(I’m typing on an iPad so the following may contain some grammatical errors ) So I was an idiot freshman year and the first semester of my sophomore year, my nest friends dad had passed away and he was pretty close to me and a mentor of sorts, so that dragged me down in the dumps for a while… Nonetheless, I didn’t pay much attention to my homework. My freshman GPA was miserable, around 2.7 unweighted. Sophomore year, My first semester GPA was 2.9 (not much of an improvement), but my second semester was 3.5. Halfway through that semester, the reality of my grades hit me, so I worked to bring that up. My Junior Year I got a 3.4 or so (I took tougher classes).Essentially 2nd Semester sophomore year I worked to bring grades up, Junior year I focused on ECs and passions (Entrepreneurship), and this year I am trying to combine both to have strong grades and ECs, something I have been working towards. This year all of its slowly coming together, and I think I can hit around at least 3.8 or so this year. I got a 33 on the ACT this year , and here’s my course load:
ACT Scores:
Comp - 33
English - 35
Math - 31
Reading - 35
Science - 32
Writing - 12/12
Cumulative GPA:
Unweighted: 3.1
Weighted: 3.3
My School suffers from pretty severe grade deflation as well, it’s ranked in the top 10 high schools in MN.
Freshman year:
AP Human Geography (4 on test)
Honors English
Algebra II
French IV
Biology
Orchestra
Sophomore year:
AP US History (4 on test)
AP French (4 on test)
Honors Chemistry
Precalculus
Orchestra
Honors English
Junior year:
AP European History (4)
AP Literature (3)
AP Language (4)
AP Calculus ab (3)
Orchestra
Physics
TA for French.
Senior Year:
AP Physics 1
Sports Marketing (Can get college credit)
Journalism 1
AP Government
AP Statistics
AP Hybrid MicroEconomics
For my extra curriculars, I founded a successful film club at my school, I have been part of the Student Council, I have been in a leadership position of JA company (Won the greater upper Midwest region) freshman year, last year we won the Upper Midwest Region and won the New York Stock Exchange Best Financial Award, I’m part of the exec board of a charity that raises money for other organizations, I was in Speech (Finaled 2 times regionally), I wrestled freshman year, and I recently got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do (Black Belt Club). I volunteer often with inner city kids and regularly go on mission trips with my church. I also work around 10-12 hours a week at a pizza shop. This year I founded coding club with some of my friends, I’ll be teaching swift (Learned to code over the summer) and we have around 30-40 members thus far, and I’ll be working extensively on a brand new startup that will focus on developing mobile applications.
I’m looking to apply to Grinnell in Iowa and maybe even Northwestern. I doubt I have any shot at NorthWestern, but do you guys think applying to Grinnell early decision will help?
Oh and got AP Scholar with Distinction. Other components of my application, I think my Essay will be fairly strong, and my recs will be pretty great (My English teacher of 2 years hugged me after I asked her for a letter, haha.), and got a really solid one from my work boss as well.
Apply to Grinnell only if it’s your top choice. If Northwestern is your top choice instead, then apply ED there.
Keep in mind Northwestern is pretty expensive.
Do you know your class rank, or something of the sort (where do you stand among your peers, is it top 10%, top 20%, top 25%, etc.)
In order to apply ED you should have a definitive top choice. And you should be in the position where you won’t need to compare financial offers from different schools. If both of those statements are not true for you I’d hesitate to apply anywhere ED.
Another great reason to eschew ED: use this semester to boost your GPA. Assuming you’re taking one of the most rigorous in your 4 years, if you knock out near a 4.0, it only enhances your profile.
Your 3.1 could use some nudging upwards.
Also, NU is not realistic whatsoever – that should be removed from consideration even with your ACT 33.
Small LACs give ED candidates a boost. If it is your first choice, and you apply ED, you have a better chance than you would have RD. It’s really easy to say that you will boost your GPA, but it’s not totally within your control and first semester senior year is made hard because you are applying to college.
Thanks for the advice guys, the reason I was considering the two colleges and am a bit hesitant is because the two offer very different experiences I am interested. Northwestern would offer a more of a entrepreneurial focus for me, with the Garage and all, and Grinnell’s flexibility of curriculum would permit me to sarisfy my intellectual curiosities(I love learning new stuff). I understand that NU is pretty reach, but I thought I might have had a slightly better shot with ED as their admissions rate is nearly 2.5 times higher. Thanks guys
Another vote for ED at Grinnell. Your GPA is low for Grinnell (check the Common Data Set, Section C). But you have a rising trend and demonstrated interest matters to Grinnell. (S attended Grinnell and loved his experience. We’re fans.)
Thanks, I visited both NU and Grinnell this weekend, and I’m leaning towards Grinnell, the interview there went extremely well (accidentally went 10 mins longer into the next persons time… Oops!), and the feel and the campus is stunning!
Not to be rude here, but ED is like your college admissions rocket launcher, don’t waste it on a school you don’t want to attend and also don’t waste it on a school that won’t admit you. NU is a huge reach, so much so that, in all honestly, I would not advise ED there. Another issue is finances. ED applicants sometimes get lower financial aid so if that is an issue you may want to RD so that you can compare packages. Talk to your parents very seriously about this.Many parents don’t want to admit to their kids that they can’t afford university X so make sure they know that they need to be honest with you.
A 33 is a great score, but it is by no means a lock for Northwestern. Your chance at Northwestern is low both ED and RD due to your gpa. It’s great that your gpa is moving up, but a 3.4 jr yr will not be impressive for a school like Northwestern
Thanks for all feedback guys, Northwestern was totally a dream reach for me, but I absolutely love Grinnell, and I think I’ll most likely be applying at Grinnell for ED! Grinnell also superscores ACT, and I’m at a 34 SC, so I’m hoping that’ll put in a tad bit more weight on my part!
