<p>I go to a public school in California (although my senior year, I'm in a dual enrollment program and am taking only community colleges class... knocking a year off university), and my "ticket" to getting in is through my EC. My GPA is a 3.7 UW, around a 4.1 W, I got a 33 on the ACT with a 36 on Reading, got AP Scholar, not SAT II, no volunteer hours, small time tutoring job...</p>
<p>But my Extra Curricular is where I rock it. Right now, I'm the Regional President of my youth group of around 800 members. My youth group, however, is teen-led, meaning in my five years of involvement, I've done a TON. I've raised a thousand dollars, I've cold-called teens to recruit, I've pitched my group to new parents, I've planned and executed events and conventions for up to 120 teens, I've given a plethora of speeches and right now, I'm like a management consultant in that I spend every weekend at a different community, working with the local president to help their chapter succeed. </p>
<p>I write about this in my essay. Obviously I can't know if my essay is ACTUALLY good but I feel that if I do get in to where I want to go, it'll be because of my essay, which, I do, feel is pretty good :P. I'm applying to Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Davis, and USC. All or nothing - if I don't get in, I'll stay one more year of CC then transfer. </p>
<p>So I'd love to hear your honest opinions of my chances. Post or PM me.</p>
<p>A 3.7/4.0 GPA sucks?</p>
<p>@11scooter It’s a matter of opinion. Don’t question it. That being said, I hate, hate, hate to say that Stanford, Georgetown, and Columbia are reaches. I know, lame answer that you won’t find helpful at all, but hey, I’m no oracle; what can I say? UCLA and UBerk seem like high matches and the rest are low matches/safeties. Although your GPA is below average, you have a good shot at one of those three top-tiers because of your ECs. Just get your SAT IIs done, send in your apps and hope for the best. No one knows for certain what will happen.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the feedback! </p>
<p>@11scooter a 3.7 is pretty good for most schools, and I did work hard for it, but for these reaches it’s really below the standard. Such is today’s super competitive environment. </p>
<p>@Yakisoba I appreciate the positive feedback! “No one knows for certain what will happen” sums it up perfectly. I might get lucky, I might not. Interesting that you say that UCLA/Berkeley are high matches - I always saw them as reaches, too. Not doing any SAT IIs. But thanks for the positivity!</p>
<p>@chancemaster12 I also appreciate the honesty here. I’m going for depth over breadth with my EC, showing colleges that I demonstrate passion and focus. Plus I’m sacrificing chickens to the Sun God every fortnight to improve my luck. But forreal, my high school was fairly competitive in one of the most competitive districts in the state. Right now, my course load is all college courses, around 13-16 units a quarter. No hooks… Just a Jewish, upper-middle class son of immigrants. Guess my hook is “leadership” if the AdComs buy in to my essays…</p>
<p>I mean your EC really shows your leadership skills and commitment, however, do you have more other ECs? but overall, UCs are not a problem for you since you are in state. but Columbia and Stanford are reach for everybody.</p>