Messed up my grades for dank EC's - Do I still stand a chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Thank you all for taking the time to read my post and I’ll definitely chance back!

Schools:
NU, JHU, Cornell <- ED’ing to 1 of them | UNC CH (OOS), UMich(OOS) <- EA | UCB(OOS), UCLA(OOS), USC, UChicago, Vanderbilt, NYU, Emory, GWU, Tufts, Tulane + misc. safeties <- RD

My profile is:

Expected Major: Economics/Philosophy
SAT I (breakdown): 2160 single sitting (780/M 720/W 660/CR) 2220 Super (780/M 720/W 720/CR) - New test 1500 (700 RW/ 800 M 8/8/8 essay)
ACT: taking in June, hoping for a 33+
SAT II: Taking them in June but my expected scores are above a 730 on both US and Math 2
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.75 (Using the normal college recalculation) - All of my B’s happened sophomore year due to a personal issue that I’m going have my GC put in her rec. Further junior year I am getting strait A’s with a very rigorous schedule so I’m hoping that helps.
Weighted GPA: 4.35 (Using same calculation)
School doesn’t report rank but should be in top 10%
AP : World history (4), Stats(5), Taking USH, Physics and Lang right now (I’m a junior) - but I don’t plan on reporting my scores on the initial app (or should I??)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics 2, AP calc AB, AP Lit, AP Micro, AP Macro, AP Comp Gov, AP Psychology, Advanced research program(Applying to STS)
Total AP’s: 12

Extracurriculars (This is what I’m banking my app on):
National Debate/Forensics:

  • Awards: NSDA All State, NSDA Academic All American, Ranked within top 40 in the nation, Top point scorer in our district
  • Competition Results: Received octofinalist (top 16) or better at the following national tournaments (All had competitor pools of about 200): Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, College Preparatory School, Scarsdale. Qualifier to the NSDA and NCFL national tournaments and 2 time NDCA National tournament qualifier. 4 time state qualifier.
  • Leadership: School team captain, school representative to the leadership committee, started a company that offers a coaching network and free resources to young and independent debaters (we also run monthly seminars for my district), started an acredited philosophy course in our school.

Extras:

  • Founder and president of the philosophy club
  • Vice president of the world reach club where I’ve also volunteered for about 50 hours.
    -2 time DECA state qualifier, 1 time international qualifier. Finished as top 10 in the state sophomore year and placed third in the state junior year.
    -JV tennis in 9 and 10 and was captain my sophomore year.
    -5 time selection to All County for Bass-Full NYSMA completion -Only underclassman accepted to CW Post Graduate Ensemble
  • Consistently selected for Honor roll/member of national honor society
    Job/Work Experience: Paid private tutor, Intern at the state attorney general’s office.
    Volunteer/Community service: Volunteered 100+ hours at local hospital, Went on a trip to India to volunteer at Mother Teresa’s Ashram
    Summer Activities: Attended debate camp for 3 years, intern, work
    Race: White
2

Your ECs were damp and cold?

3

Lol probably shouldn’t have choose that adjective to describe them, just something us kids on the east coast say.

4

Show appropriate interest and you should hit on many of those schools. Congrats on a stellar record!

5

Seems like you’ve got a strong group of extracurriculars (esp your debate activities which could definitely stand out).

I’d ask you

  1. What type of persona do you plan on giving off?
  2. What do you plan on writing your essays on?

Getting into UM no problem, getting into Cornell/JHU may be a little more difficult and largely hinge upon how you answer those 2 questions.

Feel free to message me if you need any more help.

6

Bump if anyone else has other input :slight_smile:

7

Where on the East Coast are you? I’m a high schooler looking for debate opportunities on the East Coast but can’t find many.

8

I had a GPA a good amount lower and test scores a good amount higher, with extracurriculars maybe similar in quality, and a courseload probably similar in rigor and I got into Michigan OOS from a very competitive state - so definitely go for it.

9

@Poepoe1876 I wouldn’t say UM is no problem. A lot of students with high stats from the East Coast apply there, and OOS is extremely competitive, especially the EA round. I go to a public high school in Cleveland and at least 10 kids apply there EA every year, and usually only 1 or 2 gets in (and these are all applicants with these kinds of stats)

10

Pretty well done. As you stated, your GPA is low. However, I think your EC make up for this. You have a good list of schools. You should be a competitive applicant. The main issue is going to be your essays and recorders. Also, presenting your wide array of EC in a compelling manner.