High ACT, URM, Low GPA from Private School?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey CollegeConfidential!

I’m feeling a bit anxious about my chances for the colleges I’m planning to apply to, mainly because of my terrible average. Here’s the catch though! I go to a top 30 boarding school in Massachusetts (Not as hard as Exeter, but definitely harder than a large majority of public schools). Because of our school’s difficulty, the administration does not rank, nor does it report GPA in a 4.0 scale fashion. My grades will be reported as an average, and I have heard some people say that it’s difficult to compare a 100 scale grade to a 4.0. I am also 1/2 Mexican and 1/2 of Asian Decent; Weird Combo, right? :slight_smile:

Freshmen Year: 85 (UW), 86 (W) My Grandma passed away during the winter, first time experiencing the loss of a loved one and was away from my parents at the time. My counselor commented on this on her recommendation.
Sophomore Year: 88 (UW), 89 (W) Bombed AP Physics 1 (Will my high SAT II Physics counter this?)
Junior Year: 91 (UW) 95 (W) Finally started doing well!
Senior Year (So far): 91 (UW), 95 (W) Currently taking AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP US Comparative Government, AP Literature

ACT: 36 (Aced it 2nd try)
SAT II: Math II: 800, Chemistry: 800, Physics: 790
AP: 5s on AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus AB ; 2 on AP Physics 1 (Not Sending)
Awards: National Hispanic Scholar, AP Scholar

Recommendations: Absolutely Fantastic (The teachers I selected had previously written recommendations for a summer program, which I got to read.)

ECs
Investment Club (11-12) Co-President
Sustainable Life Club (10-12) Co-President
STEM Club (9-12) Co-Founder, Co-President
Diversity Committee
International Student Leader
Judo (3 Years)
Theater Management (Crew, Light Manager, 3 Years)

Summer Experiences: Volunteering and Summer Science Institute at Carlton College

Gameplan 1:
UPenn (Wharton) ED
UChicago EA
UVA EA
MIT EA
Cal-Tech EA

Gameplan 2:
Princeton EA (Excludes Freshmen Year Grades)
UVA EA

What do you guys think my chances are? What would be a better plan? (Believe it or not I’ve completely the majority of these applications already in anticipation of what might happen with my crappy average) For most of these schools, previously accepted students had GPAs all across the board, so I’m not sure where I stand!

2

No one will know better than your own GC. I believe it does not do you that much good to have better scores than gpa for ‘highly selectives’ only for schools that collect high scores. While the Reach schools are fine to apply to, where are your next tier that will give you some choices should you get shut out. Why are the 2 game plans so different? Either you are interested in these schools or not. Lastly I caution you that you may get what you are interested to your detriment. You are a trophy hunter and you are not putting yourself in your future self’s shoes.

3

Judo! Cool.

Obviously you need to settle on one of the game plans.Need to filter out some of the reaches to concentrate on the ones you’re really interested in. Caltech and Wharton are not schools I often see grouped together. Right now you only have one arguable match (UVA) and no safeties. Is UVA in-state for you?

4

Academic rigor is one of the most important factors colleges consider. And I agree with you that a 90 from a challenging school with a great reputation means more than a 95 from a mediocre school. Ad coms sometimes will say things like, “I know an A from school x really means an A”. That being said, your list is full of the most selective schools and they are likely to have many applicants wIth sky high gpas from rigorous schools as well as sky high test scores. Your ethnicity will work in your favor, but probably a good idea to add some less selective school to the list. Vandy will be all over that 36!
I also agree with the poster above who said to ask your gc. Based on your school’s naviance data, she can give you a good feel for your outcomes

5

bump

@NavalTradition UVA is out of state for me

@wisteria100 The strange thing about my setup is that my GC is kind of a tough spot to make a call, as such a variation in GPA and test scores are very rare at the school I go to. She thinks I have a moderate chance at most of these schools, but agrees that I should be adding safeties during the RD period.

Any other opinions? Any suggestions?

6

bump

7

How do you know Princeton disregards freshman grades?

8

@Resonated Other CC posts, lol.

Well, that and if you do a google search it says so about 8 trillion times.

9

@awesomepolyglot I really want to believe that, I just can’t find anywhere of Princeton themselves saying that!

10

BUMP

Hey Guys, so I went with Gameplan 1. Could I get some chances? Will chance back.

11

Wow your scores are great. I agree with previous posters. Your grades will be taken into context. I think you have a decent shot.

But I don’t understand how you were able to apply to 5 schools early? Doesn’t Penn ED prohibit you from applying elsewhere early?