Should I even consider Brown? Stats WAY below average

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Ok, I am aware that this a far, far, far, far, far, far, stretch for me. Should I completely cross it off a hopeful list and not even consider it? I’m aware my gpa, class rank, and stats are way below Brown’s average. :frowning: I’m currently a junior in North Carolina. </p>

<p>I would plan to major in economics or entrepreneurship at Brown.</p>

<p>Estimated senior year gpa: 3.4 UW 4.4 W
October SAT scores: CR - 730 Math- 690 Writing - 750 Total: 2170
Class Rank: Top 30%</p>

<p>NOTE ABOUT GPA: I did really bad freshmen and sophomore year. (2.7, 2.9) I was going through some familial problems and was not motivated to study or do any work. However, I am trying my best now and I aim to get all A’s this year and next year no matter how much effort I will need to put in. </p>

<p>---- By the way, I got a D in regular Algebra 2 and Honors Chemistry, but I retook the classes online to get a higher grade and I received A’s would Brown still view me negatively, or would they see that I tried to improve? Would I be immediatley denied because of the two D’s on my transcript? Also, I have taken Spanish 1-4 and got C’s as final grades in Spanish 1-3, but received an A in Spanish 4. I am currently learning Mandarin now and I am doing well in it. How would Brown see my Spanish and Mandarin classes? -------</p>

<p>AP classes:
APUSH (junior year)
APES (junior year)
AP English (junior year)
AP Biology (senior year)
AP Stat (senior year)
AP English (senior year)
AP Gov. & Pol. (senior year)
AP Psych (senior year)</p>

<p>The senior year AP classes listed above are classes I’m taking for sure next year. I want to try to take AP Macro and Micro Econ online, and possibly AP Geo or AP Euro, but I don’t know if that will be too much. </p>

<p>Honors Classes:
English (9th and 10th)
Chem.
Bio.
Geometry
Civics & Econ.
World History
Pre-calc
Holocaust & Genocide
Strategic Marketing
Law & Justice
Spanish 3
Spanish 4</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
National Technical Honors Society
DECA (aiming to win this year at states!)
Science Olympiad (aiming to win!)
Started a club sophomore year, lasted only that year
Town teen council
Volunteer at senior center
I’m an Indian learning Mandarin
Over 150 volunteer hours
Teaching myself piano</p>

<p>Posibble Hooks? : Indian, first in family to go to college in U.S. Father dropped out of high school. </p>

<p>----My mom is a single mother who juggles a lot of things. Thus, I haven’t been able to participate in sports or many clubs afterschool that meet weekly. -------</p>

<p>Please be brutally honest. I think Brown is a great school but if there is no way I would be considered even for a second, I would not want to waste my time applying there senior year.</p>

<p>I would also greatly appreciate it if someone could look at the list of some other schools I’m applying too and could advice me on them. It’s under my profile. Thank you for taking the time to read this!</p>

2

<p>I forgot to mention that my school is public and sends many students to UNC and other well-known Southern schools.</p>

3

<p>Honestly? I am afraid that if you apply to Brown, you’ll get 0 return on the time and money you put into it.</p>

<p>First off, your hooks aren’t hooks. Being Indian isn’t helpful. (I’m assuming you mean that your family originates from India, and not that your family originates from one of the peoples that inhabited the Americas before Europeans got here. Is that right?) Students of Indian extraction are overrepresented at prestigious colleges, not underrepresented. And being the first in your family to attend college in the U.S. isn’t the same as being the first in your family to attend college at all. The second one is sometimes of interest to admissions committees; the first one, not so much.</p>

<p>As for the GPA, I think Brown would need a really compelling reason to take you, with your 3.4 UW, instead of another applicant whose other qualifications are comparable to yours, but whose high school grades have been consistently high. Because, you see, Brown is going to have enough of those applications to fill its entering class several times over. Unless you’ve held something back (“Oh, by the way, I’m also 6’10”, with a killer jump hook!"), I don’t think Brown is going to happen for you.</p>

<p>You have very good standardized test scores, and it seems you’ve really turned your life around academically, too. (You should definitely ask your GC to highlight this fact in the Secondary School Report.) Congratulations on these things. They will probably help you secure admission to some really good colleges or universities, and there’s every reason to expect you’ll do well there. But I’m sorry to say, I think Brown can be so choosy that it will probably choose somebody else instead.</p>

4

<p>Brown, in my opinion even more so than other schools in its level/tier, does give students like you a second look, or a possible “take a risk” look in admissions. It’s not because of the “poor me” or pity party stories, but rather when those students demonstrate that they have the ability and gumption to turn things around for themselves and the determination to do well and take charge of their own academic destiny and future success. So I would not tell you to “give up” as yet. But I would offer some advice, of things that in my opinion might be important/helpful, whether for Brown, or any school you might be applying to.

