I REALLY messed up. Should I even apply? (HYPSM + ivies)

Applying to College
1

<p>I really messed up the fall semester of my senior year. I've kept a 4.0 all through the end of junior year, but then earned a 3.4 this semester, dragging my overall GPA down to a 3.89 with 2 B's and a C. Although I've heard that the mid-year report isn't that important, I know that such a drastic decrease would be really detrimental, and that a C will pretty much keep me out of HYPS (I was admitted to MIT early action). Not only that, my whole app centers on my math and science strengths, and my B's were in Organic Chemistry and Differential Equations (advanced electives I was not required to take--does this help my case?) and my C was in physics (a required class). The worst part is that I really don't have an excuse...all I can say is that I really slacked off, and I can only promise to do better next semester. Is there any way to do damage control, and still save my app? Or are those schools now out of my reach? How big of an effect will this have?</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2400
SAT II: 800 Chemistry, 800 Biology M, 800 Math II
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (on transcript), 3.89 (on mid-year report)
Weighted GPA: N/A
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parentheses): Comp Sci (5) in 10th grade; Biology (5), Calculus BC (5), Chemistry (5) in 11th grade
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: World Literature, History, Physics (Mechanics & Electromagnetism), Organic Chemistry, Calculus, Applied Statistics, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Siemens Individual Regional Finalist, USABO semifinalist, USNCO semifinalist, AIME qualifier/AMC-12 School Winner (126/150), National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar w/ Honor</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Various state/regional awards for Math/Science/Clarinet/Tennis, Student-Organized Orchestra/Choir (Vice President), Tennis Team (Secretary), JETS, Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, Science Research, Recycling
Job/Work Experience: N/A
Volunteer/Community service: Over 100 hours</p>

<p>Essays: I'm a decent writer.
Teacher Recommendation #1: English teacher, didn't know me very well, but she liked my writing - 5
Teacher Recommendation #2: Chemistry teacher, thought I was god - 8
Counselor Rec: Probably impersonal - 5
Additional Rec: Research mentor, should be pretty good - 7</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): TX
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Public Magnet
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: Upper Middle Class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A</p>

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<p>The grade drop significantly lowers, though doesn’t kill, your chances for the top schools, which is a shame because your application is very strong otherwise. You are very fortunate, then, to have been accepted to MIT already.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the reply, silverturtle.</p>

<p>It’s probably very difficult to quantify, but what would this damage be the equivalent of (e.g. losing 100-200 SAT points, etc.)?</p>

<p>Is there anyway to mitigate the effect? Even though I don’t have an excuse, should I write an essay (in the additional info section), promising to do better next semester?</p>

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<p>You should not mention it in the Additional Info section since there is no particular reason for the drop in grades. Be grateful for your early acceptance.</p>

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<p>Dang, that really sucks. I kind of messed up this semester too ( got SUPER lazy). Congrats on your acceptance to MIT though. I don’t think it’ll kill you, though it may tip your application south if it’s close.</p>

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<p>Slacked too, but worse here, cuz I don’t even have Early admission anywhere. Should I do ED2 as its results might come out before my mid-year report reaches ad-coms? Please any comment will be appreciated.</p>

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<p>^If you think you would be happy at that school, then I think you should although it depends on how badly you slacked (i.e. if you got any C’s). That’s just my opinion though.</p>

<p>Back to my own problem:
Even though my senior year grades are really bad, I’ve looked through a lot of results threads, and there are people who have been accepted with 3.9 and 3.8 GPAs, so my overall GPA isn’t completely horrible. I’ve also heard that there’s a certain threshold where your GPA and SATs don’t matter as much anymore. If I’m able to get past that threshold because my SATs make up for my GPA, will I be ok?</p>

<p>There’s no doubt that my chances have gone down a lot; I’m just trying to figure out by how much.</p>

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<p>OP, just go to MIT. Forget about Harvard. It’s okay. :)</p>

9

<p>Yawn. 10char</p>

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<p>If your focus is math/science, and you’ve already been accepted at MIT, then what’s the issue? No school can offer you more.</p>

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<p>Although my app focused and math and science, I don’t necessarily plan on going into a math/science field. Also, don’t get me wrong; I have no problem going to MIT as it is one of my top choices, which is why applied early action. In fact, I’m not even sure I want to keep applying if my chances have indeed become close to impossible. However, there were a few schools that I liked over MIT or just as much, and I would’ve liked to have the opportunity to choose. Should I keep applying then? Or have my chances pretty much gone to zero? Is there any way to do damage control?</p>

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<p>Stop ■■■■■■■■, yes your chances are absolute zeros, dont even dare to apply</p>

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<p>No, your overall GPA isn’t completely horrible…but you can’t be certain whether those 3.9/3.8’s were got with C’s (like you) or with a smattering of B’s and A-'s, which are less toxic. IMO, your chances are significantly decreased but there’s no harm in sending in another app or two.</p>

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<p>I do think it is reasonable to assume that your performance this semester greatly degrades your chances for HYPS. There is nothing that you can do at this point to mitigate it. They get more qualified applicants than they can admit and they want to be sure that those they admit will take advantage of the opportunities they offer. However, the important thing for you to take from this is that you cannot slack off. If you end up at MIT or a similarly selective school you will find that your classmates are as smart as you and your classes will be challenging. MIT is famous for the concept of their teaching being analogous to “drinking from a firehouse”. Recommit yourself to your former work habits and you will resume your record of success.</p>

15

<p>This doesn’t address your original question but I think its important to think about.</p>

<p>MIT does reserve the right to rescind its offer of admission if one does not maintain previous level of academics. Clearly, going from a 4.0 to 3.4 would bring that into question, especially with the drops coming in the core math/science classes. </p>

<p>My suggestion would be to have a backup school, such as your state flagship, in the pocket in the unlikely but possible event that MIT chooses to exercise its prerogative.</p>

<p>I know of a recruited athlete for MIT from a couple of years ago with excellent stats whose likely admission was denied based on a ‘C’ he received in his senior year. Not quite analogous but a data point.</p>

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<p>The OP’s GPA is currently a 3.89.</p>

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<p>^^Yes, I understand that overall GPA is 3.89. Her current semester GPA is 3.4 however.</p>

<p>6 semesters of a 4.0 followed by a 3.4 (including a C) could be construed as not ‘maintaining.’ </p>

<p>Again, I think its unlikely that MIT would rescind their acceptance, assuming spring semester grades are back up to par, but they certainly could if they chose to. Hence my suggestion to have a backup.</p>

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<p>NO.just go UNT</p>

<p>McConell never forgets…McConell never forgives</p>

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<p>Honestly, if I’d gotten into a college like MIT early then my grades would have gone down way lower than that. (It still did go down without any acceptances)</p>

<p>I don’t think it’ll affect you too negatively. I mean worst case scenario you go to MIT.</p>

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<p>Actually the worst case scenario is the one ihs76 described above. MIT has every right to rescind the admissions offer of a student who does not maintain the level of performance he/she was accepted on. </p>

<p>Important to read the fine print on those acceptance letters and adhere to the terms.</p>

<p>Hopefully, this will not happen to the OP, but it is a possibility.</p>