Hi I’m a senior and I’m about to apply for University of Rochester through regular decision.
I am black, and come from a lower class family, not that it means anything, but I thought I should say that. I go to a school known for it’s rigorous course load. My GPA, however, is a 2.95 on a 4.0 scale, and my SAT scores are a 1590. I was accepted to their MVP program, and while I was their I found that the atmosphere really stuck with me. I also partook in an interview while there. During my time in high school I have done various activities such as crew, created a video game club, helped out at a baseball academy, joined the SCA for a year, joined a robotics club, a natural hair club, and even joined a program at a local college, where I took some classes to enhance my learning. I’m not trying to brag or anything but I just want to put out the full image of myself. The problem is I’m afraid because I know Rochester accepts top notch people, and I’m not sure if my grades, and activities will cut it. I really like this school, as I put it on the top of my list. Do I stand a chance?
Also by SCA I mean Student Conservation Association
Also I’m trying to get in for Computer/Electrical Engineering
So, you have a gpa of 2.95 and a SAT of 1590 out of 2400?
What you might consider is looking into going to Monroe Community College (there may be other schools that have a transfer agreement, you would have to check) so that you can take your first 2 years there then transfer to Univ of Rochester for your final 2 years.
This way you can get through all the Math, Physics and other courses and see how you do. Those classes are really tough and you might find it easier to get up to speed at Monroe CC, where it certainly will be cheaper to go.
http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/engineering-science-and-physics/transfer-information/
This is the UR curriculum for Computer/Electrical Engineering so you can see what the classes are.
http://www.ece.rochester.edu/assets/pdf/Curr%20Guide%20%20ECE%20FALL%2015%20REV_9_30_15.pdf
The scores could be 1590 out of 1600, which would be odd. A story to put the gpa/SAT dichotomy in context.
I have about a 3.1-3.2 and I got a 1620(590 M 540 CR) and I’m applying to Rochester because there is always a chance. But then again I go to a bad public school ( My SAT Math is the 95 percentile there) and I’m Hispanic. My school is a trade school though so I have taking lots of engineering classes. Do you live in NY btw?
LienrocPeoh, you might want to also start at Monroe CC and then transfer to UR. Saves you money and it only matters where you graduate from, not where you spent the first couple of years.
Are transfers likely from Monroe to Rochester? I mean thats not really in my plan because Rochester isn’t my dream school or first choice, I have lots of other schools in mind but I am applying to Rochester HEOP so that gives me a little bit of a boost and financial help. Rochester is just on my list as a reach but I think I’ll get into some of my reaches because of my uphill trend (101.6 weighted my senior year, improvement of test scores).
Monroe CC is considered a very good community college, especially for engineering. You would have to do well, but U of R is definitely open to qualified MCC grads.