Please Chance A Junior Looking At The East Coast

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

unweighted/weighted: 3.5/3.95

32 ACT (2nd try, maybe taking it again)

Courseload: Typically mostly honors classes through junior year, (yet to reach senior year). 1 AP sophomore (all that is offered for sophomores). 2 AP’s junior year. Hopefully more senior year. (AP Human Geography, AP Lang, APUSH).

EC’s: (Anything with 1+, 2+, etc. means there will be another year of it): 3+ years in an award winning nationally recognized marching band. 3+ years in jazz band (2+ in an award-winning top level jazz band). 3+ years of band class (1+ in a nationally recognized Wind Ensemble). Music Mentoring association- 3+ years as a mentor for teaching kids of all backgrounds how to play music. Scouting (50+ community service hours). Robotics club (competed in VEX Robotics, 2+ years). Student Council/Government 1+ years.

Leadership/Awards: Eagle Scout. SPL of troop, during my leadership we won multiple northeast regional awards. Philmont Trek: I was crew leader of my crew on a 12 day trek at Philmont (for those not in scouting: it’s 12 days of backcountry backpacking in New Mexico). Marching band- section leader. Music Mentoring association- 2+ years on the leadership board. Leader of Robotics club 1+ years.

Hardships: Legitimate health issues fresh/soph year, took down gpa. Treated by doctors sophomore year.

Intended Major: International Affairs or Global Security (NOT political science). Varies by college.

Schools:

First choices: Cornell (I have a legacy, and plan to apply ED).

Middlebury (plan to apply ED 2 if Cornell doesn’t go well).

Second Choices: Boston University, Brandeis, Northeastern

Third Choice: UConn (my in-state flagship school).

Many of you may scoff at scores or grades, however, how much would it really effect me?

2

You’ve got a decent shot at most of these colleges. Cornell, unfortunately is likely out of reach. I would focus on some safety schools as well.

3

I think you have a good chance will everything you listed besides Cornell. I would strongly suggest finding some more target range or safety schools that have what you are looking for and that you are legitimately excited about.

4

Which college within Cornell? Is it the same college that you have legacy at?
Do you need financial aid?
Whats your class rank?
Are you URM? ORM?

5

Cornell does not require applicant to apply within the same college as the Cornell parent to benefit from legacy status. In fact, Cornell gives the legacy applicant the benefit (in ED) if a parent graduated from ANY Cornell University program (including any Cornell graduate program or professional school).

That said, unless OP has another hook besides legacy, the GPA is low for an ED admission.

6

^^ Not sure I agree. In my son’s BS class, there were about 5 kids accepted to Cornell ED. I know for a fact that one of these kids had a GPA less than 3.5. Legacy can be a strong hook, especially for Cornell. And this legacy benefit can probably be strengthened if the parent also graduated from the same college within Cornell.

7

It’s been a while since I’ve last checked this thread, so thank you for the responses. I want to go into the college of AAP for urban planning- my parent graduated from AAP with a BFA.

8

First of all, congratulations on some pretty great ECs.

Your GPA is relatively low for Middlebury, Boston University, Brandeis, and Northeastern. Unless you have a hook or something really interesting that will bring you to their attention, you chances at any of these are pretty low.

Midd doesn’t post the GPA ranges of its accepted students, but if you look at the stats of students, but unofficially it’s over 3.9. Your ACT is on the bottom of their mid 50%. Their acceptance rate is 17%, so your chances are pretty low - you can consider it a high reach

For Northeastern, both your ACT and your GPA are in the bottom 25% of the students who they accept, and their acceptance rate is around 18%, so this college is also a high reach for you.

For Brandeis you’re in a better situation, but your GPA is still substantially below their UW average of 3.84. Their acceptance rate is 31%, and it would be a reach for you, but still feasible

For Boston U, you’re GPA is still below their average (3.72), and your ACT is at the bottom of their mid 50%. However, their acceptance rate is pretty low 9around 19%), so it’s likely more of a reach for you than Brandeis.

So your Second Choices are all reaches or high reaches. Uconn may be a low match, rather than a safety, so you should look for a true safety.

