<p>Not until recently have I begun to look at top notch schools because I went through a huge growth spurt second semester junior year that significantly boosted my GPA and standardized test scores. My SAT score jumped 280 points and my ACT by 4 points. My GPA starting freshman year was 3.8 unweighted and by the end of junior year it rose to a 4.0. In addition, I jumped from regular algebra II in junior year all the way to AP Calc BC senior year.</p>
<p>Freshman and sophomore year I took basic core classes, junior year I took AP chem (5) and AP US history (5). This year I am taking AP Bio, AP Physics B, and AP Calc BC. Between junior year and senior year I took advanced precalc over the summer and my teacher suggested I move to BC</p>
<p>Here are my current test scores:
SAT math: 800
SAT CR: 650
SAT writing: 710
SAT II chem: 760
SAT II math II: (taking in october)
ACT: 34 (English-33, Math-34, Reading-33, Science-34, Writing-32)</p>
<p>I want to major in engineering (yes I am female). Preferably Aero/astro but mechanical is also pretty cool. I'll probably change my mind a million times, but that's what it is right now.</p>
<p>The main problem is that because I am a very late bloomer, I haven't had the chance in high school yet to earn many awards or win many competitions. I am a part of National Honor Society and have received recognition in APUSH, AP chem, and French 4 but that's about it as far as academics. I've won several medals in music (clarinet) and have placed 2nd in the FIRST Robotics Competition regional for 3 years (team). I <3 FIRST. </p>
<p>Oh, I also have my own craft business where I sell stuff at craft fairs, but that's not really an achievement or anything, just throwing that out there.</p>
<p>I understand that these schools are very big reaches but I'd like any suggestions, comments, anything. The best fit graph for my learning curve would probably be exponential but I have run out of time to prove it since my brain only decided to understand things at the end of last year.</p>
<p>I’m also looking at schools like Boston University and Tufts. I’m fairly certain I’ll get into BU but again, any comments would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Do you have any specific reason why you did so badly in the beginning of high school? </p>
<p>If you don’t, then to be honest, you might get waitlisted for a lot of those colleges. Because you showed drastic improvement, I don’t think all of them will reject you but there are so many people who had better grades and better extracurriculars that it may be difficult to get accepted.</p>
<p>I also really like the fact that you have your own craft business and although the business is not big, I feel as though colleges will like that it’s unique and it shows something other than the fact that you like engineering.</p>
<p>Try early for an Ivy if you’re really interested though. That will give you a boost and potentially even get you an acceptance letter in December.</p>
<p>Also, try to write an AMAZING essay and get teachers that absolutely love you to write basically how much the college is going to love you if you get accepted. Get your guidance counselor to emphasize that you are a late bloomer and make him write specific things that prove that you’re doing much better than you were during your freshmen and sophomore year.</p>
<p>Boston University and Tufts University: I think you have a good chance in that.</p>
<p>^3.8 to 4.0 is by no means a “drastic improvement”…</p>
<p>You don’t seem like a “late bloomer” at all. It looks like you improved academically the same amount that many high schoolers do, so your chances aren’t that much different than other qualified kids.</p>
<p>“Do you have any specific reason why you did so badly in the beginning of high school?”</p>
<p>Yes: I was in denial that I had ADHD and my teachers all convinced me to take regular classes. no honors, no APs. Also, I hadn’t figured out how to deal with it until junior year around Christmas.</p>
<p>To Thebeatlestoday: I say drastic improvement because I took harder classes and got better grades in those than I did in the regular ones. Also because my standardized test scores went up. </p>
<p>THANK YOU GUYS!</p>
<p>I was a late bloomer in high school. If you just incorporate my yearly GPA’s; I started with a 2.5 freshman year and built up to 2.7, 2.9, and 3.1. Colleges love students who improve on their grades. Its better if you go uphill than downhill. But in order to make your application stand out, you need to work extra hard to prove yourself. I didn’t take any AP’s until senior year, but during junior year I taught myself the AP US History curriculum and passed the exam. I also took three Honors level courses without meeting the requirements and succeeded academically. </p>
<p>If you are targeting a large in-state school like Penn State, Maryland, and Michigan, your probably out of luck if your cumulative GPA is low since applications are high. Private schools look at late bloomers more indepthly. On my application essay, I wrote my experience being a late bloomer and how it affected the way I now see the world. Along with my volunteer resume and small list of extra-curricular activities(the ones I did required a major time commitment), I never got a rejection letter and most colleges accepted me because of my story. </p>
<p>It’s never wrong to be a late bloomer. After high school, I attended American University in Washington DC and 75% of the students were Ivy League qualified. The IR program I’m doing is ranked #10 in the nation and beats out half the Ivies and provides some of the best internship and study abroad opportunities in the country. Some of my friends turned down acceptances to old prestigious school because AU offered them a full scholarship.</p>
<p>You have to understand college is not easy. Its completely different than high school. The struggles I face now is far greater than my high school experience. I study my butt off to 1:30am five days a week with the usual distractions students face ;). I don’t have time to go to clubs anymore. Even if you don’t procrastinate, there could be times you’re racing against the clock to get papers done. The challenges you face now is going to carry on till you kick the can. That’s life. </p>
<p>For your chances, you’ll probably be waitlisted. You should look at Drexel University nearby. They have an outstanding co-op program and their engineering program is fantastic. However the program is five years long, but you’ll have an outstanding resume when you graduate. Due to their academic structure, there might be some semesters you’ll be working full time, making really good earnings. </p>
<p>Good luck man!!! If you want some inspiration, watch the movie Rudy.</p>
<p>3.8 is not a bad GPA. I got into Harvard with not much more than that.</p>