I have good test scores and a horrible GPA.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>ACT: 34
SAT: 800 W, 740 M 740 R
SAT II Math: 800
SAT II Chem: 800</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.1
Weighted GPA: 3.6</p>

<p>National Merit Finalist</p>

<p>I have taken EVERY AP class at this school. I get A's on the tests, don't do the homework, and end up with Bs and Cs.</p>

<p>I just got rejected from UIUC for bioengineering, rejected from MIT Caltech (well no duh), and the UMKC 6-year med.</p>

<p>So...am I GUARANTEED admission at all schools that offer me a full ride for Finalist, or what? Because my options are looking rather bleak at this point..</p>

<p>I have applied to:
CMU (not a chance)
Northwestern(not a chance)
Wash U(not a chance)
Cornell(not a chance)
Stanford(not a chance)
Texas A&M (Finalist scholarship)
Georgia Tech (probably not a chance)
Michigan (not a chance)
Vanderbilt (not a chance)</p>

<p>"You applied to a bunch of brand name schools instead of realistic ones, and now you're screwed. I don't feel bad for you."
Thank you. But seriously, what should I do?</p>

2

<p>If you’re being offered a full ride, then you’ll almost certainly be admitted. A 3.1 GPA isn’t GOOD, but it isn’t so bad to make every halfway decent college run away.</p>

3

<p>Are you sure that you’re a NM finalist with only a 3.1 unweighted? I thought a 3.5 was needed for that.</p>

4

<p>See if there are any schools that give the Finalist scholarship that have rolling admissions. There’s a thread on CC that has the list of schools that give NMF scholarships.</p>

<p>But don’t worry. Although your GPA isn’t great, you do have a chance (albeit a very small one) to getting into those reach schools. </p>

<p>Definitely find some more safeties though so you aren’t forced to go to A&M.</p>

5

<p>There are plenty of good schools out there that would certainly accept you (Arizona, Michigan, etc) and I’m sure you could get into your state colleges with just your SAT scores alone. It doesn’t seem like you have a clear foundation school that you could get into (except Texas A&M) so maybe you should focus on finding schools that you will certainly get into becuase no matter what happens, you don’t want to be stuck without a college to go to on April 1st.</p>

6

<p>You are the type of kid that frustrates most teachers, professors, parents, and administrators. (Unless you have extenuating circumstances that make it difficult for you to do your homework.)</p>

<p>With those test scores, you will qualify for some very nice schollies at all kinds of different schools. Do your “homework” and find a good fit. There are some schools out there that will accept you with open arms and good merit money.</p>

<p>Also, it would not surprise me if you are accepted to several of the schools on your list.</p>

7

<p>You will probably end up at a school like Texas A&M–colleges aren’t particularly fond of the lazy genius. However, once you expand your list of lesser-ranked schools (check which ones have rolling admissions), you should end up at a school that offers you great resources once you look for them. </p>

<p>Also keep in mind that bigger schools with good engineering departments (being from North Carolina, I"m using NCSU as my reference point) are less selective because of their massive student body but have great research opportunities and accomplished professors, especially in the realm of engineering.</p>

8

<p>Like everyone else said, rolling state schools are your best bet.</p>

9

<p>You might also look through this list of schools offering significant NM scholarship money. Last page will have the most up-to-date list.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You will not be guaranteed admission, but it couldn’t hurt to contact schools that are hunting for NMFs. </p>

<p>Another possibility: see if you can find something to love about Texas A&M if you’ve been admitted. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>My understanding is there’s no specific hard-n-fast GPA cutoff.</p>

10

<p>The thing that really sucks is that I’m actually different now. I do all my homework, and I study for all my tests and do everything on time etc. etc. But I can’t just like tell people that or they’ll be like “Oh yeah okay, you just magically changed to look good.” But it really was one of those magical overnight changes…</p>

11

<p>Many state/rolling schools are out of scholarship money by this late date. But, didn’t you get 2,3,4, letters from colleges right about the time NM Finalist was announced? I know many of the kids on CC did, including my daughter. So they’re obviously still courting y’all…last minute. If you end up there, then…that will be your best “fit” at this time, with your effort. My daughter is a similar child (her GPA is higher, and she applied to her instate early on, but…I still “get” your type and understand you CAN/HAVE changed…I know it’s possible…she’s back to a 3.9 right now, with 4.9 weighted). So…check on those last minute NM schollies, if you work hard in college you’ll be a “stand out” in those schools…and go from there. You can’t look back.</p>