Should I bother applying next year?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>I'm currently a junior with above-average GPA and SATs, and only two but somewhat good ECs. I am currently deciding on colleges to apply to and Carnegie Mellon is a dream school, but I am debating on whether to apply ED to CMU or just suck it out and apply ED to Cal Poly SLO, which is a school I would be decently happy to go to (not quite as happy as CMU though!), and would probably be a safety.</p>

<p>I want to apply to CIT.</p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>2070 SAT (660 CR, 720 M, 690 W) waiting on Jan. 26 results..
About ~3.8 GPA if only counting 10-11th grade. But if CMU counts 9th grade, I currently have a 3.0 cumulative =(</p>

<p>Huge upward grade trend: Ds and Fs freshmen year, 3.6-3.7 soph, 4.0-4.2 junior year.</p>

<p>One problem: I'm in an honors physics with a teacher that teaches at snail's pace! (we have only learned f=ma and energy so far). He covers them well and teaches us to apply them very well, but in terms of actual material we have learned so little, and since SAT II Physics is a requirement, I'm afraid I won't be able to break 600! (chemistry is not an option either)</p>

<p>I'm also in Alg II, but i'll probably be able to take precalc over the summer so I can get an okay Math II score.</p>

<p>My ECs are: Botball team (since middle school and this year in high school),
and Intel Science Fair, where I'm also working on a robotics project, which I believe will win state's assuming I actually manage to get it to work. This summer I'll be interning at an underwater robotics lab at UH-Manoa.</p>

<p>Essays will probably be about my experience with robotics.</p>

<p>Anyway, my question is, should I even consider Carnegie Mellon? Or would my chances be below 50%?</p>

<p>Oh and 1. Do they superscore SAT?
2. How much do they weight SAT IIs,
and 3. Do they count freshmen year?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>how bad did you tank freshman year!?!?!?!?!?</p>

<p>my answer, you should always try</p>

3

<p>Yes they superscore SATs. I think you will get somewhat forgiven for freshman year especially if your junior year grades remain A's. My impression is that at least for some schools within CMU the SAT2s are pretty important. I'd self-study for the physics subject test. There are review books, your text book and not bad on-line resources as well.</p>

4

<p>Totally work up your extracurricular activities. CMU has been trying to branch out from the standard 4.0 only students into those that have diverse interests and like to do things outside of the classroom. You need to take advantage of that as much as possible.</p>

<p>Lacking any calculus going into CMU will be a pretty big hurdle to overcome, especially if you want to do engineering/science.</p>

5

<p>I think CMU is one of a handful of schools that excuses freshman year but I'm not totally sure. Ds and Fs though, I'd probably write a short explanation, or have your GC do it. I would think they realize 14 year olds can have issues...I think it's commendable that you've rebounded and are working to your potential (unfortunately I'm not on the admissions committee!).</p>

<p>I second mathmom...spend some time self-studying for the Physics SATII.</p>

<p>If next fall you're still sure on CMU why not apply ED and CalPoly RD if CMU doesn't work out or if you're deferred...I believe you'll have no problem getting into SLO and you definitely have a chance for CMU.</p>

6

<p>Yeah, you will need to explain yourself to admissions for D's and F's. Also, a 2070 isn't going to help anything. Your chances are slim, but it costs nothing to try (as it's common app). Well, you have to write 2 short essays, but that should only take 2 hours.</p>

7

<p>Dunno if the scaling of the SAT writing has changed much, but back when I took the SAT II Writing I wound up getting a 510 on it. Combined with my 690 verbal and 770 math, that would only give me a 1970 nowadays. I did get a 800 on the SAT Chem and 790 on the Math IIc, but, still, I don't think SAT scores are really that huge of a swing.</p>

<p>(I'm still kinda surprised my writing score was so low, especially since when I took the GREs I got a 5.5 out of possible 6.)</p>

8

<p>If you really want to get in, then I think you should definitely apply.</p>

9

<p>Mathson had a 690W score last year, but it was balanced out by an 800CR. (Math was in between.) He only applied to and was accepted by SCS. His grades though didn't present any questions (though he had B's in English until senior year, when he was in regular instead of honors English and got an A for te first time.)</p>

10

<p>I just got my Jan SAT back, and it was a 2230 (750 CR, 760 M, 720 W) :D</p>

<p>Maybe there's still hope! Thanks all.</p>

<p>I'm also probably gonna take AP Calc next year by taking precalc during the summer.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Yeah, you will need to explain yourself to admissions for D's and F's.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The problem is, I have no explanation - except that I was plain immature and did not care about my future. The only thing I can say is that I did my best to make up for that lapse in my academic record.</p>

11

<p>Way to go on the scores. </p>

<p>No explanation (ie not coming up with all kinds of excuses) IS an explanation, you were 14 and clueless, now you're older and focused, don't see any problem with that. And you're being honest.</p>

<p>Botball and intel are good ECs for CMU.</p>

12

<p>one question: why apply ED to a safety?</p>

13

<p>I considered it a match (not a 100% chance) with my old scores, but I am aiming a lot higher with these new SATs.</p>

<p>Also, it was to take some stress off the waiting process and because I expected to do very badly on SAT IIs, so I wasn't sure if I should bother applying to other colleges. In retrospect this was a bad decision to consider. (Though I probably wouldn't have ended up going through with it)</p>

14

<p>You shouldn't apply ED anywhere that isn't truly your first choice, and certainly not if you have any financial issues. (CMU doesn't have a big endowment and isn't as generous with financial aid as some.) I don't think CMU is a shoe-in for many, but you've got a decent chance, and I certainly think if you are interested in other schools you shouldn't be shy about applying. Your freshman year may or may not be an issue anywhere.</p>

15

<p>mathmom: I was talking about Cal Poly, I definitely don't consider CMU a safety!</p>

<p>I am not sure if I should apply ED (there is one other school I would choose over it, Berkeley), but I guess I have quite a while to think it over.</p>

16

<p>i would say definitely apply.. if it's your dream school you have to take a shot at it =)</p>

<p>i personally didn't have glittering SATs. reading 750, math 620, writing 650. that's good compared to many people but there's certainly more impressive ones out there.</p>

17

<p>btw, anyone here a west coaster or from a region with year-round warm weather?</p>

<p>How did you cope with the cold?</p>

<p>I am a little afraid cause, I think 60 degrees is freezing :S</p>