Hi.
I’m an NJ sophomore at a well respected public high school (JP Stevens for people who know). Is it possible for me to get into solid colleges with my situation, I bombed my freshman year due to illness (Missed 14 days in the span of 2 months). As a result, I had a 2.9 freshman GPA and I currently have a 3.64 sophomore GPA. I have a PSAT of 1410 (No Prep) and have take 6 Honors classes and 1 ap (AP Us History). I’m on track to take 4 ap’s next year (Calc AB, World History AP, AP Physics, and Ap Lang Comp). My one SAT is 1490 (No Prep, Summer Before sophomore year). I have had an upward trend from last year to this year. Do I have a shot at getting into decent schools such as Penn State, NJIT, Rutgers-NB, Purdue, Rowan, Drexel among others? Ty in advanced
Also, my EC include
Guitar for 5 years (Guitar honors society)
170 Hours at temple
40 hours at Physical Therapist
4 Years Rec basketball
Award from NRIVA
2 Years in ACE Mentor Program
Am Starting at Liberty Science Center in March
Even without the EC’s, you have a very good chance at Penn State, NJIT, Rutgers-NB, Purdue, Rowan, Drexel.
Something that may help you pick a school rather than the safety schools that you listed is to search the school name and then type something like freshman class profile. For example, here is the freshman class profile for Drexel:
http://drexel.edu/undergrad/apply/freshman-class/
The schools you listed will most likely give you a good amount of aid because your grades would be great in comparison.
Penn State cares the most about GPA rather than scores, ECs, etc. Keep those grades up. Right now it would not be a “safety” as in post #2, but with more high grades to dilute the first year it could be.
I’m pretty sure Penn State isn’t too far of a reach because they accept students with 3.3 GPA and lower SAT from my school (Checked a thing called Naviance). Also, I wouldn’t qualify for need-based as my dad’s salary is 200k+. Also what colleges would be recommended for someone like me. Should I aim for Georgia Tech and Stevens or the UC system (I prefer to stay on the east coast) or no? Also, should I apply to the University of Alabama (I get alumni scholarship)