Ivies with sub-average GPA?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hey guys!</p>

<p>I would really, really like to go to an Ivy, because of the financial aid . However, things aren't looking good. I'm a Korean kid living in Connecticut (two anti-hooks right off the bat). However, it gets worse. Much worse.</p>

<p>I'm gonna be a senior in 4 weeks. My UW GPA is 3.70. My weighted is 4.44. That probably conservatively puts me in the top 15%. My poor GPA is due to my freshman and sophomore years; I got all A's in basically all AP's junior year.
This is partly because I took ridiculously advanced courses, biting off way more than I could chew. My standardized test scores are decent (SAT: 2360, SAT II's: 790 Bio, 800 French, 800 Math II, 750 USH). I really like math, and my transcript shows that. I took Precalc freshman year , Multivariable Calc Soph year, and Diff eqs junior year). However, I got a B in the Precalc and BC course I took from CTY Online)</p>

<p>My AP scores are good: I became a national AP scholar this year,
with 5's in French, Calc BC, Bio, Chem, two Physics C's, Lang, Gov and Stat.</p>

<p>Here's the real problem, though: Out of the 5 science courses I took, I only got an A in one, AP Physics C. I got B's in Honors Physics, Bio, Chem, and AP Chem. </p>

<p>My EC's aren't too bad:
I qualified for AIME twice
I semifinalled in USABO and USAPho
I did Awesomemath at Cornell
Went to nationals for Science Olympiad, got several state and national medals
Was treasurer of math club soph and junior year, and treasurer for science club junior year
Saw statewide success in both National Ocean Science Bowl and National Science Bowl
Tournament chess player: USCF around 1550
Represented school in HMMT, Mandelbrot and other math competitions
Started chess team in school (failed miserably at tournaments we went to though, as not that many people in my school like chess)
Wrote several articles for school newspaper
Taught chess at local library</p>

<p>There's one last, thing, which I'm praying will help me. I'm moving to Princeton for senior year, and after much research and discussion with the guidance counselors over at the high school, I have been accepted to the Princeton University high school program. This basically means that I'll be taking a legitimate undergrad course, with PU students, during my senior year. I'm taking one in French, as my B's excluded me from taking math or science courses (ARGH!). I got an 800 in French, and am taking French courses at PU. Will applying to PU as a french major help?</p>

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<p>Guys? Opinions would be appreciated.</p>

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<p>110 views and 0 replies? C’mon, guys.</p>

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<p>Where is everyone?</p>

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<p>you know, Ivies don’t necessarily look for the highest GPA’s. Rather, if you stand out in one thing, and your ec’s and essays show it (along with taking extremely advanced math courses for your age…), then that is definitely something that can help you get into top schools. Maybe not HPYS, but I’m guessing that your AIME qualifications and other math achievements, supplemented with a good essay, can be your ticket to one or more ivies, or at least top tier schools. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Lollll okay.</p>

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<p>Your ridiculously high SAT I and IIs will just explain that your school does not grade inflate, and explain that you’re a top student but your school grades harshly. And a B in precalc is helped by the fact that you took it as a freshman! I don’t recommend (or non-recommend) that you apply to Princeton as a French major just because you’re taking French courses there. If that’s not your true passion, it won’t look genuine, especially compared with your math/science ECs. However, it’s a great academic interest to counter the “Math-Bent Asian from the East Coast” image. I am sure you’ll get into at least one of the HYPSMs. You’re definitely an ideal candidate. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Oh, man, okay. Thanks for the input!</p>

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<p>I believe in terms of high school credentials we certainly are birds of a feather. In high school I took a very agressive course load. ( 12 AP’s in total since freshmen year, which included self-studying.) I think it might have even been too rigorous and I ended up with a 3.3. It wasn’t the end of the world, and I was still very proud of my GPA, although I knew it would be difficult to get into the Ivies even though I had similar ACT/SAT II scores as you did. </p>

<p>Now you do have a 3.7 which is much better than I had, but just remember that there are second chances after high school to get into your dream school(s). With that said, I think if you applied ED to a school like Cornell where you have a history, it could increase your chances at acceptance. Good luck! Can you chance me as well? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1197739-transferring-nyu-need-opinions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1197739-transferring-nyu-need-opinions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Decent chance… 3.7 GPA isn’t THAT low. Nice SAT scores btw.</p>