Low GPA/ High ACT- Chance me for the schools I'm applying to? (Will chance back!)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I’m applying to 12 different schools this fall/winter and it would be amazing if I could see the chances for some of the schools I’m applying to. My main issue is that my GPA is rather low (mostly due to personal and health issues/bad teaching tbh) but I have a high ACT score and decent extracurriculars, so I’m not too sure what my chances are for the schools I’m applying to. Thank you so much for all feedback! :slight_smile:

Here are the schools I’m applying to:
Safety-
UMaryland
Rutgers
TCNJ
(I live in New Jersey so both are in-state)
Penn State

Target-
UCSB
UCI
UCD
BU

Reach-
USC (Reach- both my dad and aunt attended the school)
UCSD
U Michigan
WashU

Stats:
GPA-Unweighted 3.5, Weighted 4.0
*Took all honors courses since freshman year, took 2 AP classes junior year and am taking 4 AP classes this year
*4 on AP AB Calc exam, 3 on AP Chemistry (yikes…)
I took the ACT twice- 33 first time, 34 second time, 35 superscore
Took SAT II Math and got a 770, and am planning to take the SAT II Biology Test

Extracurriculars:
-4 year cross country runner (2 years jv, 2 years varsity)
-Clubs: Recycling Club, FBLA, Mural Club, Global Connections Club
-Treasurer for Global Connections Club
-Made a business plan for FBLA that received 5th state
-Vice Chair for the board of my state’s soup kitchen
-Served as head model for a handbag company 10th-12th grade
-First chair for my school’s orchestra (I was really involved in orchestra, and I assisted in composing an opera for it where I had a solo in and was a part of my school’s chamber orchestra)
-Was in NJ Region Orchestra for 1 year

(Also-I’ve been working on my Common App essay since April and it’s pretty solid, I talk about how I used modeling to help overcome insecurity. I’m currently working on my supplemental essays.)

Again, thanks for all advice/feedback and good luck to all of you as well!

2

Are you able to afford the OOS schools on your list? UC GPA? http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

3

UC’s are $55K per year to OOS students. Can your parents afford that??? There is limited to no financial aid for OOS students.

4

I would be confident in BU as a safety level school.

5

what do you want to study?

6

Since the UC’s and pretty much every college use a holistic review, I think you have strong enough extra circulars to get into the majority of the schools you listed. Plus a 34 on the ACT is above average for most of these schools. But, as others have said, what do you want to study, and is it worth paying an extravagant amount of money to get a degree out of state? Overall, as I stated earlier, I believe your ACT and EC’s are good enough to compensate for your GPA. Good luck!

Chance Back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1819508-chances-will-chance-back.html#latest

7

This thread might have good suggestions

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/767486-where-did-your-3-3-3-6-gpa-child-get-in.html#latest

Check to see if your test scores are good enough to qualify for Rutgers Honors and/or associated scholarships.

Do you have budget limitations?

8

@stones3 it’s tentative but public health

9

you may qualify for TCNJ honors , that usually has some kind of merit with it.