It’s got a good science dept. I’m sure the environmental studies is quite good. Yiu have a decent shot. Good luck
@sgopal2 thanks!
You could write a killer supplemental essay/something in the additional information section about what happened in physics and how you’re determined to do better
And I would really say that BU is a target school at the end of the day not a reach.
@holycannoli Thanks! Actually, I’m not really considering BU because of its cost and large student body. Thanks anyways!
I would say your reaches are definitely that…reaches.
My D18 just graduated 2 of her close friends had better GPA/Test scores than yours Approximately 34ACT/2150 SAT, weighted GPA above 4.9 wgpa, in at least top 10% if not top 7% of class. They had very similar EC’s like choir, varsity cheerleader/sport, oodles of volunteer activities, leadership positions in clubs. Both were denied by Vandy & Tulane other denial for them included BU & BC, U of Michigan.
I think that you may need to be more realistic about your list. I would call Bucknell a reach not a target/match. As for Drexel, my D18 was accepted at Drexel with a 4.6 wgpa/3.46 unweighted, 1650 SAT and 26 ACT and received $16K merit (with that said it was still stupidly expensive). I would predict you will be accepted at Drexel the question is are you willing to pay for it?
You mentioned environmental engineering as a possible major. My advice…choice of major can make a HUGE difference in an acceptance or a denial. D18 was accepted at Purdue with lower stats than a classmate, the difference D18 selected Food Science as a major, her classmate selected engineering. Engineering is notoriously competitive.
Also, I would avoid an essay on the experience of getting a “D”. It’s been written and isn’t very compelling. Here is an excellant CC thread on essay writing http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1845704-why-did-all-of-you-write-the-same-essay-why-this-school-major.html#latest
D18 was accepted at all 12 schools she applied to while her higher ranked friends faced a lot of rejection. See: (comment #2031) http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/215577-can-more-graduated-seniors-do-actual-results-threads.html#latest - If you want to see the details of her application history. There are plenty of other results that you might find helpful too.
No reason to be depressed with some careful crafting of your college list and actual applications you will find success. Try casting your net a bit wider. those name brand schools you listed are great but so are 100s of other lesser known schools. Be original in your essay, my D18 is convinced it is what sealed the deal on her applications.
(Also apply to at least one target/match school (one that you would be happy to attend) with a rolling admission early in the process, like Sept., an acceptance early on is a big confidence boost and takes the pressure off)
@urbanslaughter I apologize for my misreading about the all woman comment. Should have re- read the posts before commenting
@shielapathukare with your ACT scores I would definitely try applying to reach schools such as Lehigh. Especially with the SAT II scores. Your only obstacle is your GPA. Lehigh puts much consideration on their essays and would want to see ECs. The most important things for Lehigh is the strength of your classes (APs and honors) and a possible upward trend in grades. Good luck!
@Lehighmother no harm no foul.
@labegg Thank you for that extremely helpful and detailed response! I am definitely knocking a few off my list such as Middleburg and Bucknell (although Midd has a phenomenal enviro program). I am generally looking into a broader range of environmental studies, not specifically environmental engineering. I visited Drexel the other day and it was… expensive (putting it lightly). I am keeping Drexel as a target/safety… but I would prefer to pay less for my undergrad.
Thank you for that link! I thought I could present my “D” as a failed challenge, in that I do not regret taking the course because I have improved as a person and developed resilience… but then again, that may be too cliche.
I scoured the link you sent me… thank you, it was helpful. Most posts on that particular forum are about schools such as MIT and Cornell… definitely schools that I am not considering for undergrad.
I am expanding my list to include schools such as Juniata, Hampshire, etc. although my dream is still Bryn Mawr.
Thank you for the advice on rolling admissions! I hope to end this stressful process as soon as possible. Thanks for everything!
@Lehighmother Thanks! Unfortunately, my grades went progressively lower (not due to lack of motivation though. Will colleges see this downward trend as a liability and not accept me because I seem to have “burned out”?) Can I prove that this isn’t the case through my ECs and essays?
Freshman: 3.84 w
By end of Soph yr: 3.67 w
By end of Junior yr: 3.50 w
I am also expecting a 35 on my ACTs, which I have consistently been receiving now. I believe that is a solid score, but coupled with my GPA it may seem like I slacked out in school and only gave it my best for standardized tests (They might categorize me as a “smart slacker”). However, I have taken all honors and AP classes with the exception of math. I hope they recognize this.
