I have some issues (low GPA)... but chances? :]

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I know it's a VERY big reach BUT... </p>

<p>White, female from Michigan.
First in the family to go to college.
Grew up below poverty level.
Not below poverty level anymore.
Father was in a nearly fatal accident when I was in 7th grade and ever since then everybody has to take care of him so I wasn't really able to be involved in anything prior to getting my license in 11th grade.
My other issue is that I missed a lot of middle and high school due to being in the hospital. I have chronic pneumonia and a bad immune system so I'm constantly in and out of the hospital. Finally between sophomore and junior year they tried some new experimental thing on me that seems to be working better.</p>

<p>GPA= ~3.75 UW, 3.917 W. Projected for the end of Junior year. (TRYING to get it up.)
Class rank- In top 10% but I'm not sure exactly what it is.</p>

<p>ACT scores: (retaking).
Comp: 29.
English: 31.
Math: 28. (NO idea how I got that low.)
Reading: 29.
Science: 26.</p>

<p>Taking the Math 2 and Biology SAT 2 in a few weeks. World History, literature, Spanish w/ listening, and chemistry at the end of junior year. Physics at the end of senior.</p>

<p>Haven't taken SAT yet. </p>

<p>AP Tests: (These were self study.)
Bio: 4.
Psych: 4.
Gov: 4.</p>

<p>Before graduation taking: Calc AB, Calc BC, World History, Prob and Stats, English language and literature, and maybe some other ones.</p>

<p>ECs: (I know my positions for 12th grade because we had elections for next year already.)</p>

<p>Freshman basketball. Couldn't go beyond due to injury.
Started a nonprofit innercity basketball league close to Detroit for girls. It's been successful. (Started when I was 12, been going for 5 years.)
Awareness and Activism (Humanitarian club that partnered with Invisible Children and Save Darfur.) - Treasurer. (11, 12)
Debate Club. (10-12).
Save Clark Park (dedicated to saving an innercity organization known as Clark Park in Detroit)- Co-President. (12).
Animal Rights Club- 11. President (12).
NHS (11-12).
Worked with the Detroit Humane Society to help raise thousands of dollars for homeless pets. Very active in volunteering there. (11, 12)
Worked with Latino Family Services in Detroit to raise thousands of dollars for homeless Latino families in Detroit. (9-12).
Coach a right-start (5-7 year olds) basketball. (10-12).
Coach girls basketball teams (9-11 and 12-14 year olds). (9-12).
Play volleyball, softball, basketball, and swim. <a href="9-12">Not school due to injury.</a>.
Cofounded Save The Bullies (organization that helps stop BSL and helps save dogs of the Pit Bull breed.) (11-12).
Help Special Olympics basketball teams-(11-12).
Theater (10-12).
Thespian (11-12).</p>

<p>Probably about 400 hours of community service (at least) so far since the beginning of freshman year.</p>

<p>Most of my clubs are humanitarian based and I've organized countless amounts of charity projects and raised tens of thousands of dollars for them. It is my passion.</p>

<p>Recommendations should be good. My teachers really like me and one I'm asking is a Fulbright Scholar who absolutely adores me.</p>

<p>I am also applying for Questbridge.</p>

<p>Problems: Low GPA and no hook.</p>

<p>Any advice on improving my chances? Besides raising GPA and test scores... Thanks so much :].</p>

2

<p>since when is a 3.75 uw a low gpa...</p>

3

<p>doc -
That is a respectable GPA for UW, but the projected W GPA is QUITE low.</p>

<p>ACT score is respectable as well, but I suggest getting the Barron's book and pumping up your science score because Cornell DOES superscore. I used Barron's and it worked extremely well.</p>

<p>Look, people on this board are going to tell you that you have little to no chance; this isn't true, it happens frequently though because the majority of posters here are also high school kids and want to exert their superiority over you for whatever reason.</p>

<p>Bottom line, I'm in the same financial situation as you, I've been through a lot of the same bs in life that you've been through, and I believe in both of us. Go for it and don't let other people influence your decisions, ever.</p>

4

<p>are you a junior now?</p>

5

<p>Yes I'm a junior. </p>

<p>My school ONLY weights AP classes and this is the first year my school allows me to take them beginning junior year which is why my W is low. </p>

<p>As for the ACT, we have it offered to us twice free so that is my first attempt and now I know what to study for.</p>

6

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

7

<p>your GPA is not low at all! I got into cornell with a 3.8ish which is not that much higher than your GPA. I'd be more worried about your ACT score..since most people get higher than a 26 on science is pretty low. Acutally 29 is pretty low, try to aim for at least a 30.</p>

8

<p>Being from Michigan will help.</p>

9

<p>Not to sound dumb, but how will being from Michigan help?</p>

<p>And I know about the ACT score. The sad thing is, our school's average was 19. My school is kind of pathetic in that way. Nothing to do with anything but I felt like saying it :].</p>

10

<p>I'm not sure your Science score will bog you down as much as your Math score.</p>

<p>28 on Math is ~91st percentile, while 26 on Science is ~90th percentile. My advice to you would be to increase that math score, as it is much easier to boost than the science.</p>

<p>In the grand scheme of things, your major will also affect how your scores are checked. If you're going into Physics or Chemistry, a 26 on Science can be a kicker; if you're going into History, it won't matter nearly as much. To boot, the composite score is the most important one anyhow.</p>

11

<p>I'm going into Classics. Definitely NOTHING math or science.</p>