Mixed Majors w/ Low GPA - Chance me?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I’m currently a HS student in an affluent area of Southern California.
I’m looking to major in Finance/Marketing or Economics. (Hoping to go into perhaps law or banking)
GPA UW - 3.26
GPA Weighted - 3.72

SAT- Only able to take once before the pandemic (testing the waters) - 1160
Planning not to submit any test scores, as I have not been able to really take them.

AP Courses taken - AP Chemistry, AP World, APUSH, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP English Language.

AP Courses currently taking - AP Spanish 4, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, AP Government and Politics - planning to take AP Macroeconomics second semester.

Extracurriculars:
VP of the school’s school garden club (2 years)
Founder of the school’s chapter of an Cultural student union. (2 Years)
School’s Performing Arts Program - magnet program (2 years)
Student Council for the Performing Arts Program (1 Year)
Secretary of a science club focused on volunteering. (2 Years)

Planning on applying to several UCs, Amherst College, NYU Gallatins, GWU, Bentley U, Indiana Kelley, Fordham, Villanova, Babson, Emerson, BU, Drexel, and Colgate.

Wondering if I’m reaching too high, especially on some of these colleges or if I have a chance or not.
Thanks, J.

2

With a 3.26 GPA, I see a maybe at Emerson and a maybe at Drexel. But those maybes are not confident maybes. Also maybe at IU, but not a direct admit into Kelly.

There are others here more knowledgeable about the UCs and they know better than me, but my understanding is each UC has high GPA targets for applicants and I don’t think 3.26 will do it.

I think you’ll a better chance at admit-success if you ignore the brand name top100 rankings and look toward other schools. For instance, if you’re enamored with NYC, Philly, or the DMV area, try Saint Joseph’s (PA), Manhattan College, Loyola Maryland (Baltimore), Temple, Hofstra.

Instead of the UCs, focus on the Cal States - but even some of those will be reaches. For instance, at CSFullerton only 9% of incoming freshmen had GPA below 3.25. Your 3.26 puts you right at the cusp of that. It looks like you might have a bit better chance at places like Chico, Riverside, Long Beach and other CSs.

If your family can afford the high prices of those private universities, certainly apply if it’s your dream. However, be prudent and apply to several schools where your odds of being admitted are more realistic. In this year of Test Optional applications, schools will rely even more heavily on GPA for admissions decisions.

Good luck

3

“I’m looking to major in Finance/Marketing or Economics” Emerson does not offer those majors.

4

Amherst and Colgate are really, really big reaches. D20’s attends one of those and with a 1460 and unweighted gpa of over 96 on a 100 point scale. The school was a reach for her. If you like LACs in the northeast, maybe look at St. Lawrence, Hobart and William Smith or Clark in Worcester, MA. They may be high matches or low reaches but they are less unrealistic.

5

Oh sorry, I’m applying to some art schools also (RISD and Emerson) - didn’t clarify my bad!