High test scores, lower GPA - applying to top schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Location: Chicagoland
White male
Competitive public school
3.62 unweighted, somewhat below top 10%
2360 (800 CR 780 M 780 WR) 240 PSAT
35 ACT
800 Math II 790 Literature
AP's - Eng Lang: 5 Eng. Lit: 5 Stats: 5 Germ. Lang: 4 (self-studied german and eng. lit)
taking both Econ's, Psych, and Calc AB this year
E.C.'s - mostly working every day after school at an insurance company, full time in the summer
play guitar as a hobby
about 70 hours community service</p>

<p>outstanding freshman in history
outstanding freshman in german
other school awards
national merit semifinalist
AP scholar with honor
Ayn Rand Fountainhead Contest finalist</p>

<p>I'm applying to:
Yale (EA)
Northwestern
Univ. of Chicago
Brown
Reed
Harvard
Pomona
NYU
Boston University
Penn (Wharton)
Columbia</p>

<p>Excluding sophomore year, my GPA is very close to a 4.0 unweighted (>3.95). This is due to mental health issues sophomore year. My dean said she explained the situation on my recommendation without delving into specifics. I'm a good writer and my recommendations should be also be good.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input.</p>

2

<p>wow 790 literature. Anyways you have amazing credentials and should get in at most schools, with all the ivies being iffy(as they are for everyone)</p>

3

<p>harvard requires three subject tests, no?</p>

4

<p>damn, you are IN.</p>

5

<p>Yes, I just realized that Harvard does require three subject tests, so I’ll probably be taking another in the near future.</p>

6

<p>dont get too optimistic though, those ec’s are semi-weak</p>

7

<p>. bump</p>

8

<p>Have to agree with GreatSuccess but I think you will get into a few of those very fine institutions you applied to.</p>

9

<p>^^ ur test scores are fine, gpa is low esp for ivies and ur ECs are sorta weak</p>

<p>so i would say u have a chance but its not that big for ivies anyways</p>

<p>chance bck?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/771659-last-chance-thread-my-life-ill-chance-back-if-you-like-hhaa.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/771659-last-chance-thread-my-life-ill-chance-back-if-you-like-hhaa.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>Not being top 10% will make many of these schools all but impossible. Yale has maybe 4% who were not top 10%, and they are called impact athletes.</p>

<p>Unless you love and can afford BU and Reed, I’d consider adding more schools that are open to students not in the top 10%.</p>