i have 2 Cs right now and i know i can boost one of them this semester, but will this one C prevent from going to the ivies? i had a very hard few months because i had to care for everyone in my household because my mom has cancer, thank god now she is cancer free so now i could work harder. I am a junior will this C ruin me?
the factor most likely to keep you out of “the ivies” is lumping 8 widely differing schools into one bucket as if going to one is just as good for you as going to another. This perpective will leak out in interviews and essays, leading “the ivies” to prefer students who can identify why their particular institution is a good fit.
Sorry about your mom, BTW, glad she is better.
Hopefully you have discussed your family situation with your GC. She/he is the appropriate person to bring up the situation in your counselor letter of rec when you apply to “the ivies” and hopefully also some less selective schools. Few HS students have the perspective and maturity to disclose info like this, relevant as it might be, without sounding like they are making excuses or asking for special treatment. A letter from a disinterested third-party is usually much better.
@mikemac thank you, my gpa will still be above 3.75 this semester, its scary just one “C” is really all that will ruin my chances of living my dreams?what do you mean by identify with their institution? i am a first generation student and my parents are immigrants and we r in the poverty rate that alone may set me off?
It won’t ruin anything. But you should a) wait to see test scores, and if high enough, b) choose one or two ivy league schools or MIT/Stanford that fit your plans well and applt to them, (along with 2 or three match schools and a safety:)
will it ruin my chances for hopkins or cornell or ucla?
@HRSMom i want yale, columbia, stanford but im passionate about cornell, hopkins, and ucla, but i also want princeton, brown, or usc maybe even ucsf, would get in any of these with an act of 30 and many volunteer jobs i am even hosting a blood drive and trying to become a nursing assistant, i have wanted this my whole life?
Same answer. Cornell is more interested in how you fit in than strict GPA. So know your major, focus on how your can show you belong there in it.
I’ll be truthful, a 34 will likely not cut it. With a sub 3.8, I’d say a 33-34 minimum is needed. Most kids will have 4.0s and near perfect ACTs. You need to get to know these schools very well and choose juse a couple. These are high reaches. Also get to know some matches and a safety. (I don’r know much about the UCs, sorry).
@HRSMom i heard the ACT and GPA are just a piece of the puzzle i am certain i can wow them with my essay and extracurriculars, have you went to an ivy? do u know anyone who has?
Yes, do you have a “hook” of any sort, (athlete, underrepresented minority?). A 30 is quite low without a hook. I don’t want to bring you down, but I do want you to see it clearly.
Please take your time this year in just choosing two or so to focus on. And if you can, take SAT again, perhaps you can improve to a 32 at least? look at their common data set to see the score range of accepted kids. Plus it will tell you which parts are very impotant, or not at all. Very helpful!
@HRSMom i do have a hook im underrepresented minority, first generation, muslim, lower class. i probably wont be able to get a good score because i go to an inner city school and we barely even have any AP courses. im not priveledged enough to get my parents to pay for my tutoring, sadly.
Well that is different. A hook allows you that second look to dazzle 'em with your other app items:)
If you can get another fee waiver, you might want to try ACT again. You can check a practice test book from the library and practice practice practice!
Also, do you know about Questbridge? It may be just up your alley. Oh, and Good luck!