Low GPA = No chance at all? :(

<p>GPA:
UW: 3.12
W: 3.69 (with an upward trend: started out as a 4.2, dropped to a 2.5, and now back up to a 3.6)</p>

<p>(I've got a good explanation for the very low GPA, though)</p>

<p>APs:
AP Lit
AP Lang 5
AP Economics
AP Chem
AP US 4
AP World 5
AP Psych 5
AP Comp 5
AP Gov 4
AP Env 4
AP Human Geo 5</p>

<p>SAT: 2200</p>

<p>EC:
11 years at a Korean weekend school
4 years of badminton
Intern at a student writer's workshop
Intern at my school's media center
Camp counselor at a nearby park
Editor on the school newspaper
President and founder of the Special Effects club
Tutor as a member of the Social Studies Honor Society
200+ community service hours</p>

<p>Awards:
Numerous regional art awards
AP scholar award, honor roll (both very common, I'm guessing
Columbia Newspaper award for the school's newspaper staff (would that count?)</p>

<p>Essay:
Assume that it's a very strong one</p>

<p>Recs:
1 from my English teacher, the other from my Social Studies teacher</p>

<p>Important note:
Previously diagnosed with clinical depression (should I mention this?)</p>

<p>Schools (not applying to all of them, but would still like to know chances):
UMD College Park
UMass, Amherst
Drexel
Occidental
UCLA-Irvine
Polytechnic Institute of New York
University of Wisconsin
SUNY Binghampton
University of Rochester
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Boston College
Boston University
NYU</p>

<p>I'm guessing the following schools are very high reaches for me, but I'd still like to know my chances just out of curiosity:
Cornell
Carnegie Mellon
Wake Forest
William and Mary
Gerogetown
Brandeis</p>

<p>So, do I have a chance? Feel free to ask any questions. :)</p>

<p>Oh, and some other info: </p>

<p>Location: New Jersey, US
Ethnicity: Korean
Age: 18
HS: Public
Parents went to University of Michigan.</p>

<p>Cornell - reach, ivy leagues are really finnicky about GPA, im sure you know like I do how damn competitive it is
Carnegie Mellon- a possible match you have a similar situation to me in GPA
Wake Forest- cant say dont know the school
William and Mary- low reach
Gerogetown - reach
Brandeis - better match, but not completely sure about their ideas on gpa</p>

<p>thanks for your input, we have similar situations wiht low GPA but good ecs etc. Its getting bad for me because i have this GPA problem killing my chances. I would love to get into carnegie mellon or nyu or upenn tops! good luck, anymore advice for me or likewise, just reply</p>

<p>i have a few more schools to ask you about, its on my post! thank you</p>

<p>Bump.</p>

<p>Also, some more schools I'm considering:</p>

<p>Towson
George Mason
Gettysberg
American
University of Delaware </p>

<p>along with the previous ones I listed:</p>

<p>UMD College Park
UMass, Amherst
Drexel
Occidental
UCLA-Irvine
Polytechnic Institute of New York
University of Wisconsin
SUNY Binghampton
University of Rochester
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Boston College
Boston University
NYU
Carnegie Mellon
William and Mary</p>

<p>and one as a joke :P</p>

<p>McDonald's Hamburger University (Hamburger</a> University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)</p>

<p>You're definitely into UMass, I can tell you that much.</p>

<p>UW-Madison 'guidelines' show you have a 50% chance of admittance. However, there are 2 essays as part of the application ('how you will enrich the community at UW-Madison', and 'anything else you'd like us to know'); I suggest you use the 2nd one to explain your diagnosis and grades.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.admissions.wisc.edu/images/UW_FreshmanExpectations.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.wisc.edu/images/UW_FreshmanExpectations.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>out of your reach colleges..
i also think Brandeis is the best match for you
but as you said, if u really have a good explanation for your low gpa,
i think you have a decent shot at Brandeis</p>

<p>I have no idea about other schools though......
sorry:(</p>

<p>I don't know about most of those schools, but I'd have to say I think you're in at U of I.</p>

<p>I think uci would be a relative safety school for you.</p>

<p>oh, & regarding the depression situation: it would be interesting if you wrote about the depression and its hardships, but make sure you include how you have overcome it and are looking forward? just a thought.</p>

<p>Cornell, Georgetown, W&M all reaches</p>

<p>I know I have no chance in getting in W&Mary, Georgetown, etc (I asked mainly out of curiosity). So can anyone chance the schools I've listed that I can realistically get into? Especially these:</p>

<p>UMD College Park
UMass, Amherst
VTech
Polytechnic Institute of New York
University of Wisconsin
SUNY Binghampton
University of Rochester
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
NYU</p>

<p>College park should be in easily. Vtech looks pretty safe. NYU is a big reach. I am assuming that your depression came in 10th grade, and if that is the case you should mention how that messed up a year but you really bounced back from it, because your grades before and after are so much better. Chance me too at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/572810-my-grades-suck.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/572810-my-grades-suck.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Wow same thing happened to me. I had all As in 9th grade, then I got messed up in 10th grade (a D and 2 cs, quit football, was feeling a lil down about myself).</p>

<p>Although you have a low GPA- you have 5's and 4's on all of your numerous AP classes as well as a 2200 on your SAT. You should most definitely apply to some of your "high reach" choices.</p>

<p>Bump.</p>

<p>Again, I'd like some chances for the colleges I'll realistically get into.</p>

<p>One last bump before I send in all my stuff! :D</p>

<p>Are you set on your list? If not, you might want to consider looking into LACs. I know it's late in the game and you're probably not eager to change your list of schools, but it seems (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that LACs are more open to students with certain differences and evaluate them on a more holistic level. It might be a good environment for you, one at least worth checking out if you think you have the time. </p>

<p>As for chances on your current list: I honestly think you have a legitimate shot at all your desired schools. With a 2200 SAT, you have a real chance of admittance and, with an additional explanatory supplement, colleges will take into account your circumstances. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>What would be good LAC's for me?</p>