Should I be worried about UGA????

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Georgia
1

I got deferred from EA, but I don’t really feel nervous about getting in RD, however, a lot of people at my school are nervous about getting in which makes me feel like I should be worried about my changes.

My GPA is 3.95 W, don’t know UW
Rank: 45/684 (top 10%)
SAT: 1040 (reason I got deferred! lol, )
Took the ACT while waiting for admissions got a 26.
Will graduate with taking 8 APs, rest of classes are honors or gifted

EC’s
National Honor Society (Officer)
German Club President
German National Honor Society President
Student Ambassador
Social Justice Club Vice President
yearly, I organize a donation drive at school for refugees in metro Atlanta area
(there’s more, but can’t remember what other ones I included in application)

Volunteer work (500+ hours)
Day care: volunteered as teacher’s helper almost every day during summer, worked at the front desk, summer camp, etc
Refugee Services: I volunteered in Clarkston and Stone mountain at a clothes closet, where I sorted donated clothing for refugees, and assisted refugees with choosing clothes and provided them with other essentials
Refugee services: for the same organization, different year, I volunteered at kids day camp for refugee services, I led therapeutic activities, took the kids to the ATL zoo, cooked for them, and more (the organization is well known in GA, the show 60 minutes came to the camp and filmed for an episode on Syrian refugees in GA)

Intern: I interned at a health program and wrote articles that promoted healthy lifestyles. The articles were specifically geared for the elderly Asian community in Metro Atlanta.

Essays: pretty good, I used my real life experience with Syrian refugees and talked about how I want to work towards helping Syrian refugees in Georgia.

Mom is refugee, that is why I have a lot of interest in refugee services, and I listed International Relations as my major.

I’m also a QuestBridge finalist, so I guess that may help. Also, live in GA’s best school district, idk how that might help lol.

Any input would be great! I don’t want to come off as cocky, because I’m definitely not (I was freaking out before EA came out) I just want to know if I should remain confident or be worried. UGA isn’t my first choice, it is more like a solid plan if my other schools do not work out. I’m a little scared because of ACT, because it’s a little lower than average. Thanks to whoever replies!

2

The only worry you should have are your test scores.

3

Very impressive! I think you have a good chance, the only thing holding you back may be your SAT/ACT scores. I honestly have no idea how UGA is admitting people this year though as a lot of people with high scores that I knew got deferred. But your GPA and EC’s are really good so you’ll probably be fine :slight_smile:

4

Also the fact that you’re a quest bridge finalist should definitely help

5

It’s hard to believe you have all those ECs and a good GPA but lower than average test scores. Like you said, it’s probably because of your test scores. And because of your unusually low test scores and high GPA, the officers could call into question of your GPA being rather inflated? You should ask for a repeal and ask them to reconsider your challenging workload and great ECs.

6

Have you recalculated your GPA to see how it will be viewed by UGA admissions? If not, there are specific “how to” instructions on a previous blog post of the UGA admissions blog. You can also check your HOPE GPA on your GAfutures account to see what your “core” GPA looks like. Your weighted GPA on your transcript will not correspond to the stats that they are posting for accepted students at UGA. Your ACT is a 26, but what is your E & M score? UGA will look closely at E & M, in addition to your composite. Did you take the ACT more than once? UGA does super score so it does give students who focus on one test and take it more than once an advantage. Finally, I think every student in the state of GA should have in state safeties on their list (not including UGA, because it’s not a safety unless you are in the tippy top of the admitted students profile); other schools like KSU, Georgia State, Georgia College and Georgia Southern. If you haven’t applied to one of these, you should do so now.

