Do I stand a chance? GPA 2.5, ACT 29

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>My weighted GPA is 2.705, and 2.505 unweighted. However, this is a huge growth from my freshman year, during which I had an overall GPA of 0.857. Starting the summer between freshman year and sophomore year, I got a part-time job, took summer classes to catch up, and I haven't failed a class since. I've worked about 20 hours a week since the end of freshman year. I've been in cross-country since sophomore year, and I did one year of track and a swimming program this past summer. I also attended a leadership camp this past summer. I have never been in any clubs or on a debate team or anything, and while I regret my lack of involvement tremendously I have hope that my part-time job and my GPA improvement will have some say in what sort of college I can get into. So basically, in my essays I plan to stress that growth and improvement factor. I also plan to apply for as much financial aid as I can.</p>

<p>I've already applied to my state flagship school, but my question is: What are my chances at the University of Oregon? UCLA? East coast schools? (I know that I'm dreaming pretty big given my GPA and my financial background, but my philosophy is to aim high.) Do I have a chance?</p>

<p>Here's everything:</p>

<hr>

<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Intended major: I'm really interested in art and design but I also have been tossing around the idea of (photo)journalism.
School type: Grade A public school
State: New Mexico</p>

<hr>

<p>GPA</p>

<p>Unweighted: 2.505 (rank 188 out of 270)
Weighted: 2.705 (rank 170 out of 270)</p>

<p>Gr. 09 (GPA 0.857)
Summer School I (GPA 1.241)
Gr. 10 (GPA 2.253)
Summer School II (GPA 2.303)
Gr. 11 (GPA 2.705)</p>

<hr>

<p>TESTS</p>

<p>AP:
- English 11: 4
- APUSH: 3</p>

<p>ACT: 29
- English: 29
- Math: 25
- Reading: 31
- Science: 31
- Combined Reading/Writing: 27
- Writing: 8</p>

<p>SAT: (I'm taking it in November)</p>

<hr>

<p>Senior Year Course Load</p>

<p>Photography III (A first six weeks)
AP Calculus AB (B first six weeks)
AP Government (A first six weeks)
AP Economics (next semester)
AP English 12 (A first six weeks)
Forensics (B first six weeks)</p>

<hr>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Cross-country (sophomore year - senior year)
Track (sophomore year)</p>

<hr>

<p>Summer Activities</p>

<p>Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp (summer between junior and senior year)
Club swimming (summer between junior and senior year)</p>

<hr>

<p>Work Experience</p>

<p>Part-time job at local chain restaurant, 20 hours a week (since end of freshman year)</p>

<hr>

<p>Achievements</p>

<p>Photography has been featured in two metro youth art exhibits (selective, junior year)</p>

<hr>

2

<p>I’m sorry but the GPA will keep you out of an UC school out of state and any high quality east coast schools. Again with Oregon state schools don’t like low gpa especially out if state. However the increase is important, and you will definitely find somewhere to go.
Chance me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562190-what-my-chances-american-university.html#post16452701[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562190-what-my-chances-american-university.html#post16452701&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Well according to [University</a> of California](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/) your GPA isn’t high enough to satisfy the freshman admission requirements to any university of California, so I don’t think you would really even be considered as an applicant to UCLA.</p>

<p>Your GPA is very low can you explain why?</p>

4

<p>@boby642</p>

<p>Well, I do have an explanation and it’s all very personal, regarding my financial situation, stress in my family, and the conditions of my parents, and I hope to write about that and have my recommenders talk about how I’ve improved and how motivated I am for college and beyond. Even with that explanation do I still have no chance at U of O?</p>

5

<p>Istnthz, your familial problem definitely explains your situation,
but its also important that you did something to improve yourself.
There are a lot of kids out there who share same problem with you, but have more things done.
research about the middle 50% of SAT,GPA, etc of each school you are interested.
To be honest, I am afraid that your chances, even with your circumstances, are very insecure because of what I mentioned before.
what’s your major?
i 'm also concerned that your EC doesn’t reflect what you are interested in in term of academy.
Can you PM me with what classes you took for last 4 yrs?</p>

6

<p>Unfortunately, a good reason for a low GPA is never as good as a high GPA. </p>

<p>If you want to make it to a good uni, your only option is CC transfer. Otherwise, consider ASU, UNLV, CSUs, SUNYs.</p>

7

<p>"Unfortunately, a good reason for a low GPA is never as good as a high GPA. </p>

<p>If you want to make it to a good uni, your only option is CC transfer. Otherwise, consider ASU, UNLV, CSUs, SUNYs."</p>

<p>By CSUs do you mean Cal State or Colorado State or what?</p>

8

<p>UOR: High match
UCLA: High reach</p>

<p>Both Cal States and Colorado State are doable. Try U Missouri for a safety and, from there, transfer… after all, you said that you wanted to do photojournalism.</p>

9

<p>RE: CSU eligibility for OOS applicants.</p>

<p>OOS applicants to CSU with an ACT of 29 need a CSU GPA of at least 2.76 to be considered* for admission. In addition, you must meet the A-G requirements, and any courses in which you received a “D” cannot be used to meet A-G.</p>

