<p>Im planning to apply ED to Cornell. However my GPA is very low at 3.6 average for my 3 years. Problem was that i bombed my Sophomore year badly (sunk in a pretty deep hole lol). GPA was a lot better Junior year at 4.0 (still not great). School is top ranked in NJ though. Now in my Senoir year im taking demanding courses (all APs and honors) and doing very well in them. Also i have great recommendations and ECs. SAT is 2110, plan to retake it in Nov though for better RD chances. My Biology teacher said that i still have a pretty decent chance at Cornell (her daughter goes there), and my dad has told me that if i do what he tells me to do i should be fine (he did apps at CalTech when he was a postdoc there). Now im just wondering if i really do have a chance. Looking at all those great apps here it feels pretty hopeless since ppl might just be telling me this so i wont be depressed. I dont know how i can overcome my low GPA, anyone who has had a similar situation?</p>
<p>3.6 isn't low at all. As long as you "bounce back" and get really good grades now, it will show you learned from you mistakes, you have motivation, etc. Put why you had the low grades in your essay. Your transcript will show the good grades in the last year. As for Cornell... Now that's a diff. story...</p>
<p>lol thats what i thought, would my chances be alot better at UChicago? I have a great essay written for it already. Frankly id rather go to UChicago but like all the friends i know are applying to Cornell. Otherwise ill app to UMichigan or UIllinois.</p>
<p>If you get it up to ~3.7/3.7+ you should be fine.</p>
<p>Good luck on that SAT retake!</p>
<p>is there a reason for your downfall during 10th grade?</p>
<p>your SAT is fine. there shouldn't be any reason for a retake unless the grades are unbalanced (meaning you've got two 800's and one 510 which will be pretty funny actually lol) </p>
<p>there aren't any 'safety stats' for an ivy, but assuming rigourous courses, a uw 3.8 or above can be considered as a 'safe' gpa. </p>
<p>however, your transcript is the number one most important thing on your application. I think there is a video clip of a college admission process of this liberal arts college (I think it was Amherst) and I remember the adcoms waitlisting an applicant for a sudden drop in grades. good luck; you definately have a chance</p>
<p>choose UChicago. Cornell may have the things you friends are looking for, but it's your future, not theirs!</p>
<p>mun: I got really addicted to video games lol. Probably a sorry excuse for a bad grade. Also i hope u realize that my gpa was weight lol.</p>
<p>Well, what's your unweighted GPA? Colleges don't really care about your weighted GPA, that's what rankings are for.</p>
<p>actually i got that wrong lol srry, took the Oct SATI today and feeling pretty bad about it. Anyway, 3.6 is my unweighted blah. It was like 3.7, 3.2, 4.0 the three years. The avg was 3.6, which isnt that great.</p>
<p>Cornell is likely a reach but you should apply if you like it. UChicago is a reasonable reach, but your essay is going to be critical. You are very wise to apply to a good foundation of likely admit schools, as it's hard to tell if colleges will cut you much slack on your GPA. Your GC may have figures on acceptances at these various schools by GPA/SAT for your school. If you can see this data you will have a better idea of the numbers you are working with.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, ill go talk to my GC next week.</p>
<p>I don't think UChi is any easier to get into than Cornell. In fact, it may be harder because they admit so many fewer. If you go to a tough grading school and are taking hard classes then you are in 'chances' range, just like anyone else. You will just have to take a risk and apply. Your rank may apply. You get bonus points at CHI because you can write a really interesting essay, that (I've heard) can be a tip factor. Recco's will be a tip factor too.</p>
<p>Your gpa is fine if you have a strong or interesting application package.
If you have exceptional items, then it is do-able.</p>
<p>I agree that your acceptance can depend on how many others from your school apply--then it is between the stronger or more interesting candidates.</p>