<p>So from the PSAT i have been receiving letters in the mail from certain top 50 universities, Tulane, Case Western, Renseselaer, and I was wondering, since I accurately reported my grades( 2.6-2.8), do they consider self reported grades? I got an 183 64m-64r-55e and since I am getting mail from the universities, does it mean they are shopping for candidates such as me?(Decent potential, lack of effort in school) Or are they just trying to increase their applicant pool, knowing that they are going to decline me?</p>
<p>Also my SAT is 1920 690m 600cr 630w ACT 30 33cr 25e 31s 29m and again a 2.6-2.8 gpa...</p>
<p>If you filled in that little bubble on the PSAT, then a lot of colleges will contact you. I think they are just trying to increase their applicant pool; I wouldn’t necessarily think that they would accept you just because they sent you a flier. Trust me, you’re going to get a lot more. I have a huge bin filled in my kitchen will colleges ranging from Harvard to colleges with like 300 students.</p>
<p>Most students that score well on the PSAT and SAT have GPA’s that are pretty much in line with what one would expect. Schools will simply send out brochures or postcards to anyone that gets certain scores, knowing that there will be some percentage that in fact won’t likely qualify based on GPA, EC’s, whatever. That’s just reality. They don’t know they will decline you, because they probably didn’t use that data point to trigger the mailing. It seems like they should, but since they have been doing this for some time and they don’t like wasting money, there is probably some rationale to it that we just don’t know. Sure, there is the usual theory about getting the ranking up by getting more apps, therefore lowering the admit rate. That in fact has so little impact on the USNWR ranking system, it would be a terrible waste of $$. I think they simply have observed that despite the ones that don’t fit, overall it has worked well. I know it has for Tulane.</p>
<p>My guess is, the schools don’t see your grades. They simply have a trigger paid for where students who elect to receive mail and score within a certain range or meet certain criteria (such as the state you’re from) will be sent fliers, ect. This doesn’t stop with undergrad. </p>
<p>A few years ago when I took my GMAT, I got tons of mail from Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Boston U, Emory, and Vandy. It’s a targeted marketing approach. </p>
<p>People on CC think if you market yourselves you must be desperate. The reality is it got me to seriously consider Mendoza (Notre Dame) before ultimately choosing elsewhere for a different degree, an MFin. So it certainly works. I wouldn’t have considered their MBA as it as too far away from where I ultimately wanted to work but they did such a great job putting their presentation materials together it certainly peaked my interest.</p>
<p>Fallen is dead on with regards to this perceived ranking myth. If selectivity were a major fact in rankings, Tulane would have flown up the rankings the last ten years, where as it actually dropped a few spots. Ten years ago TU had around 10k applications for 1500 spots where as now it’s around 40k apps for 1500 spots. Yet, it’s 10 spots lower in its US News rankings than it was 10 years ago. If they never changed their matrix, perhaps you could ‘game the system.’ Since all rankings clearly change (tweak) their methodology every year or so and there is a one year lag in data used, it’s ridiculous that people think a university sends out marketing for any other reason than to market itself to applicants. The free (and easy) application TU sends out is just another marketing tool. Many get them and still don’t gain admission. They do, however, consider Tulane where they may originally have not, especially if they’re from a far removed state.</p>
<p>Tulane tends to be more lenient when it comes to GPA as best I can tell. Your test scores both ACT and SAT are well within range for Tulane and perhaps the other schools you mentioned as well. I’m not sure if they saw your reported grades on the PSAT form (my guess is not) but even if they did, they realize that GPA’s change and also can vary wildly based on courses taken as well as high school attended. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Schools want to lower their acceptance rate by getting people to apply who they will reject.</p>
<p>So basically I should think that these schools could possibly want me as a student and possibly accept me, but really shouldn’t hope for it?</p>
<p>I will probably apply to Case Western anyways…</p>
<p>run2flyfree - You can always hope for any school to accept you. I think what you likely meant is that you shouldn’t expect it, and you should always be realistic about these things. You have probably seen the categories people use of reach, match and safety. Sometimes these terms are a little silly, but in any case the intent is that it is alright to apply to a range of schools based on academics and affordability. Having some schools that are probably a little above your record is fine, but not too far. Even if somehow you got in, why would you want to be with fellow students that are so much more advanced that you will be struggling the whole time? Students should also apply to a number of schools that seem to fit them well both academically and financially, and a few that they feel there are high odds where they will be accepted and they would still be happy to go. For most kids that is one of the state schools, but there are others.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>porkperson - you are very amusing. I can tell you know a lot of admissions directors.</p>
<p>If you fall within the middle 50% for test scores, you have a decent shot in my opinion unless the university places great emphasis on grades and you fall well below their average. You could have a 3.5 and still be in the bottom of your high school class or you could have a 3.3 and be at the top of your high school class. It varies greatly between high schools and colleges know this. I would say apply to schools (reach, match, and a safety) using your test scores as your main guide, then your class rank (not GPA.) Most colleges seem to care where you fall in your high school class more than your actual GPA. I don’t know the specifics of CW. You are correct in that they possibly want you as a student. Even they won’t know until they get your entire application as well as those of the other applicants. Hope is good thing. Again, best of luck.</p>