<p>My college application choices are kind of odd; I applied to two state schools and four highly ranked schools. What do you think my chances are? The schools (aside from the state schools) are Washington U in st. louis, Northwestern, Duke, and Grinnell.</p>
<p>My stats:
3.2 GPA (unweighted, hardest course selection possible)
33 ACT (11/12 on the writing)
1550/2230 SAT (770 verbal, 780 math, 680 english)
national merit semifianlist
ap scholar with honor (two 5's and two 4's)</p>
<p>EC's:
Lots of music stuff, I'm a two-year All-State (along with various other honor bands) trumpet player, principal trumpet in the school's wind ensemble and the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra, soloist with the marching band, lead trumpet in the pit orchestra, 1st trumpet in a brass quintet, along with Division I (highest state rating) ratings for marching band, jazz band, and solo work. I'm also the drummer for the jazz ensemble, both Show Choir combos, and two jazz choirs. I do have a job, but i work only about 12 hours per week.</p>
<p>REC's: i have three teacher rec's, one was phenomenal, the other was really, really good but a little overdone, and the third one was the most interesting (and helpful in other ways) as it dealt with my personality, specific class work ( a particular essay she was impressed with) and some events of my life.</p>
<p>Currently, I'm taking another 5 ap courses, hoping to be the first person in my school's history to be both a national merit finalist and a national ap scholar. </p>
<p>Your stanrd test scores are higher than your GPA. If you can bring up your GPA with your AP classes, I think you have a >50% chance to get in any of those colleges.</p>
<p>Also, a follow up question: does anyone know how strongly colleges consider courseload? When available, I've always taken honors or AP courses in a subject area, and my school does not weight grades (an A in an AP class is equal to an A in a freshman reading course). I realize my gpa is still unimpressive, but will colleges consider in my benefit that I could've taken easier course and had a much higher gpa (with roughly the same amount of work)?</p>
<p>I suppose you have a shot, but a C in German and a C in mythology is not going to look good. I mean, if you get a C in AP physics, it can be because you're just not good enough at that sort of thing no matter how hard you work, or it could be because you haven't yet gotten to a high enough level of math to master the material. In other words, there are excuses. But German and mythology are classes you can ace with brute force studying, and your standardized test scores would indicate that you are quite bright. Studying should be easy for you.</p>
<p>You're going to be a tough case for admissions officers. Do they admit you based on your potential or your academic record? I suspect you'll get some rejections. You may very well get some acceptances, as well.</p>
<p>I seem to have your same kind of situation: middle ranking gpa with high ranking SATs and scores. It will help that you have taken the hardest courses and schools will also take into consideration the type of school you attend when looking at your gpa. Your high SATs will really help. Also, if you have a letter/essay about if there was a reason for the lower gpa, this could also assist you. For now, it is really hard to say. I do have a feeling though, that Grinnell could very well be an acceptance. I have a friend with ADD applying there and she has said that they are very forgiving with respect to the gpa.</p>
<p>there isn't a good reason for the poor gpa; school has never been important to me (i am interested in learning, but only recently have i begun to care about school itself). Would a letter expressing my desire to learn things that interest me as well as participate in multiple musical activities instead of stressing over homework and grades be well received?</p>