Loads of Stress, please help out.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I am looking into getting into University of Washinton mainly due to the economic discounts that I will receive because of the fact that I am an instate student. Some of the other schools I am considering are:</p>

<p>University of Oregon
Oregon State
Washington State
UCLA, UCB, UCD
University of Chicago
University of Michigan
University of Virginia
Wash U. St. Louis</p>

<p>But once again, my goal is University of Washington.</p>

<p>I badly screwed up the Soph/Junoir year of High School, GPA wise. For the Sophmore year, it was somewhat understandable, for I was on bed and had to miss about 4 months of school due to a Surgery. So that took a big hit on my Academic Lifestyle.</p>

<p>Here is my GPA by year breakup:</p>

<p>Freshman - 3.75
Sophmore - 2.8
Junoir - 3.2
Senior - ??? (Probably a 3.7-3.9)</p>

<p>So, my current UW GPA is around 3.1-3.2. Which, lets be honest, really sucks. I did not try in Junior year. I am trying to tell this as truthfully as possible, although most of you have probably heard that hundreds of times in threads like these. </p>

<p>My classes throughout High School were always the most advanced courses that they had to offer. I am doing the IB Diploma, so generally the courses are very rigourous ( although that is not an excuse for my grades).</p>

<p>My test scores are as follows:</p>

<p>SAT - 2280 (M/R/W - 800/680/800)
ACT - (I will take it again, this is a test that I took three years ago. I am Expecting a composite of 34) Composite 28 (9th Grade)</p>

<p>I will be taking the subject tests this October in Math, Bio and Chem.</p>

<p>I have numerous EC activities:</p>

<ul>
<li>One of the youth Board members for Indian Assoiciation of Western Washington.</li>
<li>I was 11th Grade class rep for Math Club last year, am probably going to be VP this year.</li>
<li>I am on the Board of Directors for the Washington Students Mathematics Association (Likely to be VP or Secretary).</li>
<li>I play a classical Indian drum known as Mridanga on a professional level and also teach it to adults and kids.</li>
<li>I volunteer at an organization known as Food for Life, which gives free food to the homeless in the Seattle area.</li>
<li>Over Summer, I worked 250+ hours as a volunteer at the university of Maryland Medical Center assisting a professor in Research and Publishing in the Multiple Sclerosis department (really competitive program, only 4 students were selected).</li>
<li>My name will be published on two of the Professor's papers.</li>
<li>I will be continuing the research at the University of Washington through the professors contacts after school and on Weekends in Senior year.</li>
<li>I am the Leader of the Math Club for one of the Middle Schools in my Area.</li>
<li>I am a Tutor through NHS.</li>
<li>I serve as a youth counselor for an Organization known as the Vedic Cultural Center.</li>
<li>Tennis B team at my School.</li>
</ul>

<p>Some of my EC Awards include:
- 2007: Math is Cool Regional - 6th Place Team, Washinton State Math Champ. 10th Place Team, Mu Aplha Theta (Individual) - 7th Place Speed math, 6th Place Mental Math, 8th Place Applications
- 2008: Math is Cool Regional - 1st Place Team, Math is Cool Masters - 6th Place Team, Washington State MC - 7th Place team, Mu Alpha Theta - 10th Place Speed Math 6th Place Advanced Calculus.</p>

<p>As you can see, there is a gap between my Test Scores and my ECs and my GPA. In addition to that, I have 3 Really good reccomendation letters from fairly "powerful" professors at the University of Washinton and the University of Maryland. I am extremely ashamed of myself due to that Horrid GPA. It is the one that is holding me down. I am confident that I will get at least a 3.7 in senoir year, if not higher. This GPA is not weighted, but you have to take into consideration that these are IB Courses. Once again, My goal is to get into UW. I am retaking the SAT because I want at least a 2320. Everyday, half of the time is spent on worrying on my prospects of getting accepted into UW. Their average GPA is 3.6-3.7 I believe. In the past couple of months, I have undergone lots of stress in this regard for I am angry at myself due to my low GPA and lazyness in Junoir year. I am motivated enough to get at least a 3.7 in senoir. I certainly had the capability to maintain a 3.7 in HS but now I cant do anything about it. So that is why I need your honest advice on what I should do extra and how my prospects are looking for acceptance into University of Washington.</p>

<p>Psychologically, the GPA has had a large effect on me and my self perception. It has greatly hindered my confidence and I am always a)worried and b)upset now these days to to that low GPA. I feel that if I dont get into UW or a decent school, then the chances of pursuing my field of Interest (Neurology) are very low. I cannot get my mind of that GPA. Please help, I am sick and tired of myself concocting on my prospects of getting into a decent college with that GPA of mine although I do not have the proper qualifications to be making such assertions. </p>