7

@fsa99 @snorkelmom I did not think my ACT was that horrendous lol. I only took it once, because I was too busy with QuestBridge applications. But thank you for the input. I was shooting for Zell (26 + get Zell) and I know my hope gpa is still within Zell. I’m not sure UGA would question my gpa since I attend a high school in the best public school system in GA. I wasn’t exactly worried about UGA because my friends with extremely similar stats (also 26s on ACT) got into UGA Early Action. I will not be applying to KSU or GSU unless I get rejected from my other schools before GSU’s deadline. I feel pretty confident about UGA after doing my essays. Yes, I do realize UGA isn’t my safety, but I applied to other schools on Questbridge (they are all top tier schools), and those are even higher reaches than GA. But my mentality is that getting QB finalist (it’s competitive with 14,000+ students apply but only around 5,000 students become finalist) with even my low SAT score was an accomplishment, I don’t believe UGA would be that difficult just because my 26 is lower than their average. UGA is my backup (If I get accepted, but not a safety), if I get rejected from the other 13 schools, don’t get me wrong it’s a great school, however going out of state from the QuestBridge schools I chose would give me great financial aid, more than I would get in-state. Thank you for the commenting, I definitely appreciate it. And do not worry, I’m being realistic with myself, however, I’m just more hopeful since a lot of my friends got into UGA, Duke, GA tech with the same scores as mine, showing me I still have a chance. Thanks again though for your advice! and oh I realized it put 1040, I got a 1140, but that’s still not that great but oh well haha. I got into a few safeties already, I think I’ll be okay no matter what.

8

Nah dude, you ACT is actually fine. I think you’re better off with the ACT rather than the SAT. Don’t feel bad, students tend to have a favorite. And 1140 is a worth while improvement over 1040. You should qualify for Zell and HOPE. I think you’re strong in terms of georgia scholarships.
Have you thought about Georgia State? That’s definitely a school I’m confident about that you’ll get into. You could definitely get some decent Financial Aid there. Also did you take a look into Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State?

9

@fsa99 Nah, not really. It’s not that I think I’m too good for those schools (definitely not) I’m just not interested in those schools, I’m shooting for the out of state schools I already applied too (financial reasons), and I worked super hard on those applications to the point where I’m kind of done with applying to other schools haha. I’ll find out for two schools soon, I’ll keep you updated (if you care enough) lol. Not sure if my AP classes matter, but I’ll add them. (AP Lit, AP lang, AP Psych, AP world, AP Us, AP Calc BC, AP Gov, AP Econ). but I really do appreciate you commenting!

10

Ah, i realized some might not know what QuestBridge is. Questbridge is a national scholarship program for “high achieving, low-income students”. A student must become a finalist first in order to be considered a Quest scholar if they get accepted in the 30+ schools on QuestBridge list. the schools are all top tier (yale, duke, Vanderbilt, Emory, USC, Williams, U chicago, ect) it potentially is a hook for students. I’m proud to be a QB finalist, and hope this will help my chances into UGA.

11

Which schools have you been accepted to?

12

I’m familiar with Questbridge. Is UGA a Questbridge school? If not, how will they know you are a finalist? I didn’t say that a 26 ACT was horrendous, just that taking it more than once was an advantage. Also, FYI… many students with HOPE & Zell…DO NOT get into UGA. But if you have a hook, such as first gen, URM, etc. then you may have something else in your favor that I’m not aware of :slight_smile:

13

@nw2this Ohio University and expecting Hawaii Pacific decision soon, but probably will not be attending both unless great FA.

14

What’s your major again?

15

@snorkelmom UGA is not a QB school, however, I put QB finalist under honors and awards. Also, I know you did not say my ACT was horrendous, however, the way other people imply it may seem like they think my scores are terrible. I’m first generation college student. In my essays, I think I conveyed a lot about wanting to work with refugees in future (I wrote about wanting to help resettled Syrian refugees in GA) and I talked about specific clubs I’d join at UGA that had to do with refugees. If I don’t get into UGA, I won’t be disappointed because I worked my hardest, and there’s nothing I can really do about it.

16

@fsa99 international relations/affairs

17

So, do you have an actual safety that is certain to be affordable?
I’m not sure but I don’t think QB is a sure thing.

18

@nw2this Not yet, probably gsu, but their application is not due until March, I’ll find out from a few schools before then, so I’ll know if I should apply or not.

19

I think you need to start working on an application for a school that would be a safety financially and academically. I’d say your chances at uga are decent, but not great. If UGA sees that you’re a questbridge finalist will they consider your consideration of uga as a backup that you don’t actually want to go to?

20

@jennacwa I know I sound stubborn, but I really don’t want to be applying to any schools soon. I applied to so many and just finished with them. I applied to some schools on QB that have don’t require scores to be sent, and one of them happened to be where my sister attends and got matched through Questbridge herself (maybe that will help?) I’ll apply to Georgia state in February. & I don’t think so about QB. Schools that are familiar with QB (maybe just the partner schools, usually admit students that have lower stats because QB is meant to give students a chance to tell their story.) QB is more like an honor/award or accomplishment.