I need brutal honesty

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
1

I’ll be straight up here. I have a horrible GPA. I know it’s an issue. I’m not kidding myself, I know it will heavily hurt my chances to get into a ‘good’ college. After visiting in February I fell in love and would really love to go to Oberlin, but I definitely need someone to straight up tell me if I even have a shot or not. In case it matters, I’m a hispanic first-gen male from Nevada who wishes to study Environmental Studies and Anthropology. Low/low middle class.

ACT: 33 (Science, 36; Reading 36; English, 32; Math, 29; Writing, 33) I’ve only taken the ACT once so I think I will take it again to improve my english and math scores.
SAT: 2100 (CR, 680; Math, 680; Writing, 740) I’ve never tried the new SAT, but plan on taking one just to see how it goes.
PSAT: 1410/1520, in the running for National Merit Semifinalist in my state (Nevada)
AP: 5’s on Human Geography (self studied), US History, Environmental Science, English Lang.
4’s on Seminar and World History.
Taking US Government, English Lit, Research, Stats, and self studying for Comparative Government my senior year.
GPA: 2.952/4 UW, 3.752/5 W
Rank: 207/696

4 years of Speech and Debate, VP junior year, President senior year. Top 2% ranked all around in the state, top 7% ranked all around in the nation, went top 32 in the nation at 2016 NSDA Nationals in World Schools Debate.
4 years of Model United Nations. Founded the club freshman year, officer position held every year.
4 years of Varsity Quiz (quiz bowl). VP junior and senior year.
2 years of Southern Nevada Water Authority Youth Advisory Council. City wide youth council that conducts research on water use in the desert and presents findings and recommendations to the Southern Nevada Water District, open to juniors and seniors only, project head for both years.
2 years of a part time job.
Field experience with the UNLV Archaeology department.

I also build and compete with 30,000 year old native american spears called atlatls. It’s a huge part of my life and identity. Through my studies in archaeology and anthropology I fell in love with this piece of ancient technology and am recognized as one of the few experts on the atlatl in Nevada.

So what honestly are my chances. How much will my GPA hurt me, and how much will a super unique essay on spear throwing save me. Sorry for the long post but thanks for reading!

2

You truly sound unique so that’s a big plus. As is the URM. You should be National Hispanic too. Another plus. How does your GPA stack up with others at your school? Was there an upward trend? Is there a reason you didn’t do better? You will want your guidance counselor to explain for you in some way and reinforce all of your positives. Good luck.

3

National Hispanic? Not sure what that is.

I go to a magnet school so some of the kids are beyond genius, in Calculus 3 as seniors, while others…aren’t so much. So compared to my friends my GPA is horrible. But compared to the rest of the class, I’m in the top 30% as you can see from my rank.

Downward trend. The more AP’s I took the more I was done with it all.

It’s low by choice. I have nothing to blame but myself. I test wonderfully but never do the work. For example in APUSH I got a 102% on the final exam (and a 5 on the AP test) but got a D in the class because I didn’t turn in a single homework assignment all year. I know the subject material and participate in class, just have a hard time bringing myself to do menial assignments that don’t teach me anything. My views on the education system are summed up nicely in Kelly Gallagher’s book, Readicide.

I have a wonderful relationship with my counselor and all admin at my school. My principal would write me a rec if I asked her. She absolutely loves me from my success in extracurriculars and leadership for the school but I don’t think she knows my GPA haha.

4

Hmm…okay, I like the native american swords angle.

You’re obviously a smart kid. Then there’s this part: “… got a D in the class because I didn’t turn in a single homework assignment all year. I know the subject material and participate in class, just have a hard time bringing myself to do menial assignments that don’t teach me anything.”

I’m going to be more sympathetic to this than lots of folks…my kid (also in debate and on your path) has friends like you. But I think you’re going to have to find the right college. Because your stance could really turn off a lot of people. May i also recommend St John’s College in Annapolis http://www.sjc.edu/

5

Spears*

Yeah I realized it sounded a tad too pretentious as I hit post. I just never have learned anything from literally transcribing a textbook. The lectures served me much better. And if I could ace the tests without the homework assignments, they weren’t that instrumental to me learning the subject… I know it’s a horribly backwards way of viewing school but I justify it in an equally backwards way using that book Readicide as my source. Brilliant book, 10/10 would recommend.

Ooh what event(s) does he do.

Thanks for the suggestion about SJC! But what do you think regarding Oberlin?