<p>OOS Eligibility index: <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;
A-G requirements: <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;
CSU GPA calculator: <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;

<p>*Meeting the eligibility index does not guarantee that you will be accepted. It simply makes you eligible for consideration.</p>

<p>If, after calculating your eligibility, it turns out you are eligible to be considered for admission, please be aware that the cost of attendance at a CSU for a low-income OOS student will be approximately $20,000 or more per year after need-based financial aid is applied.</p>

10

<p>You’re looking at colleges that aren’t really realistic, given your GPA/ACT/ECs (if you’re aiming for highly ranked California colleges, though it looks like you may not be eligible to apply). Focus your time and energy on schools that you have a better chance of getting in to.</p>

<p>I’m all for dreaming big, but just as a cautionary tale, my cousin applied only to top 20 colleges and was rejected by all of them.</p>

11

<p>IDK Bubble For Sale, I know someone who had low GPA due to dire economic, familial problem who got into very great schools. So your statement depends.
But its true that Istnthz’s stat isn’t impressive…the people I mentioned had something else that clearly distinguished them from others.</p>

12

<p>@paul2752</p>

<p>I can’t PM because I don’t have 15 posts yet. Want me to just list all of the classes I’ve taken?</p>

13

<p>THIS IS WHY I DISLIKE CC. Stop throwing hate at the kid. There is a possibility you can get into Oregon/UC’s too but less likely. There is a possibility you could get into a ivy. But that means all other aspects of your app has to be nearly impeccable, and your essay has to stun ao’s. You have good upward trend, and I can tell you’ve had significant problems during high school; state those. Colleges will understand. Don’t give up dude, anything is possible. I’m almost in the same boat as you. Gpa: 2.9</p>

14

<p>"You’re looking at colleges that aren’t really realistic, given your GPA/ACT/ECs (if you’re aiming for highly ranked California colleges, though it looks like you may not be eligible to apply). Focus your time and energy on schools that you have a better chance of getting in to.</p>

<p>I’m all for dreaming big, but just as a cautionary tale, my cousin applied only to top 20 colleges and was rejected by all of them." </p>

<p>I’ve already applied to my state flagship school and I’m certain to get into it. That will be my safety school no matter what, and the school that I will most likely transfer from to get to another college, unless of course I end up liking it. No matter what, I’ll make the most of whatever school I end up going to. :)</p>

<p>“THIS IS WHY I DISLIKE CC. Stop throwing hate at the kid. There is a possibility you can get into Oregon/UC’s too but less likely.”</p>

<p>Thank you! I think what they’re trying to say is that I might not even be eligible to apply for schools like UCLA or UofO considering my GPA. However, I’m still going to apply for UofO if I am eligible. </p>

<p>“RE: CSU eligibility for OOS applicants.”</p>

<p>That’s actually very helpful</p>

15

<p>@intellectuall
I hate throwing Hate on CC! I know how it feels because some dude called NickZhaNickzaho sent me a hate message.</p>

<p>Istnthz, if i sounded discouraging for you I apologize.
U of O, I forgot to mention, is not reach at all, but maybe match because its like 108th national rank.
However, their scholarship won’t be generous due to being state university. you won’t be eligible Their presidential scholarship, because its 3.85 gpa minimum, though.</p>

<p>Yes, if you can’t pm me why don’t you list all the classes you have taken so far?</p>

16

<p>If you need financial aid, you need to be among the top 25% applicants. Out of State public universities may admit you but will not meet financial need, which is a terrible position to be in.
Fortunately you have WUE so that may help:
If you like the Pacific Northwest, look into SOU or Evergreen. Don’t know if you’d be interested in UC Merced, or Humboldt. Humboldt, UC Merced, and SOU are part of WUE. Humboldt is great for environmental engineering and such. Note that UC Merced and SOU participate in cross country competitions (naia level) so it’d definitely give your application a boost.
If you want to aim higher, you need to think of private colleges in the Midwest, South, and MidAtlantic. They don’t have many applicants from NM so that’d give your application a boost.
Are you first gen (meaning neither adult who raised you has a 4 year degree)? Some colleges take that into account, although typically more to explain a low ACT than a low GPA. If your reason for the low GPA that one year is compelling, it may be okay and some colleges don’t look at 9th grade GPA. But overall being below a 3.0 is going to hurt you a lot for private colleges below national LAC 75-100.
Varsity cross country would help if you’re good and can continue in college at the div III level; the top schools for you would be:
Dickinson, St Olaf, Geneseo State, U Rochester, Willamette = probably out of reach academically but you could apply to one or two.
Wabash, Allegheny, Wartburg, Augustana, Manchester, Luther, Lawrence, St thomas (MN) = possible (still reaches but with cross country can become matches)
NAIA schools would all be safeties or matches: Doane (NE), Evergreen State (OR), Eastern Oregon, Georgetwon college (KY), Johnson and Wales (Co/FL), Loyola New Orleans, Nebraska Wesleyan, Point Park (Pittsburgh), St Xavier (Chicago), College of Idaho, Xavier of New Orleans.
Check out the majors offered at these schools though.
Reach out to the coaches - fill out a “prospective recruit” questionnaire.</p>