<p>Thank you for spending the time to read this and help me out.</p>

<ul>
<li>nonemus</li>
</ul>

2

<p>For some reason, I can not edit it so I will continue here:</p>

<p>My parents are also really upset with me. They honestly have 0 confidence in me and do not think that I will get into an “decent” school with that GPA. That only further decreases my confidence and further aids to my stress. I feel like before I can have a successful Senoir year, I need to get these things sorted out and asses my position realistically with the help of others so I can keep a stable state of mind and maybe be confident in my endeavors.</p>

<p>Thank you for all the help.</p>

<ul>
<li>nonemus</li>
</ul>

3

<p>Forgot to Add that I qualified for the AIME.</p>

<ul>
<li>nonemus</li>
</ul>

4

<p>No chance at UCLA and Berkeley, despite the strong scores. To be honest, that GPA will make most schools pretty tough, even with a legitimate excuse. Though the colleges will believe you, they still can’t choose you over an applicant who did get straight As.</p>

5

<p>it’s all your fault buddy. Too late to make it up now. Community college is a good route.</p>

6

<p>lol asian, that was pretty damn harsh. :frowning: You made a harsh post for me, too. Help others and give them tips, not annihilate their dreams.</p>

7

<p>Some schools might overlook the gpa because of circumstance and because you still did advanced classes and ECs are good and if you get a great ACT and SAT, then you’ll have a chance at some schools.</p>

8

<p>Asian75, If that is the case then I do not mind redoing Junoir year. (I am being 100% serious here) I do not want all of my great Scores and ECs to go to waste. Although it will utterly smash my ego and be highly embarrassing, I made the mistake and I have to suffer the consequences. Except going to CC is too bad, because I DONT DESERVE IT. Simple, it is not an atmosphere I would like to enter. I made bad choices last year. I agree. And I am willing to be “held back” so I can erase that. Except people will think of me as Stupid. FTR, everyone in my school considers me to be really smart. In fact, none of my test scores (in Finals) are below a 91. But I dont try, ex. I turn assignments in late or I didnt put the effort required to get an A. That is 1000% my fault. But, I have a bright academic background, save for the GPA, and I am, not to be mean or proud or anything, pretty smart. I dont want all of that to go to waste. Please advise me. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<ul>
<li>nonemus</li>
</ul>

9

<p>wow nonemus, you are actually supporting that post? He was pretty harsh and I made a post to try to help you lol!</p>

10

<p>That gpa is slackin.
How do you not deserve to go to cc?? How does that make any sense?
You cant “erase” bad choices hah</p>

11

<p>Community college is not a bad choice by any means. You can transfer to UW afterward. I am not really familiar with UW, but I imagine it’s not that hard to get into. It’s worth a try to apply.</p>

12

<p>How do I not deserve to go to CC? I feel that I will be out of place there. It is for people who didnt try in High School and were not motivated. I agree that my GPA shows that I was not motivated in my classes, at least in Junoir year. But my extracurricular activities and my test scores do not point to that. I enjoy competition and hard classes and a rigorous academic atmosphere. I do not think that a person who scores in the top 1 percentile in SAT deserves to go to a CC, where people are generally not academically oriented. Just recently (as in today), I received a phone call from a Professor working with Alzheimers in UW, saying that he would love to have me working as a research volunteer at his lab.</p>

<p>I am really agitated. If possible I would like to redo my Junoir year, if that is a viable option. I agree that I had made mistakes in Junoir year, but does that mean that I am stuck with things such as CC? I wholeheartedly agree that I am an idiot for screwing up Junoir Year and the GPA is an accurate measure in most cases of how well a student will perform in an academic atmosphere, but do all of my other activities and efforts not matter? I seriously feel that I have ruined my life due to last year. I do not know what to do and Time is running fast. If anyone of you has contacts (Academic Counselors etc) that I may be able to contact and talk to about my situation, I would be greatly thankful.</p>

<p>Thank you for all your help and patience. </p>

<p>-nonemus</p>

13

<p>

They can, and they often will. Did anyone read his post past his statistics? There’s a reason you guys aren’t the admissions officers at colleges. </p>

<p>Work on being able to justify your GPA, and don’t lose hope. People with much lower GPAs and far fewer and less involved extracurriculars get into state schools.</p>

14

<p>CC is not a death sentence. Every year, tons of ppl transfer from CCs to really good school. Especially in CA, with TAG into Berkeley and LA.</p>

