Need completely realistic advice

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I'm a junior at a high school, looking at colleges.</p>

<p>I have a GPA around 2.75 out of 4, 3.45 out of 5, for the first two years. A combination of ADD and laziness contributed to that monstrosity. However, my junior year GPA is so far coming out to 3.2 on a scale of 4.</p>

<p>I have a 2390 SAT, losing 10 pts on writing, so a perfect 1600 on a 1600 scale. I have 3 SAT IIs, 800 on Math II, 800 in Chem, 760 in Bio, and plan on taking Physics SAT II. I have two APs from sophomore year, AP Calc BC and AP Comp Sci A, both with 5s. I plan on taking 6 more APs this year, and hope to get four or five 5s (Macroecon, AP Chem, AP Comp Sci B, AP Lang) and maybe one 4 (APUS) and one 3 (AP Spanish.. hopefully). Next year I plan on taking 5 more.</p>

<p>I have a very very loaded course schedule, taking Multivariable Calc in junior year plus 4 AP classes, and 2 APs last year. Also, I participate in MUN, Fed Challenge, Math Club (part of first place HMMT team this year, but individually closer to 42ndish) and do some volunteer tutoring after school.</p>

<p>As you can see, I like to consider myself academically talented, unfortunately my GPA does not show that because of the many HW assignments I've missed and deadlines I passed in my first half of school. This has mostly been resolved this year, with the only issue being AP Spanish, which was a wrong class to take.</p>

<p>Realistically, what colleges should I be looking at?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.</p>

3

<p>I’m just afraid that my GPA could be an eliminating factor at that high of a tier. Should that be a cause for concern?</p>

4

<p>I would definitely apply to top-tier schools like Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. The thing is, they’re going to read 2 things in to the difference between your test scores and your GPA. </p>

<ol>
<li>You are very, very smart.</li>
<li>You are lazy. </li>
</ol>

<p>Apply for some of the Ivies and maybe a few other prestigious schools (Carnegie Mellon, Emory, maybe Vanderbilt) but mix a few safeties in as well, just in case. I’d put money on you going to a private, well-known school, but play it safe just in case.</p>

5

<p>So, you can take APs and get a 5 but only muster a C+ or B- for the year?
I mean, you definitely must get like A+ in your math class, and an A or an A+ in your science class, right?
If so, apply to MIT.</p>

6

<p>I’m guessing it’s kids telling you to apply to HYP. Frankly, they would be unrealistic. Those schools accept a fraction of applicants with perfect stats and incredible EC’s.</p>

<p>You would be a good candidate to transfer to a highly competitive school after a couple of really good years in college. Hopefull the ADD is under control and you can really show your stuff.</p>

<p>As GPA/rank is the number one factor in college admission, right now I think you’re looking at state schools where your SAT can often compensate for GPA in the formulas the use and private colleges ranked under 25 with a truly holistic approach. If you’re able to pay that will also help a lot.</p>

7

<p>Definitely, Definitely, Definitely have a safety on your list. With your scores people will tell you to apply to the most competitive schools which is fine. BUT getting into any of those is a crapshoot. Have a safety you like and are willing to attend. If you won’t go there, it’s not a safety - it’s a waste of application fees.</p>

8

<p>Many excellent schools don’t even look at freshman year (Princeton, etc.), and other colleges discount sophomore year. The most important time regarding your grades is junior and first semester of your senior year, so just try your best to get a 4.0. If you go to a very competitive prep school, a 3.4 might be a really good GPA. It’s all in context.</p>

<p>hmom5, rank is only very important if you go to a mediocre high school. At good prep schools, nearly all the students would be top 10% in a regular public school, which is why high schools supply a school profile.</p>

9

<p>As a parent who sent 3 kids to ver top prep schools, with all due respect ca87, you’re totally wrong. And while Princeton may not calculate in freshman year grades, they ver much consider rank and calculate one for ever student who attends a school that doesn’t rank.</p>

<p>Having been an ivy adcom, I can all but assure you this candidate has no chance at one or anthing close now.</p>

10

<p>hmom5 - interesting - and good to know. </p>

<p>OP, not to worry: there is a wealth of OUTSTANDING universities that would welcome someone like you. Not knowing where you live or what you want in a school (size? rural/urban? LAC/research U?) it’s hard to advise, so give us something more to go on.</p>

11

<p>How could they calculate a rank for a school that doesn’t provide one? My school doesn’t send rank and average students get into top 20 universities and LACs.</p>

12

<p>Almost no private school ranks. The colleges have formulas based on past applicants from your school, your school’s profile and if there’s any question, conversations with your counselor. If you want more detail, read A is For Admission which spells it out.</p>

<p>Be careful in looking at elite high school scattergrams. These schools are filled with legacies, development candidates, recruited athletes and the otherwise connected. Most schools don’t note these hooks in their scattergrams.</p>

<p>While students at top high schools get into great colleges, the bar for them is very high at ivies as they seek increased diversity and up the numbers of the low income, URMs and internationals while maintaining the number of athletes and legacies.</p>

13

<p>Just an update, I guess. I ended up getting into Caltech, and Carnegie Mellon, and I’m attending Caltech!</p>

14

<p>Thanks for updating! I would have guessed CalTech or MIT would admit you.</p>

15

<p>Wow, apply to any top tier school of your choice man. But make sure you have a few safety schools, because your GPA is kind of sketchy. I’m assuming you did SUPER good your Junior year, so a lot of colleges love when progress is made. Just try them all man, you’ll get into a good college, maybe even an Ivy League.</p>

16

<p>Awesome! I didn’t even see that this is from 2009 until I saw your update. Congrats! :)</p>

<p>Any advice on how to turn it around and convince colleges that the low GPA was a fluke? I am in sort of the same situation except not quite as extreme on either end (2270 SAT, 3.2 UW GPA, 4 W GPA (out of 5) sophomore year). I’m also a senior (junior grades were much, much improved). Also, I’m not expecting to get into Ivies or anything, but aiming for the level a little below (Northwestern, Tufts, etc.).</p>

<p>Would you say the “upward trend” is a big deal? In your essays did you specifically talk about it? I don’t have ADD, but I had an extreme lack of motivation which led to laziness, and that isn’t really the best excuse for underperforming, lol.</p>

<p>Thanks, and congrats once again!</p>

17

<p>Wow, congratulations to you! I am happy you got into such a great school. :)</p>

<p>If you don’t mind, I, like gingerbreadmann, would like some advice on getting into a good school with a low-ish GPA but strong test scores. I have my hopes set on the top UC’s and some LACs but I am really worried my low GPA will significantly negatively impact my chances. :frowning: I am a senior this year, by the way.</p>

<p>I hope you could offer some help and tips and I would truly appreciate any help you could provide. Thank you so much and I hope you have a great experience at Caltech!</p>