<p>Hey guys, sorry for spamming this forum, but I'm....distraught. I just did some calculations and I've realize my 9-11 GPA is going to max out at around 3.65ish. I've always wanted to go to Cornell or UPenn, but now it looks like I'm sort of screwed. I've lost the will to study, because it all seems sort of futile. My extracurriculars are okay, and my SAT scores are pretty good (2320 and 800's on subject tests), but I can't get over the horribleness of my GPA. It would be safe to say that I have the most advanced courseload in my school, but my GPA is terrible. My school doesn't rank, so I'm not sure I'm in the top 10%, but my WGPA isn't that bad, because of my courseload. I'm a junior right now, and my 9-10 GPA was a 3.57/4.3. I'm unhooked and I go to a competitive state. Should I just give up? That seems so much easier than working any harder right now.</p>
<p>Life just dishes out crap sometimes for everyone. You really just have to figure out how to make the best with what you have. For anyone, the ivies are reaches. If everyone who was not 100% qualified to be accepted into them gave up all hope in life, then many schools would have trouble keeping their students from flunking out. My point is that you should continue working hard but don’t put your hopes in Cornell/UPenn. Instead, place those as high reaches and make a list of other schools you like as well. However, since no other information besides basic academic info is provided, it’s quite difficult to try and figure out how likely/unlikely it is for you to be accepted.</p>
<p>You my want to transfer, keep the grades up.</p>
<p>Allow me to share with you a statement from an article written by Richard H. Shaw
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford —
“I wish there were a formula to explain who is accepted and who isn’t, but the decision‐making is as much art as it is science. Each class is a symphony with its own distinct composition and sound; the final roster is an effort to create harmony, and that means that some extraordinary bass players don’t get a chair.
What’s more, even among my staff there are legitimate differences about applicants. The bottom line: The world is not going to judge anyone negatively because they didn’t get into Stanford or one of our peer institutions.
An undergraduate degree from Stanford, or an Ivy League college, may well end up being only one line at the bottom of a resume. What parents and college applicants across the country need to remember is that the news they receive, whether good or bad, is but a single step on a much longer journey.”</p>
<p>So you should just work hard in whatever your strengths are, don’t worry about the “horribleness of your GPA”, it’s not really worth worrying about.
And don’t give up! :-)</p>
<p>First off, a 3.65 isn’t even that low.
I know it’s only anecdotal evidence, but I had a friend who had around a 3.6, and he got into places like Brown and UChicago, so it’s doable. Furthermore, according to the CollegeBoard, approximately 12% of the people admitted to UPenn last year had a GPA below 3.75, so <em>shrug</em>.</p>
<p>Even if a 3.65 was low, remember that:
a) UPenn and Cornell use a holistic process, so GPA is only a small factor in the admission process.
b) Colleges recognize that not all A’s are the same. Some schools are more difficult than others, and some classes are more difficult than others. I looked at some of your other posts, and trust me, you have had difficult course load. Multivariable calculus as a sophomore is nothing to scoff at. As long as you’re in the 10% of your class, you’re probably GPA-wise.</p>
<p>The world, surprisingly, doesn’t revolve around the ivies. If you don’t get in, there are many other great, cheaper schools that I’m sure would be as much as a challenge in your field of interest.</p>
<p>That being said, if you have your heart set on these places, don’t give up, rather get some rec’s and start planning an essay. Good luck.</p>
<p>I not think I’ve ever seen one post spread so many myths as #5 above. Where does this nonsensical info come from?</p>
<p>^ Penn Common Data Set, 2010-2011: <a href=“http://www.upenn.edu/ir/Common%20Data%20Set/UPenn%20Common%20Data%20Set%202010-11.pdf[/url]”>http://www.upenn.edu/ir/Common%20Data%20Set/UPenn%20Common%20Data%20Set%202010-11.pdf</a> page 11 for the first thing they said. As for the anecdote, you can choose whether or not you take their word. I wouldn’t call GPA a “small factor,” as that poster did, but Penn’s CDS does note that it places more emphasis on rigor than GPA. (Cornell lists them as equally important.) That would demonstrate that colleges recognize that not all As are the same, I’d reckon.</p>
<p>Oh. Well, I’m not sure. If I were to apply ED to one of the two universities (which I will), then which one should I choose? I love Cornell and Penn, but I slightly prefer Penn. However, I don’t want to ruin my chances of getting into at least one of the two by applying to Penn over Cornell early.</p>
<p>Bump. Bump. Bump.</p>
<p>3.6 ain’t that low. i am sure that george w. bush had a lower one. anyway, he got into a good school. as will you, if you work hard and keep a positive attitude. a kid on another forum just got into a very good school with a 2.9–now that i would consider a low gpa. good luck.</p>
<p>Do you know if a lot of your class mates have higher GPAs than you? I suspect from your message, the answer is that there are many with better GPAs so that at best you are at the edge of the Top 10%. If that is the case, your shot at an Ivy is not very good even with rigor and your very good SAT score, especially given the just “okay” ECs. If you are bound and determined to try I would go with Cornell simply because it had a higher ED admit rate (32.5% v. 25.3%). But if I were you, I would try ED at an LAC in the NE (since this seems to be your area), with a more forgiving selection process (some ideas for ED – Colgate 56%, Hamilton 44%).</p>
<p>Meh. I’d rather not go to an LAC, because I don’t think it’s suitable for non-humanities majors. :I</p>
<p>Bumpity bump</p>
<p>Check out Cornell 2011 ED thread. I think you have some chances with Cornell. But seriously, you need to focus on your schooling, you can’t worry too much about college admissions. It could get worse. If you don’t get into Cornell or Penn ED, your senior year grades will be taking into consideration. Stay off CC and focus on your junior year.</p>
<p>I found one for you, top 20%, 3.5 GPA. Please note that some majors are easier to get into @Cornell.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13565803-post66.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13565803-post66.html</a></p>
<p>Oh man…I feel the exact same way. My GPA is 3.769- I guess that would round up to 3.77? And my class rank is HORRIBLE. I believe it will dip into the below 10% this year. I’m only a sophomore, but it feels like the door has already closed for me.</p>
<p>…Gee, thanks for the bump, flashprism.</p>
<p>flashprism, I had the same exact GPA as you (3.769) and I got into both Penn and Cornell. As long as you have other factors that help out your cause and not a completely terrible GPA, you always have a chance, but you must keep in mind how the ivys can turn down anyone, so no one should take it personally if they were rejected. Besides, if you really are a good student and want to be successful, you will do great at a non-ivy school as well; it’s not the end of the world, just the beginning of your career.</p>
<p>Bumpppppppp</p>