<p>I’m a bit confused; do you still have problems with motivation and doing a good job w/ hw? If so, certain schools on your list are a no go, such as U Chicago where a lot of ppl LIKE hw! ;)</p>

15

<p>Its not that I enjoy HW, and its not that I dont enjoy HW. The only HW I enjoy are Math/Chem/Bio. But I would just slack off last year. Thus it hurt my GPA.</p>

16

<p>~Bump?~</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<ul>
<li>nonemus</li>
</ul>

17

<p>This thread is sort of ridiculous.</p>

<p>OP, you don’t have to go to a CC. Your GPA isn’t that bad–for a student with your scores, it probably is, but overall? Not really. That said, you’re obviously smart, but you have to understand, U of Chicago and other like schools get tons of applicants with scores and ECs as good or better as yours, /with/ the GPA to match. I don’t really think you have a realistic chance at the schools on the latter half of your list. That may be why people are recommending CC–you’d be surprised, but some people do get into top colleges from CC (the UCs have a good transfer program, like PBailey said), and a couple years of solid work there can do a lot to erase a mixed high school record. Plus it’s cheaper. :)</p>

<p>But if you seriously don’t want to go that route, there are plenty of colleges that would take you. Most probably “below” your potential, but that’s the price you pay. Certainly some schools like Wash State or OSU would take you–I’m less sure about UWash, but I don’t think you have no chance. (Have you looked into private schools? That might not be financially viable for you, but I think some of them would be more likely to overlook your low GPA than the stats-based state schools you’re applying to.)</p>

18

<p>I completely agree with haavain, you are not stuck at CC, your GPA really isn’t that bad – a 3.1 at your school is like a B average, right? Your ECs look quite good, and they’ll definitely help make up (at least a bit) for your somewhat low grades. Here’s what I would suggest:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Work insanely hard your first semester of senior year. Prove that you have the motivation and the ability to do well. Don’t bother with ED, you need that 1st semester report.</p></li>
<li><p>Look at some lower-tier schools. I’m not saying that you need to look at community college; rather, I think you should be looking at mid-tier private colleges. If UW is your goal, I really don’t see the point of applying to more difficult public schools OOS, unless you really love them. I would suggest cutting at least 4 out of WUSTL, UCLA, UCB, UChicago, UM, and UVA because I really don’t think they will accept you, even with your good SATs and ECs. Replace them with private schools where your GPA is tolerable and your SATs are in or preferably above the 75th percentile.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

19

<p>There are hundreds of schools that will be JUST FINE with your GPA, and yes, they’re 4-year colleges.</p>

<p>University of Washington middle 50%:</p>

<p>SAT Critical Reading: 530 - 650<br>
SAT Math: 570 - 680<br>
SAT Writing: 530 - 640</p>

<p>Minimum college GPA required (4.0 scale): 2.5</p>

<p>Percent applicants admitted: 61%</p>

<p>Also, you can perhaps consider the Bothell or Tacoma campus.</p>

<p>Certainly Washington State shouldn’t be a problem:</p>

<p>Middle 50%:</p>

<p>SAT Critical Reading: 490 - 600<br>
SAT Math: 510 - 610</p>

<p>Percent applicants admitted: 72%</p>

<p>Minimum college GPA required (4.0 scale): 2.5</p>

<p>You have shots. Don’t settle for community college: my suggestion is taking advantage of writing and excellent essay and getting good letters of rec. Good luck!</p>

20

<p>First of all,</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your kind advice, I appreciate it a lot.</p>

<p>Furthermore, “Sirensong” mentioned that I should not apply ED, due to the fact that I could prove myself in the First Semester of Senoir Year (In which, I will be taking 6 IB Classes). I was also thinking about that. However, my schools first semester ends in Late January, by which time many of the schools deadline would have passed. Do the admissions offices look at how an applicant is doing in their Senoir year even if the Semester grades have not been finalized?</p>

<p>I have composed a new list of schools:</p>

<p>UW
WSU
OSU
U. of Oregon
U. Maryland - Baltimore County
Drexel
Pepperdine
University of Michigan
University of Virginia
U. of Illionis - UC
UCD
UCSB
Miami University - Oxford
UCI
Pstate
UF
UCSC
Ohio State U.</p>

<p>In addition, there are probably lots of other public schools that are maybe not as good as UW, but are still good nevertheless. What do you think about the schools on this list? (I think I have made it more realistic)</p>

<p>Thank You for taking your time to help me.</p>

<ul>
<li>nonemus</li>
</ul>