Please advise a student with low GPA.

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello, CC Users..
I know that this is not Chance Me thread, but I would like to hear some different comments from what I usually get in the other thread.</p>

<p>To introduce myself,
I am a rising senior Asian male international student who is currently studying in Northern Virginia.
For upcoming college application, I will be applying ED to my dream school which is one of the top liberal arts colleges. (around 13% overall acceptance, around 30% for ED)
I find that school as a great fit (just fit, not necessarily grade wise) for me, and believe that school has everything I want. </p>

<p>The problem is that I have a really low GPA.
Thanks that I recalculated my UW GPA today and turned out to be at least little bit higher than what I used to know.</p>

<p>So,
MY GPA is 3.27 UW and 3.5 W Right now. Not really upward trend for UW GPA but for W GPA, yes.
I have taken almost every rigorous courses that are offered at school. I know that my W GPA should be higher but there were many subjects that did not offer honors classes and I got mostly B's even in some regular classes. (No C's, except C+ in Ap Microecon for semester for junior year).</p>

<p>For my senior year, I will be taking 4 APs, 2 regular course, and one elective that I am really interested in.</p>

<p>My SAT is alright, but not that great. It's 2170 with 600 on Reading, 780 on Writing w/ 9 Essay -1MC, and 790 on Math. (1390 M+CR, retaking in Oct.)</p>

<p>For a subject test, I have 800 on my Math 2, and 4, and 3s for AP exams.</p>

<p>My ECs are not like really amazing, but people say it's really unique and focused.
Those are that I am really passionate about and I think I have changed a lot through them.</p>

<p>I believe my recs are going to be at least okay, and possibly great.
My essay will not be about amazing experience but what I have felt and learned throughout my life and how I have changed.</p>

<p>For other information, I have lived in 6 countries
Also, I will not be applying for financial aid.</p>

<p>So that's about it for myself as a college applicant.</p>

<p>Now,
Some people say I will have a fair chance because that school is one of the most holistic schools, but many others scoff at me and say "Your GPA will not get you anywhere. Sorry but you will definitely get rejected."</p>

<p>I understand and know that GPA, or grade is the most important factor for admission to colleges, and that I cannot change them no matter what my reasons are.</p>

<p>I also know that my GPA is going to hurt a lot.</p>

<p>So here is my question.
I will be applying for my dream school ED no matter what, and I am just wondering if I really don't have any good chance of getting in because of my GPA.</p>

<p>I really want some realistic comments about my chances and advice for me to become a better applicant.</p>

<p>The thing is I am an optimist and it's one of things that I like about myself. However, I believe when some people are optimistic, they are happy with themselves so do not attempt to strive themselves to be better. </p>

<p>But now I realize that this is a time when I really should take some realistic advice, rather than hopeful comments, into my account and endeavor to become a better applicant and also, change as a better person.</p>

<p>So if anyone can tell me some thoughtful comments or advice, I will appreciate and try to take into my account.</p>

<p>Thank you for taking some time to read my post.</p>

<p>p.s. you can check my specific stats in past posts. I just do no want to go into a depth in this post.</p>

2

<p>It all depends on where you want to go. You have high scores and your GPA really isn’t all that bad. Just because everyone on this forum is an overachiever doesn’t mean you don’t have something to offer. You have picked a highly selective school it seems, but if the admissions process there is holistic, then you definitely have a shot. Just show how badly you want to get in, and maybe you will.
I would also say that you should foster relationships with teachers and your counselor, as they will be writing on your behalf. Make sure they know ‘who you are’, what you want to do, and especially where you want to go.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>We’re at a loss wthout knowing the school. Go ahead and apply. Why not? Don’t regret being dissuaded. But remember: you choose where to apply and THEY choose the students they feel best fit their needs. Do what you can to be what they need.</p>

<p>The good news about holistic is that it’s not all about stats. The bad news is that they will look at you in the context of your classmates and your fierce N.VA competition, your “not like really amazing” ECs, your maybe-okay-maybe-great LoRs. Your essay needs to be more than “what I have felt and learned throughout my life and how I have changed.” It needs to show how some experience or influence transformed or affected you, not simply detail something and state that you changed. Show-not-tell.</p>

<p>You need to take control, fast. As moon says, ensure your LoR teachers are on your team. Make sure your ECs include both depth and breadth. Write great essays. Competitive colleges look for evidence of your maturity, perspective, responsibility, leadership (that’s a quality, not simply a title,) ability to take on a challenge, etc. Plus that you have solid grounds for your belief this school is a fit- again not just saying so. You have to make your app package compelling, in these respects.</p>

4

<p>“So here is my question.
I will be applying for my dream school ED no matter what, and I am just wondering if I really don’t have any good chance of getting in because of my GPA.”</p>

<p>With a 13% acceptance rate, the answer is no, you don’t have a good chance of getting in. You have some chance - so go ahead and apply but remember ‘love thy safety.’</p>

<p>You need to come up with a list of schools that is realistic and not get hung up on a dream school that probably isn’t going to come through. If you provide the name of your dream school and why you like it, the CC crowd can probably name 10 more just like it that are less selective to get into.</p>

5

<p>Is this school “need aware”? If so, can you pay full freight? maybe that might get you an edge.</p>

<p>Does this school need more Asian students or does it already have a good amount of Asian diversity?</p>

<p>Since you’re an int’l, I think that means that you’ll be competing in the int’l pool. Does this school get a lot of int’l applicants?</p>

6

<p>Sorry for late replies. I’ve been away for while.</p>

<p>@moonman676</p>

<p>I know that not everyone is an overachiever. Same here. But frankly speaking, Im not even a lukewarm achiever in terms of grades. That’s my problem. But thanks. Im working on what uve said/</p>

<p>@lookingforward</p>

<p>I will definitely do that. And also, I am mostly done with my main essay but I realized that some of things I said were not about me. So thanks, now I see how my app should really look. </p>

<p>@M’s Mom
My dream school… Okay I will say it. It’s CMC. The reason why I want to go there is because its my perfect ideal scool. I can say more than 5 pages about why I love that school, but I dont want to mention specifics here. </p>

<p>And, I already have chosen 4 safety schools that I can be happy with.
I also have chosen about more than schools which are matches and reaches too.
The criteria I used for my college list were student-faculty ratio, what people do after college, the student environment, weather, diversity, and strong programs in IR, Langauges, Finance, Biz, or Accounting. I really put a lot of time into choosing my colleges and I am happy with my choices. there are about 7 reaches, 7 matches, and 4 safeties. (I am not too concerned with applying to many schools because some schools seem to have fairly easy supplements. Fee is not a problem.)</p>

<p>But overall, I will try to be more realistic and double-check my choices.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids
The school is need blind for all americans and as well as to internationals, but only limited to a few. So I dont know if paying full tuition will help me.</p>

<p>And I think the school has about 13% Asians. I dont know how many international students they accept but Ive seen about 6 from my country who are accepted as the class of 2015.
(And I have contacted some of them)</p>

<p>Yes, I will be in an international pool. I dont know how many intl apply to that school but I know that about 300 applicants applied for EDI last year. And 30% got in.</p>