Help with My Chances at Tulane / Brandeis / Swarthmore / Haverford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So, I feel like I’m a fairly unique case in comparison to others, so I would really appreciate it if anyone could help me get a grasp on how I’d be seen as an applicant.

I have a dramatically rising GPA. For each semester: Freshman (2.6, 3.5), Sophomore (3.0, 3.17), Junior (4.37, 4.47), Senior (First semester is and will probably stay 4.42). I took an AP in 10th grade, 2 APs in 11th, and 3 APs in 12th.
I got a 5 on the AP Lang and AP Psych exam, didn’t take the AP World exam because I was moving.

Senior Year Schedule: Spanish IV, AP Gov., AP Lit., Pre-Calc (H), AP Physics, Photography, & PE.

My ACT composite is a 27 (34 English, 29 Reading, 22 Math, 22 Science).
My biggest concern is that the low Freshman & Sophomore GPA will really hurt my application, and the mediocre ACT won’t be enough (however, I hope to take it 1 or 2 more times to raise it).

However, here’s the context: I moved cross-country just a couple of days before the first day of Freshman year. Also, during 9th and 10th grade I dealt with unmedicated ADHD. I started taking meds at the beggining of 11th grade and switched from public school to private school (ergo the spike in GPA).

In terms of extracirriculars: I’m ASB (student gov.) President, VP of the Debate team, I volunteer at my synagogue every week, and I work at a kids’ summer camp every year.

As for letters of recommendation, the principal (who was also my teacher) is writing one for me.
I’m mixed-race Black / Hispanic Cuban & Jewish.

I intend on double-majoring in Political Science and Psychology.

What I’m wondering is, “how much will my 9th / 10th grade GPA and ACT scores harm me?” Do you think everything else about me is enough to make up for the lower GPA / ACT, or will it ruin my chances?

2

No one has a crystal ball, and all of us replying on CC will be students, parents, etc. So chance threads are not reliable. That said, I will share these thoughts:

Improvement is good, and the letters of recommendation you receive may speak to that.

Apply to a range of schools- reaches, matches and safeties. Pick safeties that often accept kids with your overall GPA and current ACT. Pick reaches that reflect your more current average plus your AP’s and whatever your ACT ends up being-- or perhaps apply to some test-optional schools and do not report your ACT (Brandeis is test optional, but you need to read the fine print to make sure you send the correct balance of subjects). Do send your excellent AP score reports. Perhaps apply ED somewhere to increase your chances slightly.