While your legacy status will help you at Cornell, your GPA is pretty low, relative to that of the students who are generally accepted at Cornell. SO again, you have a chance, but that chances isn’t all that high.

You have great ECs, and you would likely have a great chance at many colleges out there, especially LACs, however, the colleges at which you are looking are all reaches for most people, and for you these colleges are reaches or high reaches.

Apply to them them if your are interested in attending them, but also find yourself some more matches as well as a true safety.

Good luck (and I hope that you prove that I underestimated your chances)!!

9

I would add a safety. I do not think that U.Conn is quite a safety for you.

Of course, how you finish up this year will matter. A strong junior year could help you significantly.

Do you have any budget limit?

10

@MWolf Thank you for the response! I looked into those schools more, and found that they are much more of a reach than I previously thought- and many students from my school go on to applying to Boston area schools…making it tougher for me to get in.

@DadTwoGirls Thanks for the response. No budget limit…yet. Cornell could be doable if I get in. but say Boston University of 55,000+ (with no aid) it’s not happening. Also, I looked into UConn more, realized I underestimated how good a school it was, and don’t plan on counting on it. Looking at true safeties (ex: Champlain College).

11

You spelled “affect” wrong, fyi. For a safety school with a strong urban planning department, you might consider looking at Rutgers.

12

I wrote this post a decent while ago, but it’s good to know my spelling is still affecting me… :slight_smile:

Recently took a good look at some other schools to broaden my view of possible colleges, and I actually did look at Rutgers.

13

I am not sure how BC at 55k is out of reach but Cornell is doable. If you get into Cornell bc of the hook I doubt you would get any money. So unless your parents are willing to pay full sticker so their child can go to the same school as them I think you will be out of luck. Rutgers will be 50 plus oos, if money becomes a issue UConn would be you best bet assuming you get in.

14

@NJdad07090 Cornell would be doable as my parents would be much more willing to put in a little more money for that. A safety that might give me a decent amount of money might be something like Champlain College. UConn, if I get in, will have the instate tuition like you said.

15

I really think you have to get a idea what your parents are willing to pay, I get that they may stretch their budget for an IVY, but earlier you said you were gonna do Milldebury as ed 2 if Cornell does not work out, at ED one or 2 your committing to that school if they accept you. Middlebury is about 72,000 , is that a dollar amount you and your family would be ok with?

16

@NJdad07090 My grandparents love LAC’s for some reason, and they especially love Middlebury. They told my older sibling that if they were to go to Middlebury that they would help pay a huge chunk of tuition. He didn’t apply, so that rule might apply to me.

17

@Schoolstruggles it is great that you have grandparents who may be willing to help in a large way but I would still suggest defining what is a “huge chunk”

18

@NJdad07090 I actually expanded my horizons of the schools I was looking at, especially because of money- sure, in the case of Cornell and Middlebury, I could be okay, but I’m starting to think it might not be worth it to take that chance.

And to answer your question, around $20k (a lot!) which would bring it below 55k.

19

@schoolstruggles , I am glad your grandparents are willing to help you, that is great. What I do not get is you stated earlier BU is out at 55k but it seems it would not be out if you had this help from your GP. Not sure if you are thinking grad school as well but it may make sense to stay in state and safe some money for grad school if your major requires it. If you were my child I would advise Cornell if you could get in or UConn to save money. Maybe see if a SUNY school has your major. OOS tuition but still may work for you. I still think as others do that you need more safeties on your list.

20

@schoolstruggles

I have had students who had Bx, Mx, PhDx legacies and they all got in (even with fairly decent but not brilliant grades). Legacy does help a lot for the Ivies and I have seen Cornell give it exceptional weight.

What are your summer plans? why wouldn’t you up to your ACT? You have plenty of time available. Get it up to at least a 33 or 34 comps with no score less than 32. With the new single-component testing starting up; Crack on with some lessons and get your lowest or even your average components pumped up.

Make sure your school guidance counselors make note of your health issues and their impact on your GPA. Do not mention it on your app, do not write about it on your essays; do not talk about it during your interviews. Let him/her do that job for you instead. Let her know that your have Cornell legacy in advance and that it will be your ED choice.

If you do a couple of additional things over the course of the year, I would certainly give you a thumbs up for Cornell ED admit.