6

Brutally honest? Oberlin rates GPA as “extremely important” as one of its rankings. I think it’s going to be hard. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try…you’re smart and you have a great energy about you…hmmmmm…one thought…there is a supplemental essay at Oberlin ("How did your interest in Oberlin develop and what aspects of our college community most excite you?) you might be able to talk about your love of learning and how you weren’t able to find that at school but that the yada yada at Oberlin excites you academically. Hit your low GPA head-on in this essay.

(okay,yes, spears)

7

Thank you!

8

Remember that wherever you wind up freshman year, you aren’t locked in for 4 years. Just kick butt and you can transfer. You’re obviously bright and the college structure should be more to your liking with less busy work.

9

The National Hispanic Recognition Program is an academic honor conferred by the College Board:

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/scholarships-and-recognition/national-hispanic-recognition-program

However, you need a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA to qualify.

You definitely have some unique ECs - the atlatls, the water conservation work, and the archaeology fieldwork.

If you want to maximize your chances, you should do your utmost to get a 4.0 for the fall of your senior year. Show that you can do the work, even the boring busy work that doesn’t engage your interest.

10

Yeah I definitely plan to pull off as close to a 4.0 as I can for first semester. We’ll see how it goes with 4 or 5 AP’s. I opted not to take any free periods or student aid periods to give me actual chances to make up some grades with mid level electives (extra language class and a civil rights and liberties class that should be dead easy with my debate background) that shouldn’t be too hard to get an A in.

Thanks for all the feedback!

11

If you can get an interview, please do. See if they are doing interviews near you and take advantage of that. I think the interview helped my daughter a lot.

12

I’ll look into an interview. Thank you!

13

While I think you are bright enough and accomplished enough to attend Oberlin, you will have to do much studying, turn in papers and other work in a timely manner, and take final exams. In that respect, it is a conventional college. This is also true after college. You will not be accepted by customers or employers if you do not respond to what they want in a timely manner, even if you are disinterested or are bored by the project, or dislike it.

14

Big projects/papers and tests I don’t have a problem with. It’s just the busy work so like doschicos mentioned, I think the college structure will work out a lot better for me.

15

My suggestion is to read up on the petition to suspend failing grades that happened fall 2014. The administration kind of dismissed it but incorporating the ideas from that petition could really help you in an interview/why oberlin essay. It’s going to take some convincing with such a low GPA but if you are really reflective of it then I think you have a shot! Especially with your unique background and your spear throwing essay sounds really cool! Good luck!

16

Don’t let anyone discourage you from applying to Oberlin. You are clearly bright and have a nice mix of extracurriculars that make up for the relatively low GPA. You’re the kind of student who makes a freshman class interesting. Hopefully Oberlin will see that. Apply and give them the chance.

17

I agree that you should apply and give it a chance. The better your fall grades are the better your chances will be. That said, I don’t want to oversell your chances. Oberlin is a reach for you. Not unreachable, but a reach.

18

@idigit1st

apply there but begin researching your match and safety schools. you may eventually discover one you like as well as or better than Oberlin.

now the important stuff – what would be the effective range of an atlatl … what kind of velocity can you muster … and how accurate is it?

19

No idea about Oberlin, but visit to an Ivy, was told they do look at GPA/SAT first, and only if in range,
do they even read your essay and recs. Not surprising at schools that get 10s of thousands of apps.

Also what makes you think you are going to study and make an effort in college ?
You will get even more homework in college. I suggest go to a state school for cheap tuition,
to PROVE TO YOURSELF you can focus and study. Then if you do well, transfer or go for masters
at a top U.

20

Glad you asked about the atlatl @Wien2NC ! World record is 270 yards, about 850 feet or so, with a velocity approaching 100mph. Standard international competition, what we call the ISAC (International Standard Accuracy Competition) includes 5 throws at 15 meters and 5 throws at 20 meters. The best in the world have a maximum effective range of about 30 meters. Meaning they can hit a paper plate probably 60% of the time at that distance. at 20 meters those same people are nailing a tea saucer 100% of the time. But for the rest of us, 20 meters is our max. Hope that answers your questions!

And to @blevine, like I stated before, it’s the busy work I have trouble with. Big projects and essays I always do along with poignant, curriculum enhancing assignments, which I would hope makes up a majority if not all college assignments. Plus in college I will be studying and taking classes I have a deep passion in.