussion that he takes the class to, etc. UCLA and Cornell are reaches for this student. Apply if he wants… But have a good backup plan.

Again… schools reject highly passionate students with perfect GPAs and test scores all the time.

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OP - please don’t get sucked into the notion that highest ranking = best fit. I will share with you some details of my daughter’s process. Much higher gpa, slightly lower standardized test scores, lots of STEM and music ECs, leadership, volunteerism, paid employment, engineering awards, etc… We visited 15 schools, she applied to 8. The majority of the schools she scrapped from her list after visiting were ones you would probably consider the “best” schools on her list (CMU, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Cornell, etc…). She found the cultures not to be good fits for her. She figured out early on that she wanted STEM focused programs vs liberal arts, a place where she had more flexibility in choosing electives, a school with strong industry relationships that focused on career readiness/lots of internships and co-ops, a truly collaborative (not cut throat) environment, and a place where students seemed happy. She accepted a spot at a top public honors college, ranked 7th for her major, but with an overall ranking in the 50s. She turned down much higher overall ranked programs because she was sure this was the right fit for her and she couldn’t be more excited. The honors college opportunity guarantees her undergraduate research (very important to her), small class size, extra advisors, priority scheduling, hc specific study abroad opportunities, and a new residence hall. Oh, and because it was a public, all her AP and dual credit courses transferred, so she already has sophomore standing.

What I’m trying to illustrate is that this process is NOT about rankings. It is about finding a place where you will be comfortable to thrive and shine. Forget about the rankings. Look for schools where you can see yourself being happy and that match up well with your interests and strengths. Your chances at the tippy top are low. So what? Your chances at some fabulous schools are great!

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Please stop misleading OP with speculation about what you think might work in the 11th hour. It doesn’t work that way. Period. Even thinking that way is problematic.

These are the most competitive colleges, with an academic bar first and foremost. Undeniably. They are not looking for kids with a last minute burst. Not at all. The grades and AP 3 are a problem. No publication or big contest semi finalist is going to bIind adcoms to t hug e academics.

Lol, don’t be a posterbomber. The more flakey advice, the harder we end up being on OP.

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I cannot believe this thread has 163 posts… 8-|