<p>How likely do you think it is that I’ll get into Barnard? It’s my top choice, but I want to be realistic. =/</p>
<p>STATS
GPA: 3.2 unweighted, 3.6 weighted (Terribly low, with two bad math grades. D+ in Honors Algebra II/Trig, D- in AP Calc.)
Rank: A little out of Top 25%
SAT I: 710 CR/600 M/740 W (2050 total)
SAT II: 710 Lit/550 Bio
ACT: N/A
Other Stats: Not anything amazing, just an AP Scholar. 4 English Language, 4 Psych (self-study), 3 World History</p>
<p>SUBJECTIVE:
Common Application Essays: Writing is my strong point.
Barnard Essays: Ditto.
EC’s: Multicultural Club (President), Newspaper (Feature/In-Depth Editor), Black Student Union (Secretary-Treasurer)
Teacher Recs: I’m guessing two amazing ones from my AP English teacher and newspaper advisor, and a solid one from my APUSH teacher.
Counselor Rec: Should be good.
Major Awards:
YoungArts Finalist in Writing / Presidential Scholar in the Arts Nominee
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: National Gold Medal (Short Story), National Creativity & Citizenship Award (Journalism), Gold Key (Short Short Story), Gold Key (Journalism), Gold Key (Novel Writing)
National Council of Teachers of English Achievement in Writing Award
National Merit Semifinalist
National Achievement Semifinalist
Not an award, but accepted into Iowa Young Writers Studio.
-Hook (if any): URM</p>
<p>LOCATION
State or Country: New Mexico D:
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: African-American</p>
<p>Applying as an English/writing major, I don’t know how much that will make up for how terrible I am at math.</p>
<p>Oh, also, my dad is unemployed. And works minimum-wage when he isn’t. And has child support, another kid in college, etc. I don’t know how need-blind Barnard is, but I’m pretty sure our EFC is 0.</p>
<p>I really HATE doing “chances” because I do not think anyone on these boards (unless there is a member of the Barnard AdCom here that we don’t know about) is qualified to accurately assess them. But I think you know that your GPA is an issue, so it will depend on just how strong those essays are and how the AdCom judges you will “fit” into the class they are assembling. I think your being from New Mexico, your URM status, and your outstanding writing ECs are a definite plus. Just be sure you have good schools selected as alternatives in case you are not accepted into Barnard.</p>
<p>Hot damn, lady! No matter where you go, those writing accomplishments are incredible! You clearly have a talent which you’ve developed to a high degree and are excited to develop further. </p>
<p>Echoing above caveat, no one can tell you for sure outside of Admissions. But, this is also a super stressful time, and I know at this point I was just looking for something/anything to give me a better sense of perspective/break me out of my own neuroticizing. So here’s my unqualified opinion:</p>
<p>GPA/Diagnostics are low, but you know that. Butttttt, I think it’s a good thing that they’re pretty clearly only low because of Math distortion. You’re a really great writer, and not so great at Math (I dig, I had a few Math/Sci Cs/low Bs on my transcript). Barnard will take that into account. Just a word about fit–know that Barnard has significantly more rigid quant/sci requirements than most peer schools, and that it can be annoying. But, basically, you’re in this place where you’re incredibly accomplished in one area, and less-than in another. Barnard being a place where Creative Writing is big/many of the most prominent alums are fiction authors, it seems eminently possible to me that they will prioritize your abilities over your weaknesses.</p>
<p>I’m sure your essays are great, and I don’t think you’re worried about your awards/extra-currics. Wherever you go, you have some serious skills, talents, and experiences which will enable you to take full advantage of available resources.</p>
<p>Aside from that, you have the URM, and it seems like it’s possible that you’re a first-generation college student. Plus, you’re from a decidedly geographically-underrepresented state. All of these things work pretty dramatically in your favor. Barnard is need-blind, and if your EFC is 0, Barnard is awesome about meeting full need.</p>
<p>Churchmusicmom and USofArugula, I really appreciate your responses. I have a naturally high degree of neuroticism, and coupled with the additional anxiety that writing college apps brings, my stress level has been through the roof lately. This has helped. It’s nice to know that Barnard isn’t completely out of the picture. As long as there’s a chance, I’m going for it. :D</p>
<p>Thanks for the thoughtfulness and encouragement especially, USofArugula! :]</p>
<p>Your math SAT is actually higher than my daughter’s was. My d. had all A’s in math in high school, but never went beyond Algebra II - no honors course – so the basic difference is that you challenged yourself in a weak area, she opted to pursue challenge in her areas of greatest strength. I think that in one of the supplemental questions you should make that point – or ask your g.c. to make it for you. In other words… say math has always been difficult for you, but you wanted to challenge yourself and to learn in high school – that you would have been very happy & proud of yourself if you could have mustered a C in calculus – that you are very disappointed in the D’s, but glad in hindsight that you put in the effort and tried. (I mean – don’t overdramatize – try to get the point across in a briefer way than I’ve set it out – but the point is that you obviously are a very capable student who would have had a better GPA if you had taken an easier course load)</p>
<p>By the way, Barnard requires some sort of math or quantitative reasoning course – my d. fulfilled it with a stats class at Columbia and pulled an A --she felt the course was tough, but my point is that you will be able at Barnard to take math courses that a better fit for your aptitude.</p>
<p>I think you actually have a pretty good chance, despite the GPA, if there is a lopsided pattern that shows good grades in your areas of strength, weaker grades in areas where perhaps you challenged yourself more than you needed to.</p>
<p>when i saw that gpa, i thought eek, but i have to agree with the other posts: those writing ec’s are quite outstanding. I would bet on you getting in (but, it does depend on the distribution of your grades… are they mostly b’s and a’s but those d’s brought you down?), and think the adcom would overlook the low gpa because of your other strong factors (urm, ec’s, new mexico).</p>
<p>also, though the d’s a little scary looking, they are much less of an issue being in math, which is clearly not your strong suite, and is not the area you’re selling yourself in (writing), and you’ve done more than enough to show you are quite talented as a writer</p>