I’m totally aware that my GPA is pretty mediocre, so I’m having a tough time figuring out where to apply since I know how important a healthy GPA is to most universities. I plan on majoring in biology, so feel free to recommend any safety or match schools good in that area. Any and all (respectful) advice is much appreciated!
GPA: 3.3 (unweighted). My GPA dropped dramatically during sophomore year after some severe emotional issues. I attended therapy for over a year and brought my grades up as much as I could.
SAT: 2100
AP classes taken: 9
Honors Classes Taken: 5
Recommendations: my biology/chemistry teacher, AP Lang. teacher, and debate coach have agreed to write them
Extracurriculars:
Taekwondo- (nine years) I’ve earned a black belt
Violin- (five years)
Delta GEMS- (four years) A group for young women that focuses on preparation for college and community service
Garfield Promoting Awareness- (three years) We travel to middle schools around the Seattle area and host workshops on preparing for high school, drug use, sex ED, etc.
Link Crew- (two years) a mentorship program between upperclassmen and freshmen
Tutor- (two years) in biology, language arts, and algebra 1
Concert Choir- (two years) the choir at my school is very competitive and travels to at least one national festival every year
National Honor Society- (two years)
Debate Team- (two years) qualified and attended state both years
Youth Advisory Board- (two years) A youth group at a museum that plans and volunteers at various music related events
Vera Project volunteer- (two years) I help run shows at an all ages music venue in my city
Income: $70,000. Single parent household.
Ethnicity: African American
Gender: Female
State of Residence: Washington
Schools I’m Considering:
University of Washington
Washington State University
Colorado State University
University of Vermont
Reed (super, super reach)
Your GPA Is not as bad as you make it seem!! So don’t freak out! You also still have time to build it up. You have a very very strong EC build, so I’d consider applying so some small LAC, like Smith and MHC. Regardless, you’re an incredibly impressive applicant and should be proud.
If there is a legitimate and serious reason for the drop in your grades sophomore year, I would focus your essays on that experience. it could help make up for the fact that its as low as it is. Your SAT is perfect, and URM status is great. Decent laundry list of ECs, nothing exceptional, especially for going into biology. Your GPA isn’t as crippling as you might think, especially if you write good essays.
University of WA: high match
WSU: Your safety’s safety
CSU: Safety
U of Vermont: Low match/safety
I have very similar stats to yours. Almost identical GPA, number of AP classes and SAT. I also had personal issues that ruined GPA but I think I documented them well. I’ve already gotten into Sewanee, Denison, Brandeis, and Holy Cross. I’m lower income than you and from Texas, but not an URM. I haven’t heard from Reed but they are pretty GPA heavy. That said you definitely have a chance there and you probably have a very strong chance at a number of similar liberal arts colleges. I’d look into the ones I meantioned accepted me as well as Skidmore, Conn College, Macalester. I don’t want to overplay the under represents minority thing but I think Aftican American can help a ton especially when many liberal arts colleges are lacking. An African American girl recently got into Vassar with a lot lowr SAT score than you. That’s an awesome school and not at all easy to get into. I’m not even sure how you feel about LACs and if it’s just Reed you like but I think there are a ton of LACs you’d have a great chance at.
Frankly, I believe you will get into all those schools listed. However, make sure you note on your applicantion why the gpa slipped, if you have a valid reason. But your scores, EC, and URM status will really help you! Goodluck!
I don’t know anything about Reed so I won’t speak on that, but everything else is like a low match, don’t worry! Except UWash, I THINK that is a high match, to my knowledge on that school. Good luck!
Reed is not a super super reach if you really write a well thought out essay. With your 3.3, try to raise it just a little bit with 2nd semester junior year grades and 1st semester senior grades. You have taken 9 AP classes, and Reed cares more about that than whatever GPA you got. I got in with a 3.4 UW and a 2270, so maybe try to study again for another SAT and get 2200+. They don’t care about SAT so much, but that could help.
My Reed essay was one of my favorite essays, and you really have to love your essay if you want to get in. Reed cares more about admitting people, and you have to be the right kind of person for them. Display in your essays your sense of curiosity. Don’t just state your extracurriculars in your essay, your common app is for that, but find some method that shows how you love learning about things, and how Reed satisfies that desire for you as a student.
^NHS doesn’t matter to colleges in itself, it’s more for your benefit and the opportunities it offers.
Considering your income, forget about Colorado State and UVermont; they’re OOS universities that don’t provide financial aid nor merit aid for your stats.
Look into Colorado College, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Agnes Scott, Dickinson, Whitman, Willamette, Uportland, Eckerd, Hiram (check out Medical Humanities), Colby, Bates, Wheaton (MA)…
Okay then for the wue scholarship. Keep digging into that list but check out, one by one, the colleges listed in #11, running the net price calculators.
but check out, one by one, the colleges listed in