I have a 34 ACT, 3.3 UW, 3.6 W GPA and solid extracurriculars. The reason my GPA is so low has been explained thoroughly in my essays, which talked about my really difficult life challenges. I received straight As and a 4.4 W GPA my junior year, and have all As and a few Bs this year with the most rigorous schedule. I thought I was likely to get into a few schools on my list, but I am recovering so many rejection letters. Additionally, the schools I am rejected/accepted to don’t make sense – it doesn’t follow ranking.
Accepted to: 3 state school safeties and Case Western with a merit scholarship
Rejected from: An ivy and MIT (expected), UCLA, and now Boston University (thought I’d get in)
Waitlisted: WUSTL, Northeastern
How can I be WL by WUSTL and still not get into schools like BU?? I thought I was highly qualified. This makes no sense.
Your GPa, unless your “life challenges” we’re tremendous (I’m talking used to be homeless, orphaned during high school, refugee) is too low for most of the schools you mentioned.
4 very highly selective schools make too small of a sample size to draw any conclusions from. CWRU is a great school. You’ll get an amazing education there if you go.
@tlf123098 while that is very unfortunate and I am sorry, your GPA is too low for top tier schools like WUSTL and UCLA. Being flat out rejected from BU is a bit surprising, though.
First, you have not been rejected from all of your schools. Why on earth would you say that? Do you realize that the schools that have admitted you (Case Western with merit!) are other kids’ dream schools? Go take a look at the Case Rd results thread and see how many kids were denied. BU and Northeastern are a little surprising, but only a little. Nobody should ever be surprised that they didn’t get into the other schools that denied you.
In short, you are in the company of many other highly talented students who didn’t gain acceptance to Wustl, ivies, MIT, Northeastern, or BU but who will do really without them.
You can certainly be disappointed, but don’t be disrespectful to the state schools and Case (which gave you money!) by saying that all your schools denied you. Instead, love the schools that love you.
If you were my kid, I’d allow you about ten minutes of anger, self pity, frustration, etc, then I’d tell you to hold your chin up and be glad that you have options!
There is nothing strange here. You are misinformed if you think admissions can be that easily correlated. The admit rates are just too small. And some admissions may be more numbers driven. Also some may feel manipulated by an overly sob story essay, where others will like it. Some may not find it academic or intellectual focused enough. You are simply making conclusions where there are none to make. This happens to a great deal of people every year, there is nothing out of the ordinary here. You just need time to process it.
@neatoburrito You’re absolutely right. I appreciate what you’re saying, I am very very glad to have been accepted to Case. my disappointment comes from the rejections from BU and Northeastern, because I worry I may not be accepted to any of my other targets (let alone reaches). I have never visited Case, but I plan to soon. Thanks for the advice
Case was my REACH school (3.4 and 32 ACT) so just getting accepted was a blessing. Since it was a reach, however, I received no merit. I would do anything to go to Case in the fall, but it’s extremely unlikely I’ll be able to due to financial reasons. You are so blessed to have been accepted with merit. Please look at what amazing options you have instead of the ones you don’t. I would do anything to be in your shoes right now. Don’t let these amazing opportunities pass because you’ve got your head stuck up in the clouds. Best wishes.
@minohi I hope it didn’t come off like I don’t appreciate Case! It’s an amazing school; congrats on getting in, and maybe I’ll see you there next year:)
We don’t know anything about your extra curricular activities. Your gpa was too low for BU anyways but your ACT is Ivy League worthy. The way you could have made up for the low gpa is by doing tons of sports and clubs. I got into BU with a 3.6 UW gpa and 1810 SAT, but I was on varsity sports, founded a club, and did a lot of community service. I didn’t think I would get into BU, but it gave me a little bit of hope for my other reach schools proving that colleges really don’t just look at grades.
Don’t know how far away you are, but if you are able to visit Case I think you will be really impressed. Terrific faculty, great facilities, located in a wonderful area of a city that is really coming back. My guess is that it will meet all of your expectations, and then some.
Another positive vote for Case - really terrific school and area around it offers so much culturally and socially. Congratulations on a getting in and getting a scholarship.
One reason WUSTL might have waitlisted you when other, seemingly less selective schools rejected you, is that WUSTL has a reputation for preferring high scorers, and your ACT is a strong point.
@midwestdad3@albclemom Do you think that Cleveland is a lively enough city for undergrads? I am familiar with NYC, LA, Philadelphia, Boston, and DC, but I’ve never been to the Midwest. I’ve heard a lot of negative things about Cleveland (dirty, “the slums”, boring, dangerous) but I haven’t seen it myself.
Great city. Terrific sports (Indians, Cavs, Browns), one of the best symphony orchestras in the world right on campus, incredible art museum, “the flats” (bars & clubs), etc. Little Italy is directly adjacent to campus. A friend’s daughter is at Case right now and absolutely loves it.
There is nothing unusual at all. Some schools put more emphasis on GPA than scores. Upward trend in GPA helps but may not rescue very low GPA even you get 4.0 in Junior year and afterward. uwGPA 3.3 is very low for top schools. You should be thankful that at least some good schools do consider your challenging life and recovery in GPA, and even grant you a merit scholarship. Case Western is a good school.
BU is need aware, so if you needed a lot of financial aid it’d play a role.
The 3.3 GPA probably also played a role, even if you had tremendous challenges and the most rigorous curriculum.
Case is in a GREAT neighborhood indeed. Go visit - I bet you’ll love it!
