<p>Is it possible to get into Brown with a 3.1 unweighted GPA? I have an ACT score of 30, on three varsity sports teams (state champion for one sport), have founded a very successful charity/club, have published scientific papers/good position in a lab of a well renowned hospital (a fantastic recommendation from the director), very good letters of recommendation, very good essay, honors choir, helped tutor in the two languages I fluently speak besides English, teach sports to younger kids for over a year, on my guidance counselor’s good side, possibly have connections…I have been told that these things give me a much better shot than only have the low GPA (although still a huge reach). I have also been told that Brown is more know for taking risks compared to other ivy leagues. </p>
<p>Pretty much my GPA really pulls me down but I obviously cant go back and change that…if not does anyone know any other good schools I could apply to? (although I love brown)</p>
<p>Initially I would say no but in light of recent observations on the intelligence of some athletes here...if they need you that bad you might get in. Try to get recruited.</p>
<p>Another question and no disrespect to anyone but: Is everyone who gives advice and stuff students like me, parents, people who were admissions officers etc.? I was just wondering cause this is my first time on the site and im curious about how it works. However, thanks a lot for the advice it seems like there is good advice around here</p>
<p>It’s impossible to tell who’s who. I am sure there are “■■■■■■” snooping around, and folks who think they know more than they do. But there are definitely people who do know what they are talking about, and there are those who have experience with different aspects of the forums to which they contribute. I, for one, am the mom of a current Brown sophomore, a girl, and so I speak from that experience. There are others who regularly contribute to this forum who contribute their information from their own experiences.</p>
<p>Many of the people who answer in “chances” threads are students who know about as much as you do – which is pretty little. They answer based on what happened to their friends last year, and their advice is pretty useless. Many parents (like me) won’t tell a student their chances because we know the only people who know that are the admissions officers, and they aren’t talking. There are some admissions officers on CC, but I don’t think any would tell you your chances. I have been interviewing students for Brown as an alum for almost 30 years, and base most of my answers on that experience. In that timeframe, fewer than 10 have gotten accepted. </p>
<p>Most colleges have a class profile where you can figure out your own chances. If you look at Brown’s, you can answer your own question – the chances of being accepted with a 3.1 is very low, unless your school is very tough and so you have a high rank despite a low GPA. Of course, there are some students who get in with low GPAs, and for them the chance was 100%.</p>
<p>And despite its reputation, for the most part, Brown really doesn’t take many risks in its acceptances. It wants to accept students who it feels can handle the hefty workload. If your grades or SAT scores make them doubt your ability to handle that workload, that’s a tough obstacle to overcome.</p>
<p>Yeah, I frequently comment on threads like this and I base my information on raw statistics that universities put out. What franglish said occurs way too often.</p>
<p>thanks a lot for the replies. To answer some question
My main sport is wrestling and i might try to get recruited (not sure how much that helps).
So do you think I should apply or would it be a waste of 80 dollars?
Is it very rare that people with my GPA get accepted? A friend of mine got into Cornell with similar grades (I think he had a 3.2-3.3) and above average SAT scores. People talked about how his father did something to get him in (alumni). Although it is probably very rare, should I apply in case the admission’s officers do see something they like?
b’smom: Sorry but I unfortunately dont have a good explanation for the low GPA. I did pretty poorly freshman year (all B’s and B-'s) because I had not matured enough, taken school seriously (although again not an excuse). However, there has been a significant trend upwards. I usually have B+ to A-'s in most classes. The thing that pulls GPA dwn significant is Science (which I usually get a C in every year although it is AP/honors)
Thanks again for all your help</p>
<p>Do you know your rank, or approximately where you place in your class? If you check out <a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University, you’ll see that of the 1815 students who applied ranked in the second tenth and below, only 3 percent were accepted. (Of ACT scorers between 29 and 32, 9 percent were accepted.) There had to be a really really good reason why Brown accepted those 62 students. Remember that almost every student who applies has good recommendations and interesting extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Brown doesn’t publish any statistics about acceptances based on GPA, so there is no way anyone can answer your question. If your rank is low, the answer is there.</p>
<p>I don’t do chances, but if I were you I’d have a heart-to-heart with your guidance counselor.</p>
<p>seeing as there was a guy who got into Harvard last year with a 2.89(no URM, no legacy, not an athlete), I’d say you have a chance. A damn slim one, but you stil have a chance. Your essays/recs should be godly.</p>
<p>well he must have had something else too cause everyone who applies had high SAT’s, great Ec’s AND exceptional grades. Why should he get in over everyone else who had more? Unless he had some kind of hook…</p>
<p>another question: Will the economy affect admissions this year and next year? How will it change? Would it be easier to get admitted if one does not need financial aid?</p>
<p>To answer your last question: In theory, at schools like Brown which are need-blind (which means admissions does not take financial need into account), the recession will have no impact on admissions and so no, it will not be easier to get admitted if you are wealthy.</p>
<p>But there are people who believe that no school is truly need blind and that financial need is always factored in.</p>
<p>So the answer to your question depends on whether you take the schools’ word at face value and believe what they say, or if you are a skeptic who doesn’t believe it.</p>
<p>I don’t know which it is. But I think the term “easier” is all relative. Consider a school like Brown, where the overall acceptance rate is 13 percent. If it is “easier” for a wealthy applicant to get in – perhaps their acceptance is 20%. That still means that 4 of every 5 wealthy kids are denied. </p>
<p>And I doubt the disparity is that large. The reality is that many applicants to top schools are wealthy – poorer students don’t even bother to apply.</p>
<p>I’m sure you can find plenty of threads here on CC that discuss the broader question about the effect of the recession on admissions. It’s having a huge effect.</p>