Low GPA and ACT scores... good ECs... schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I need some colleges, both matches and safeties with good Classics, Anthropology, or Ancient Civilizations (or ancient history) degrees. The problem is, I want to go to a top school but my GPA and ACT scores are pretty low (for the schools I'm already applying to). My ECs on the other hand are really good. </p>

<p>There is some info below if it helps</p>

<hr>

<p>White, female from Michigan.
First in the family to go to college.
Grew up below poverty level.
Not below poverty level anymore.
Father was in a nearly fatal accident when I was in 7th grade and ever since then everybody has to take care of him so I wasn't really able to be involved in anything prior to getting my license in 11th grade.
My other issue is that I missed a lot of middle and high school due to being in the hospital. I have chronic pneumonia and a bad immune system so I'm constantly in and out of the hospital. Finally between sophomore and junior year they tried some new experimental thing on me that seems to be working better.</p>

<p>GPA= ~3.75 UW, 3.917 W. Projected for the end of Junior year. (TRYING to get it up.)
Class rank- In top 10% but I'm not sure exactly what it is.</p>

<p>ACT scores: (retaking).
Comp: 29. English: 31. Math: 28. (NO idea how I got that low.) Reading: 29. Science: 26.</p>

<p>Taking the Math 2 and Biology SAT 2 in a few weeks. World History, literature, Spanish w/ listening, and chemistry at the end of junior year. Physics at the end of senior.</p>

<p>AP Tests: (These were self study.)
Bio: 4. Psych: 4. Gov: 4.</p>

<p>Before graduation taking: Calc AB, Calc BC, World History, Prob and Stats, English language and literature, and maybe some other ones.</p>

<p>ECs: (I know my positions for 12th grade because we had election for next year already.)</p>

<p>Freshman basketball. Couldn't go beyond due to injury.
Started a nonprofit innercity basketball league close to Detroit for girls. It's been successful. (Started when I was 12, been going for 5 years.)
Awareness and Activism (Humanitarian club that partnered with Invisible Children and Save Darfur.) - Treasurer. (11, 12)
Debate Club. (10-12).
Save Clark Park (dedicated to saving an innercity organization known as Clark Park in Detroit)- Co-President. (12).
Animal Rights Club- 11. President (12).
NHS.
Worked with the Detroit Humane Society to help raise thousands of dollars for homeless pets. Very active in volunteering there. (11, 12)
Worked with Latino Family Services in Detroit to raise thousands of dollars for homeless Latino families in Detroit. (9-12).
Coach a right-start (5-7 year olds) basketball. (10-12).
Coach girls basketball teams (9-11 and 12-14 year olds). (9-12).
Play volleyball, softball, basketball, and swim. <a href="9-12">Not school due to injury.</a>.
Cofounded Save The Bullies (organization that helps stop BSL and helps save dogs of the Pit Bull breed.) (11-12).
Help Special Olympics basketball teams-(11-12).
Theater (10-12).
Thespian (11-12).</p>

<p>Probably about 400 hours of community service (at least) so far since the beginning of freshman year.</p>

<p>Most of my clubs are humanitarian based and I've organized countless amounts of charity projects and raised tens of thousands of dollars for them. It is my passion.</p>

<p>Recommendations should be good. My teachers really like me and one I'm asking is a Fulbright Scholar who absolutely adores me.</p>

<p>Problems: Low GPA and no hook.</p>

2

<p>neither a bad gpa or test scores.</p>

3

<p>Lol I meant for the schools I was applying to... Amherst, Cornell, and William and Mary. </p>

<p>I just meant I need some safeties since those are my choices.</p>

4

<p>I would also look at Holy Cross, Dickinson and Denison.</p>

5

<p>For Holy Cross, do you know if they make you take religious classes? I am Wiccan so I'd prefer not to take Catholic classes. Although, I'm not entirely opposed to it :].</p>

6

<p>sorry, I don't know the answer to that question. I just know that it is very good for what you stated that your interests were.</p>

7

<p>Ok, thanks. </p>

<p>I found out my answer anyways. I just had to look deeper in the website.</p>

8

<p>I'm looking at Holy Cross.
I'm almost positive they don't make you take religious classes.
It's a liberal arts school so you choose your schedule.</p>

9

<p>Don't be scared off by "religious classes" at college. They are most likely not "religious indoctrination" classes. So, for example, you could attend a Catholic college and take courses inn "comparative religions", "History of Buddhism", etc.</p>

10

<p>Bowdoin and Bates is also SAT Optional</p>

11

<p>Oh, I wouldn't mind taking the Catholic classes because I went to a Catholic school for 9 years, I was simply wondering :]. </p>

<p>I might do well on the SATs, I just haven't taken them yet.</p>

12

<p>Your scores and gpa would qualify you for most colleges in the country.
What you probably need to be most concerned with is what colleges you can afford to go to. Based on what you've posted, I'm guessing that you will need a lot of financial aid. Fortunately, you live in a state with excellent public universities, and that's terrific because you'll qualify for in-state tuition, which is a big bargain.</p>

<p>U Michigan, which is in the top 25 universities in the country, would be a great reach school. If you are concerned about class sizes at a large public university, take a good look at what they offer. I think they have things like learning communities in which students with similar academic interests live together and take some small classes together. As is the case with many public universities, Michigan is rolling admission which means that those who apply early have an advantage: as the class fills, it becomes more difficult to gain admission. </p>

<p>Michigan State -- probably a match school.</p>

<p>Also check the other publics in Michgian.</p>

<p>If you are interested in private colleges and would consider going to a Christian one, look at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. My husband, who was first gen college, low income family, went there and got an excellent education and was accepted to top graduate programs in his field. My husband, who even recently has been involved in national alumni affairs there, says that traditionally Calvin has had a very strong classics major.</p>

<p>When you consider going out of state to school think about the extra expense and difficulty of transportation. If your family isn't that mobile, if you go far from home, they probably won't be able to help you move in and out at the start and end of the year nor will they be able to attend family weekend, which most colleges have and which tends to be a big deal for many freshmen. It also may be very hard for you to afford to go home for Thanksgiving. Typically, even colleges that guarantee to meet 100% of your financial need (and the colleges, not your family determine your need) budget your transportation only for a trip home for Christmas break and for the end of the school year.</p>

<p>It is worth it to pay the $15 to access the on-line site of the U.S. news premium college website because you can get in depth information about thousands of colleges' admission and financial aid among other things. Also take the time to look at the financial aid, admissions and academic department sections of the websites of colleges that interest you.</p>