<p>Okay, so I understand that my story isn't a new one, but hear me out. :/ </p>
<p>I'm something of a late bloomer, and I'll admit that I slacked off and hadn't taken school seriously until junior year when I took my first AP class. This is my senior year now, and I'm trying to show an upward trend, but the question still remains: can I make it? </p>
<p>Stats:
-2020 SAT/32 ACT
-Predicted SAT2 scores for literature and US History: 700-800 because of my 5s in the AP subjects.
-a sad, sad 2.5 GPA. </p>
<p>ECs:
-Art and Design Club: senior officer
-Tennis: Junior Varsity; played 3 years
-Business Club: co-founder
-80 hours of community service at the Walt Disney Family Museum
-20 hours at the Asian Art Museum
-5 hours at War Memorial Opera House</p>
<p>Intended majors: History, philosophy, or international studies</p>
<p>PLEASE CHANCE ME FOR:
-Lewis and Clark
-Willamete
-Bard
-Knox
-Roanoke
-Hendrix
-Colby-Sawyer</p>
<p>I know Bard will be a reach, but how high? It is even possible?</p>
<p>Any more recommendations for schools would be appreciated. Please don't mention a community college; I already know that is an option, one which I'm trying to avoid.</p>
<p>Pace isn’t. Transylvania is decent (not excellent, but quite good).
You have a decent shot at most schools listed above, although your GPA will hurt you. Look for schools from the “schools for 3-3.3 students” thread on the parents’ forum.
Bard, however, is basically out of reach. You can apply if you don’t mind wasting your money, but odds are almost nonexistent.</p>
<p>Transylvania: Low match
L&C: Reach
Willamette: Reach
Bard: High reach
Knox: Match
Roanoke: Low match
Pace: Low match
Colby-Sawyer: Low match
Hendrix: High match</p>
<p>how have amazing act scores. congrats! I think that you have a chance of getting into a good college, but maybe you should start out at a community college and then transfer? its saves you money too! chance me back?</p>
<p>Haha, thanks.
CCs are my safety schools if I get into nothing/if the financial situation isn’t stable enough. But I just want to try for something. Really want that full college experience. x) I’ll chance back.</p>
<p>I say go for it. How does your trendline look?</p>
<p>Admissions directors don’t simply look at someone’s GPA and immediately throw it out. Your GPA and test scores are what they look at initially, and depending on the college is what sorts the list of prospective applicants (ie if you had the best GPA/scores out of all, you will be in the first batch of applications). Because your scores are quite high, you will still be looked at. Make sure that when they do look at your application, they are impressed. Try to explain why your GPA was so lacking in the earlier years (if simply lack of motivation, describe your drive and the difficulties faced back then in your essay). Don’t worry about it too much.</p>
<p>That being said, the allocation of safety-match-reach in your list of colleges really depends on you. For me (I’m in the same boat, 2.9 GPA + 31 ACT) I picked one or two solid safeties and everything else is practically a high target/reach at least. Chances are at least one of them will accept me, and that’s really all I need. Check my list for some ideas, but do keep in mind the differences between our applications (uptrend, course transcript, justification of poor gpa).</p>
<p>I had a 2.6 gpa (with a sharp downward trend)/2160 SAT and I go to Bard now. Really, they don’t care about grades, not even a little. Apply to Hampshire too.</p>
<p>Bard has a new entrance exam for admissions where they don’t even ask for or consider your grades or your test scores. Instead you submit four 2500 word research paper essays in three different subject areas on subjects posted on their site, with all the background material available online. The papers are then graded. If you receive B+ or better on the papers, you’re admitted. [The</a> Bard College Entrance Examination offers a new way to apply to Bard](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/bardexam/]The”>The Bard Entrance Examination)</p>
<p>“The Bard Entrance Examination offers a new way to apply to Bard that bypasses existing standardized tests and admission processes, leveling the playing field among applicants worldwide. The examination enables motivated students to gain admission through an essay test, engaging applicants in a process that more closely mirrors actual college coursework.”</p>
<p>AFishFromCal - you are exactly the sort of student they’re hoping to reach. Someone eager for an intense intellectual college experience but for whom the traditional high school path was not necessarily a good fit.</p>
<p>Though you do have a 2.5 gpa, if your transcript shows an upward trend, you should be alright getting into many great colleges, considering your fantastic ACT & SAT scores. It clearly shows that you are very intelligent, and that you must have been focused on different aspects in your life other than school those first few years. </p>
<p>I will say however, that I am in a similar situation (minus the great test scores) but an upward trend in grades. I tried applying to UMich-Ann Arbor and was denied even after a first semester at a different university. Colleges will definitely want to see more upward grades, just to verify that youre not only going to do well one semester in high school and then do poorly again. So going to another university or community college for maybe even one year or one semester, getting great grades, and THEN transferring, you can probably get into any of those schools. </p>
<p>Congratulations fish!!! I’m still in your boat though, 3.0 GPA but 31 ACT, hope others accept you too so you can pick the best college for yourself. </p>
<p>What wonderful news! So happy I was able to help. It is for students just like you that Bard is offering that new admissions route. Now here’s hoping for good luck with financial aid.</p>
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