<p>So I just found out I am hispanic/mexican in addition to native american. I'm a registered Natice american and VERY involved with my tribe, and I have hispanic/ mexican on my brith certificate! I'm also a first gen college student.
9th: 3.8
10th: 3.0
11th: an estimated 4.0 (I'm really smart I just had a rough year.. my fault no exuces!)
I just got my ACT to a 33 but I have a year to retake it so I think I can get a perfect score.
My SAT I need to take but my practice test puts me around 2090 but I have a while to raise it.<br>
I didn't add my ec's but from what you've read to I even have the slightest shot at:</p>
<p>Upenn (early decision)
Harvard
Northwestern
MIT
Duke
Umich- Ann arbor
Vanderbilt university
Cornell
Stanford
John hopkins </p>
<p>I would say the ivies/Stanford/MIT/top 20 schools are out. You said it yourself, you don’t have a legitimate excuse for a 3.0 and most applicants to those schools probably never had lower then a 3.9. Focus on doing well this year and then come back, if you end up with a 4.0 there will be some good schools you can get into.</p>
<p>I actually think you have reasonable chance with the top schools. To be frank, this country does not have too many first generation, native American, female applicants with 33 ACT.</p>
<p>I have no idea what you consider a valid excuse. If it is in fact valid (I have found that many people on this site think they have a valid excuse when they do not) you will have a shot assuming you have very strong ECs. If it is not valid, yes messing up for one year will ruin your chances.</p>
<p>You can’t bank on the fact that you’re a URM. Here’s the thing; there are thousands of applicants with perfect GPAs and test scores applying to the same schools that you’re looking at. Sure, your chances might be decent now, but the only way you’ll be among the best is by matching their caliber (as in, great ECs, stellar GPA).</p>
<p>Months to study? IF you improve, you’re much more likely to score a 34 or 35 and honestly your time would be much better served focusing on schools or your ECs or essays or really life in general. 1 or 2 points up from a 33 really wont make a significant difference in your application.</p>
<p>NP and make sure you know which SAT IIs you need to take for the schools and your intended major. Generally math ii and any other test will be enough but MIT specifically needs a science and math.</p>
<p>Hispanic, Native American, and First Generation? I admit that I’m personally pleased with affirmative action since I myself am Hispanic. But at the same time I have to admit that being a URM or hooked in that way can be a little unfair when there may be people that have worked a ton more but have a harder time by being born white/asian.</p>
<p>Almost all the schools you listed are extremely competitive. I’d think it would be kind of ridiculous if you ended up at Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, etc. with a ~3.4 GPA and probably very little ECs. I’m not trying to be harsh, but you’ve got to be realistic. Sure, a 33 ACT is good, but it can’t be the only thing that shows your academic strength. </p>
<p>You shouldn’t get a free pass to a top school that some people work their asses off to get into just because you are a first gen Hispanic Native American. If you had some sort of passion or unique talent that could make up for a lack of focus on grades/ECs, then maybe that would make a difference. But I would recommend revising your college list to atleast include a few safer options.</p>
<p>Don’t feel bad, I just sound harsh since I have friends that are white/asian that have worked so hard and I expect will be beaten out of many top schools by ‘underqualified’ applicants that are URMS/hooked. There is still time for you to improve, but don’t get hung up on the benefits of ethnicity/race/firstgen</p>
<p>No I tottaly understand that. I wondered about that a long time and I get where you’re coming from but to be quite honest the Native americans got screwed over. The mass genocide commited against their people was horrific and I do commend the goverment for attempting to somehow make it better. The only rreason I don’ say anything about hispanic is that’s just something I learned I was, I haven’t been taught in their history.</p>
<p>When you just think about academic excellence, and I agree it’s sad the admissions process is based off anything else, It is unfair. I’m a good student and I have worked Really. Really. Hard. I really am uncomfortable going into my situation on the internet I’m not just someone who spent my time going to parties and then said “Hey! I think I’ll go to college.”</p>
<ul>
<li>I also didn’t add in my EC’s because I just wanted to know if I had any shot. </li>
<li>Also, maybe one or two of these schools I’ll actually apply to. It’s not my whole list.</li>
</ul>
<p>There being a genocide here hundreds of years ago towards the Native Americans while awful is no reason for college admissions. If that is why you think URMs have a better chance I suggest you do some research.</p>
<p>You are not giving us a ton of information to work with and when your stats are much lower then what you realistically need don’t expect us to just be like “oh sure you’ll get in!” Your ECs have to be amazing to get into ivies to begin with, even better if your grades are low. Your grades are beyond low for those schools and like I said without giving a reason (we need to have at least a vague understanding of the reason) and it really needs to be an amazing reason or a 3.0 it is beyond unrealistic.</p>
<p>I suggest being more realistic, because in the end you got a 3.0 for a year which means you need to reconsider your list.</p>
<p>OP’s GPA cumulative GPA is a 3.6. What classes did you take in 11th grade, when you got a 4.0? Much more important to get A’s in AP or IB classes than honors classes. Depending on the rigor that year and your ‘excuse’ your low GPA may slide.</p>