Thanks!
REACHES
Mount Holyoke
BRYN MAWR
SKIDMORE
Dickinson
Tulane => unlikely
Boston University => unlikely
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY => unlikely
Target:
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY => OK! 
Rutgers (really don’t wanna go here though) => then find more targets
BARD COLLEGE => reach, perhaps not what you’re looking for
Safety:
Drexel => if you want co-ops, apply to U Cincinnati for its premier co-op program. deadlines by December 1st (for merit scholarships).
Hampshire College => doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for
Look into Earlham, UNC-Asheville, Warren Wilson, and College of the Atlantic for safeties.
For targets, American, Clark, Ithaca, Muhlenberg.
Generally, look at the book Colleges that Change Lives.
Are the colleges you ranked unlikely harder than the reaches? As in, do I have a better chance at say Bryn Mawr than at Tulane? And in that case, should I rule out Tulane, BU, and NYU? I’m a little confused, because my GPA is on par with Tulane and BU… is it my physics grade that ruins it? Also, my SAT is higher. Thanks!
I got Hampshire from CTCL, but thanks for recommending that!
Is Muhlenberg really a target? I looked on prep scholar, and both my GPA and SAT are higher - it said I had an 84% chance. Wouldn’t that more or less qualify as a safety? Also, I am not looking for an environment as big as Ithaca.
Thank you so much for the rankings though! Does this mean I still have a slight chance at the reaches (Skidmore, MHC, and Bryn Mawr are colleges that I would absolutely love to attend)? Or should I rule them out completely? If I apply ED to say, Skidmore, do I have a decent shot? Also, I am aiming for a much higher ACT than SAT (I’ve been consistently getting 35s on my practice tests). During test day, I like to expect the worst and say I’ll get a 33 or 34. With this ACT, do my chances improve? Thanks so much!!!
Yes, the colleges I ranked as unlikely are harder to get into for you than reaches.
As a girl applying to northeastern LACs you need to look at the top 25% threshold because that’s what you’ll need for a match. This category is super competitive, more than the basic numbers would let you imagine.
If you hit 32-33 yes it’ll help. Getting higher won’t make a huge difference, so relax, it’s good if you do get a 34 but okay if you don’t.
Muhlenberg is a match because your GPA is slightly average (roughly 40% admitted students would have a higher GPA than yours ) and a 32 would place you at the top of the scores. It’s be a safety if your GPA were top 10% as well as your test scores.
Why not Richard Stockton at least as a safety? Strong environmental science program. Ethnically diverse. Small, but growing. Campuses in the Pinelands and, soon, on the beach. And you won’t be the only Indian.
By the way, I like the comeback you’re planning in Physics.
@SpacemanEd Thanks! Haha, I don’t mind being the only Indian but it would be cool to study with a global/diverse student body. I’ll look into RS as a safety, thanks! Also, yeah I’m sorta sad that I’m sacrificing the greater part of my summer break in physics, but hopefully it’ll be worth it!
Ok thanks. I wasn’t really looking into those unlikely colleges anyways - too big. But my GPA matches both Tulane and BU and my SAT/ACT exceeds their requirements - is it my physics grade that deters my chances?
I don’t believe I fall into the top 25% of any NE LACs… I’ve only been going by prepscholar this entire time and I’ve considered anything that is between a 55-70% match to be a target (ex. MHC is about 56% chance for me). I guess this does not apply to NE LACs, and it is too late to increase my GPA. My ACT usually falls within the top 15% and my SAT is usually in the top 50%, but it is what it is I suppose.
If I apply ED to either Skidmore, BMC, or MHC (my top colleges), do I have a semi-decent shot?
Thank you for explaining the Muhlenberg situation to me.
Don’t go by prepscholar. Find the CDS (on collegedata’s website ) and look at the top 25% threshold as well as acceptance rate. You would consider a school with a 40% acceptance rate where you’re at/slightly above/near the top 25% GPA a match.
I’m a recruiter and an employer. What feels like a bummer now is something to brag about at interview time. People like me enjoy hearing about difficulties and remediations far more than you realize. There are too many young people who were aces all through school or on the sports fields or the dating scene, only to tank and fall to pieces at their first “failure” when it counted. So, congratulations for your struggles.
Experience = Successes + (Obstacles + Remediation)
Google the Princeton prof’s “Resume of Failures”. Pretty much sums it up.