Ivy Chances for an underachieving Hispanic kid?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok so here it goes...</p>

<p>Intended Major: International Relations/Political Science
Gender: Male
Race: Hispanic
School: Mediocre Public, sends to Ivy's and other top schools every few years, no one applies
Income: ~$100,000</p>

<p>SAT: 2330 800CR 770M 750W 11e
SATII: All 800's in US History, World History, and Math II</p>

<p>And now the bad part...
GPA: 3.65 UW, will explain later
Rank: Top 10%, my school gives exact rank but I haven't checked recently</p>

<p>AP's: World(5), taking Psych, US, Calc AB, and English Lang this year, expect 5's on all
Class Rigor: All the honors and AP's possible
Senior Schedule: AP Calc BC, AP English Lit, AP Human Geo, AP Spanish, AP Bio, AP Physics, Biomed(magnet program class), Gym</p>

<p>EC's/Volunteer Work: Varsity Tennis, Spanish Honor Society (Treasurer), NHS, Academic Team (Captain), 100 hours teaching summer school, 300 hours hospital volunteer, internship with local Congressman, year-round job... Nothing Special</p>

<p>Ok, so my GPA really suffered freshmen and sophomore year, due to problems at home involving my father going to jail... So yeah, I had only like a 3.2 freshmen year, a 3.7
sophomore year, but junior year I've maintained a 4.0. So hopefully that's a good upward trend? And I'd probably be writing about my family experience in my essays, so the colleges will know about my situation.</p>

<p>Chances for:
HYP (just want to know if it's worth applying)
Columbia (ED)
UPenn
Brown
JHU
Georgetown
George Washington
UMD (in-state)
American
Yes, I have safeties, but obviously I don't need to be chanced for them.
Thanks to all who reply!!!!!!</p>

2

<p>I am going to be harsh, so take whatever I say, and put a pinch of sugar. :smiley: Your ECs seem to be typical and indistinguishable from any other applicant other than you internship which is a little unique and your year round job, which stands out the most from your ECs. Your SATs are excellent, particularly your Math+CR break down which is great for some schools that ignore the Writing section. Your SAT IIs are good too but I think you should consider taking one in a Science subject.</p>

<p>Now onto the GPA:
Since your school gives an exact rank, you should forget about the percentile as your colleges will not really care. Also, if your class size is small, then a top 10% is not very good for a mediocre public. Really, though, if you explain the situation with your father, then it is great because you have 4.0 UW GPA in other years, which indicates that without domestic issues you perform well in school.</p>

<p>If you do indeed write an essay on your job, and on the situation you had with your father, then you should have pretty good chances at most of the schools you apply to, and, above average chances at HYPS. Good luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/897889-chances-ivies-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/897889-chances-ivies-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>The last time I checked my class rank it was 29, out of a roughly 400 person class, if that helps at all. And I took an SATII in Bio and got a 760, but I only included my top 3 in the original post. Oh, and I mistyped my SAT score in the original post, it should say 2320 not 2330.</p>

4

<p>Nobody else?</p>

5

<p>your SAT is great and ur URM status is going to help alot…ur gpa is a little low for HYP so idk if its worth applying but i think Columbia ED is an ok shot you should be in at UMD…im not sure of the others</p>

<p>i’m from MD too, chance back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/915376-chances-some-east-coast-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/915376-chances-some-east-coast-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Yeah, I know HYP are uber-reaches, but I’ve seen some other Hispanics get in on the results threads with similar stats, so I figured you never know unless you go for it! Please keep the chances coming! I will chance you back!</p>

7

<p>Anybody else?</p>

8

<p>Underachieving? Sheesh dude, the only flaw in your stats is your freshman year GPA, and that’s because your dad went to fricking jail. I think you need to judge yourself a little less harshly.</p>

<p>If you can get your counselor to mention your family situation in his/her rec letter, I think you’d have a fine shot at HYP even without URM status. Are you guaranteed in? No way, but it’s definitely worth applying.</p>

9

<p>I wouldn’t worry too much. first, your SATs are excellent and your GPA isn’t too bad. If you get a guidance councilor or teacher to explain the circumstances around it, I’d definitely say they’ll knock those grades under the table, you might even be at an advantage because you kept your grades so high under the circumstances. The year-round job looks great and that internship is amazing, especially if you can get a rec from the congressman. you’re hardly underachieving and with the Hispanic heritage your almost good as gold. Make sure you WRITE A GOOD ESSAY to seal the deal.</p>

<p>Best luck dude</p>

<p>Yay for kitties</p>

10

<p>Yes hooray for kitties!
Thanks for the responses! Keep them coming!</p>

11

<p>Between your URM status and the ED boost at Columbia, I’d say your chances are great there. If you don’t get into Columbia, I would take that as a sign to lower your sights by eliminating HYP.</p>

12

<p>Dude apply to Stanford. They don’t count freshman year grades, and they really want URMs, I think.
As for HYP, I dunno if H&Y are worth it, but I think you have a shot at Princeton since they love high SAT scores, seemingly more than H&Y. Apply to Harvard just because, you never really know with Harvard XD
Yale, I’d say you have litte chance at though, so I say apply to HPS (:</p>

13

<p>Meh, Stanford’s a no because I’d like to stay on the east coast. And I’m really only applying to HYP because they give fantastic financial aid, even though my chances of getting in are astronomically low.</p>

14

<p>Nobody else at all?</p>

15

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</p>

<p>You have a decent chance: everything in your application works toward overcoming the subpar GPA (e.g., URM, solid scores and ECs, plus an upward trend).</p>

16

<p>Last bump before I let this thread sink into oblivion…</p>

17

<p>In my personal opinion, the GPA is too low to salvage despite your URM designation and familial circumstances (a LOT of people play this card, since it’s subjective as to how much “difficulty” a student has had at home and easy to exaggerate - so I’d imagine that while admissions officers take this into consideration, it might not carry as much weight as some may have you believe).</p>

<p>ECs are average or below average; no sport, art, music, or significant community service.</p>

<p>Nevertheless your SAT is definitely higher than average compared to the average URM applicant to these schools, so you may stand a chance yet.</p>