Hi!! I posted a few weeks ago but I really did not have any answers, and I am kinda lost.
I am a rising senior that has been crippled by her freshman GPA. During 9th grade I did my first semester in Mexico, and then got really sick on the second semester and was out of school for 2 months, during that time I also moved permanently to the US after living in Mexico for 5 years. I finally got back to school but my freshman year lasted one month and a half, I was unfamiliar with the system, and I ended with a 2.1, I did not have any AP classes or honors. (I will ask my counselor to explain the situation and maybe justify my low performance).
I changed schools in sophomore year and I took 2 AP classes. I ended up with a 3.7
I just finished junior year and I took 3 AP classes. I ended up with a 4.4. I also took 3 classes at UCSD (my school and UCSD are partners) and a class at my local community college, and I got solid A’s on those classes.
After the end of my freshman year, my family experienced a really tragic and violent loss. My little cousin was murdered and we both were really close (she actually lived next door, and I saw her as my little sister). I do want to talk about it in my essays, cause it really changed my perspective about life and my environment. As you can imagine, my environment became colorless and everyone became bitter and full of hatred towards life. But as of right now I am completely fine now, I am healed.
I am planning on taking the most rigorous schedule and science related that I can next year, I want to major in bioengineering. I was just wondering if there was any chances for me to be accepted at any highly selective schools?, how much would they weight my freshman GPA? Because my main concern is the fact that my cumulative GPA is so low as a result of the month and a half of my freshman year, are they going to value the fact that I overcame those significant challenges and improved every year?
Thank you for your comments! I also included my full stats on another post (re-taking the ACT in september so I can raise my math score) if you guys could help me with my list I would really appreciate it too. As of right now, I would just like to know if I do stand a chance at really selective schools.
Hi! I think some more information would help - like test scores, unweighted GPA, etc. (I couldn’t find your other post). Also, it depends what particular schools you’re looking for and how “selective” they are - all schools have different policies and student bodies.
If your GC explains it and you touch on it in your essay then you have a good chance considering you are URM and had to change schools multiple times. As far as cousin’s death, many students battle illness and loss of parents and siblings so I don’t know if it’s going to matter much. In my niece’s school, one kid’s dad killed mom and committed suicide in front of his son. I know it’s harsh to say that your cousin’s death didn’t impact you as much but adcoms hear lots of tragic stories every year.
Without scores and GPA, and some idea what schools you are talking about, no one can tell you. What you need to do is come up with s list of solid matches & safeties that you would be happy to attend and that you can afford. Then put in a couple of reach applications if you want to.
@sunshine232 I took the ACT and got a 33 ( M:30, E:34,R:35 & S:33) I am taking it again on september to raise my math score, since I’m studying for the Math II subject test. I am taking Chemistry as well, I’ll take them in october. I am not sure about my UW GPA, I’d have to check it. I was ranked 16 out of 67 last semester, but I’m pretty sure I went up this semester. I took my first AP exams this year, so I don’t have scores in yet. My UC GPA is 4.12 and I was president and founder of the STEM club at my school, along with another club for students to become tutors to other students too. I have around 200-300 hours of service at a middle school in Mexico tutoring them in Math/English/Science, around 150 with the club I made, and I will have more by the end of the summer at a chemistry lab at SDSU. That’s pretty much it, I don’t really have any awards except for some speeches that I have given and 3 other ones that my school gave me for my academic excellence. My main choice for highly selective schools is Harvey Mudd, then it is followed by UC Berkeley, and the rest of the UC’s. (UCD, UCSB, UCSD, and UCI). Thanks for answering!
Are you a US citizen or permanent resident?
@WorryHurry411 Thanks for answering! I understand. I thought it was worth mentioning because she actually was 5 years old and was murdered by her father, who also killed himself. It has been really challenging, but I don’t think I’ll go into details when I write about it. What should my GC mention? Or I should mention? Thanks!
@intparent Thanks for answering! I was thinking about UC’s and a few CSU’s (Cal Poly SLO, SDSU and SJSU) along with Harvey Mudd. I commented above the summary of my stats! I am a US citizen. Thanks
I’m sorry but as I said, it may not bear much weight in eyes of adcoms. Your GC can mention all the hurdles you faced and how you still managed to improve your grades and keep a good attitude.
I think you have a decent chance at the UC’s minus Berkeley - probably high matches except SB, a regular match. Berkeley will be tough, I’d call it a reach. Harvey Mudd also a reach. Have your GC mention moving schools, illness, violence and loss in family.
If you are a URM and economically disadvantaged then you have a chance at UCB or Harvey Mudd but otherwise it’s very unlikely. No harm in trying though.
@sunshine232 I understand, should I also mention some of that or leave it all to her? What about Cal Poly SLO, SDSU, and SJSU? Thank you!
@WorryHurry411 thanks! It’s good to keep it in mind, I obviously want to be able to be distinguished. I guess my strength is that I am Mexican and a female, but that’s the only thing.
16/67 puts you in the top 25%. If that includes freshman year, you and your GC may want to recalculate your gpa without first year, just to see and for the purpose of his/her LoR for other colleges.
Be cautious how you approach the loss in your main essay. It’s for college admissions,not an ordinary writing challenge, and you want adcoms to see the strengths they want in their community. You haven’t mentioned here whether the tragedy inspired you to do some sort of good around you, have some impact.
What Mudd is going to care most about is whether you can do the work and that you understand/want that rigorous an environment.
@lookingforward I do have to re-check it with her because I changed school for the second semester of sophomore year, but I’ll do it when we come back to school. As for that essay I actually have one written and revised by my teachers and apparently it’s good, but I’ll revise it more before sending it. I didn’t go into details in here, but I made sure to write it on my essay (it’s like 90% impact on me and 10 % what happened).
@intparent so my GPA isn’t going to hurt me that much?
I can’t tell what your unweighted GPA is. Also, how are your math & science grades specifically? My kid got in with a 3.7, but extremely high test scores and some very strong ECs.
@intparent I’ll have to check with my counselor about my UW GPA because I changed schools. I’m taking AP Calc AB next year, and I’ve always had A’s on my math and science classes, I’ll also take other AP science class depending on what my school will offer (it’s a really new school, my class will be the second graduating).
The UC and CS systems both disregard freshman year I am pretty sure. Verify that is still the case, of course, but dont stress too much.