Low GPA/High ACT - Harvard, UCB, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, these are the schools that I am most interested in:
Harvard (applying restricted EA)
UC Berkeley (applying to L&S)
UT Austin
USC
UMich</p>

<p>I'm a rising senior, planning to major in computer science.
Female, URM (Hispanic), top Chicago private school, high income bracket</p>

<p>Stats:
UW GPA: 3.7
School doesn't weight or rank
ACT composite: 36 super scored, 35 single score
--English: 36
--Math: 35
--Reading: 34
--Science: 33/36
--Essay: 11
SAT II Math II: 770
SAT II Lit: 700
Will take SAT II Physics in October
AP CS: 4
AP Psych: 4
AP Enviro Sci: 3</p>

<p>Senior schedule:
English
AP Calc BC
AP Statistics
AP Bio
AP Physics C
AP Econ (micro and macro)
Independent study in CS</p>

<p>Awards:
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) National Runner Up for excellence in computing
NCWIT Illinois Affiliate Winner for excellence in computing
Discus Award Winner
African American History Award Winner (school)
Essay published on NPR's This I Believe website
Various debate awards (2012 Tournament of Champions participant, 2012 Lexington Invitational Champion, in late elimination rounds at multiple other tournaments)</p>

<p>ECs:
Policy Debate - 4 yrs, >35 hrs/week, - Captain
Science Team - 4 yrs - Team captain
Gay/straight alliance - 4 yrs</p>

<p>CS class assistant for middle schoolers - 2 yrs
Started a business teaching the elderly how to use computers - 2 yrs
CS research intern at a local university under a renown professor - 1 yr</p>

<p>Summer camp counselor - 2 yrs - head counselor
Model/actress at a talent agency - 4 yrs
Volunteer at a food service for people with HIV/AIDS - 3 yrs, >70 hrs</p>

<p>Will my GPA (or lack of APs) kill my chances at these schools? I know you can't "chance" for Harvard, but am I at least competitive there?
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I don’t think you have much of a chance at Harvard; you GPA simply isn’t high enough to match the competition, and your EC’s are lacking. However, your ACT is really good and your awards are impressive. Berkeley is a reach, but a better shot; USC is a reach; UT Austin is a low reach, as is UMich.</p>

3

<p>Nice ACT… bad GPA. Your URM status is a hook, so it is hard to say but I wouldn’t put my money on Harvard, but I’d say you’re in at least one of these…</p>

<p>Chance me back please: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1380168-chance-me-mit-caltech-ill-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1380168-chance-me-mit-caltech-ill-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>You’re definitely in at one of those because of your URM status. It shouldn’t be that way considering you’re high-income and at a private school in Chicago but that’s how it is…</p>

5

<p>Your GPA is too low for Harvard, you might have a shot at the rest since you’re an URM.</p>