Should I even bother applying?
I have a 4.79 W 3.5 UW GPA (Straight A’s junior year), top 20 or so%, half-decent GPA but terrible for Questbridge.
SAT: 1190 (630 R)(560 M) (Bottom of the barrel abysmal sat scores). I have always had significant struggles with focusing in order to take timed tests. Not finishing tests has caused me to drop an entire letter grade a few times in my academic career. I have learned to tough it out to some extent, but the timing for the SAT is extremely rough for me. I have taken it 3 times, but I will take it a 4th time in October on a full stomach with 8 hours of sleep, something to chew on, watch, and practice tests simulating real test conditions (during practice tests I’ve done much better and listened to music to focus, poor decision). Timing issue, not really content.
Ec’s: Consist of State wide activism and a national activist youth council. GSA leader, Environmental club. some prestigious like internship. Cool stuff that I care a lot about.
Recs: Both Science Teachers. One can speak to my academic strength and I have been her assistant for 1 school year, and one can speak to my reslience and highly unique challenges at home.
AP’s: 8 Thus far Passed All Exams But 2
Hooks I guess: Black , LGBTQ+, sexual assault survivor (i guess that is a hook)?,low income(not really a hook, lots of people applying are low-income), Incarcerated Parent (probably not a hook)
Income Bracket : 30K
I think I have made a slight breakthrough in my timing situation and I feel confident about hitting a 1350+ for the october sat, which I could use for ED I and or ED II
Given my abysmal GPA and low sat score, should I bother applying to questbridge? Do I have a chance of becoming a finalist?
Please note @shouldIbothera that hooks are generally standard across most universities.
They are not things you suppose, presume or say are hooks because you say so.
Legacy- children of Alumni
Recruited Athletes
URM
Large donors - (think donating buildings or hospital wings)
“Celebrities”/Olympians/ or children of international fame (Obama girls, Malala)
First generation (but this appears to be less of a hook nowadays)
-and something very specific that the university needs (ex/ a tuba player, a noted painter/artist - - specific to a university’s needs).
You could apply to Questbridge but I know they are really competitive and really do like high GPA’s in spite of the modest circumstances of the students.
Go ahead and apply. My son went through this process last year and honestly, it didn’t seem to make a lot of sense as far as who they chose and who they didn’t. Some people with excellent stats and extremely poor weren’t chosen and others with average grades and families with more money were chosen. (someone with an ACT of 25 matched, but another person with a 36 didn’t). Please be sure to also apply to other colleges, safeties, etc. Only something like 15% of the finalists get matched in December and another 35% get chosen regular decision in March. Also, be prepared to do a lot of paperwork in a short amount of time. For each college you choose during the match, you have to submit transcripts, scores, financial info, essays, etc. Last year we only had a month to complete these items and it was a lot of work. We were sure my son was going to get selected, but he didn’t. By the time we found out he didn’t match, it was too late to apply ED, where the admission rates are higher than RD. Good luck!