  1. As you stated, you are aware that you really need “straight” As at this point to consider Brown etc. I would not recommend taking the extra on-line courses, unless you are sure you can handle your in school classes and get those grades, and secondly any ECs you feel are important to participate in at the level of true commitment and hopefully leadership. Quantity counts less than quality.
  2. I don’t see calculus in your course list. Brown really wants to see the most rigorous curriculum you can take at your school, including calculus. they might overlook this for someone wanting to major in art or theater etc, but less likely to for econ. Maybe you can take a prelim class this summer that would make you feel comfortable with taking it senior year, or get a catch up math tutoring after school this year to make you a stronger math student?
  3. Apply regular decision. You will need to do that to compare financial aid from schools, but for you the first semester of senior year As will also be important.
  4. Another summer activity to consider would be the summer courses at Brown or a similar school (and there is financial aid available) This would be another demonstration of your ability to handle college level classes at this level and also possibly another place for a letter of rec if you do well.
  5. Do the very best to prep and study for your SATs etc. Even if this means studying on your own with books, sample tests. (see CC threads re this) Even better to get some prep classes etc. if you can through your school. While some argue that this inflates the scores and makes them less a bench mark for your ability, (if these tests can do that), all the prep school students have this advantage, so why shouldn’t you? And these test scores are going to be an extra bit more important for you if you are “reaching”.</p>

<p>Some schools you might want to look at that should be interesting for you,and a bit easier reach might include:
Gillford in NC
Earlham in Indiana
Kenyon in Ohio
Clark in MA
Bryn Mawr (prob still in high reach) and Haverford in PA
Good luck and STUDY HARD!</p>

5

<p>As they say in the NY Lottery: You gotta be in it to win it. If you don’t apply, you’ll never know. However, I wouldn’t put all my hope into it, if I were you. Have other schools in the mix as well.</p>

6

<p>First in family is usually a hook although Brown may or may not care. Unless you are part of an American Indian tribe and can prove it, it is not a hook (being from India is not one).</p>

7

<p>your situation was similar to mine; i had a 2.8 and 3.0 in freshman and sophomore year, but finished jr and sr year with the highest GPA at my school - 5.0. i.e. D in French 1, B in french 2, etc. but continued to receive As in French 3 and in AP. if you show improvement, you have a great chance. My SAT is 18xx; i’m a first-gen college, Asian. My school is poor but town infamously known (something i conveyed in essays). i also applied early and was accepted :)</p>

8

<p>I agree with BrownAlumParent. Missing calculus will be noted. Missing it and wanting an econ major- not strong. AP stats is not a replacement. The online classes- well, most competitive applicants don’t have D’s and C’s in their transcript. The trouble with online re-takes is that the same standards are often not applied, the interaction is missing. (How do you do labs in an online chem class?) Where online does work is, eg, the kid who takes some advanced math-sci class, otherwise not available. (Or, obviously, for homeschoolers.)</p>

<p>It often helps to recalc one’s gpa without freshman year- yes, Brown looks at 9th grade, but sometimes this gives a better look at one’s own more recent performance. Unfortunately, you also had problems in 10th. I am sorry, but so many kids on CC speak of “family” issues dragging down their hs grades- it becomes nearly impossible to automatically say this will be understood. The most competitive kids get through all sorts of challenges. It could help if your GC is solidly behind you, explains well and expresses utter confidence in the new you.</p>

<p>The ECs aren’t particularly outstanding. You need to consider where you showed leadership (more than a title) and held responsibilities, had some legit impact, etc. (ECs show energy, willingness, perspective, etc.) Perhaps you omitted some activities here- if so, rethink this.</p>

<p>I am not saying to apply or not apply- but to go back to the drawing board. How can you make your recent improvements outshine your 9-10th issues? How can you show what a great fit you would be at a top school, able to master their academic challenges, make a contribution to the vibrance on-campus? Think about it.</p>

9

<p>Being brutally honest, you stats are ok but the 3.4 uw is just not up to par with Brown standards. It would be a waste of your time and money to focus energy towards such a high reach school, but I’m sure you’ll still find luck in the college admission process (why not take the extra time to focus on your UNC-CH app, where you have a much better shot at admission at a top 50 school?)</p>

<p>Apply if you really love Brown, and realize that your chance at admission is little to none. Make sure you apply out with enough safeties though! Best of luck to you!</p>

10

<p>Thank you to everyone who responded and for your insight! I realize that I am not at Brown’s standards and that I need to do my best in school and refocus on other schools.</p>

11

<p>youve definitely got a shot. your ec’s are strong and they love to see grade improvement!</p>

12

<p>lol hahahahah trust me Indian is not a hook!
Asians are a majority, not a minority. woohoo</p>