Stellar GPA, Modest SAT? DUKE, Yale??

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>What are my chances of acceptance? What should I do to improve my application?</p>

<p>Background:</p>

<p>Hispanic
Florida resident</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 7.2 Weighted and 3.96 unweighted (on a scale of 4.0)
Rank: 1/588</p>

<p>AP classes: (Separated by grade level 10th grade to 12th grade)</p>

<p>All A's in...</p>

<p>AP Biology (3)
AP World History (3) </p>

<p>AP English Language (4)
AP U.S History (5)
AP Chemistry (3)
AP Art History (5)
AP Microeconomics (5)</p>

<p>AP Physics (4)
AP Calculus (5)
AP English Literature (4)
AP Spanish Language (4)
AP Macroeconomnics (5)
AP Computer Science A (5)
AP American Government (5)</p>

<p>SAT:</p>

<p>Critical Reading: 650
Math: 680
Writing: 650</p>

<p>SAT II:
(taken in 10th grade)
Biology E: 660
World History: 610</p>

<p>Organizations and clubs:</p>

<p>National Beta Club
Chess Club
Marching Band (only in 9th)
Concert Band (only in 9th)
Church Band
(10th to 12th to continue passion for music even though band in class did not fit schedule)
National Honor Society
Social Studies Honor Society (only 10th)
Mu Alpha Theta (math club)
Jr. Civitan
Key Club
Student Government executive council (10th and 11th)</p>

<p>Leadership:</p>

<p>first chair trumpet concert band section leader (9th)
National Beta Club community service laison (10th and 11th)
National Beta Club President (12th)
Student Government
Church Usher
Mu Alpha Theta Historian</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>500 Hours
including helping in schools (helping teachers setup and the office prepare for the new year), cystic fibrosis walk, care for children in hospital and child care after school. Also afterschool tutor for spanish.</p>

<p>No job
Not a famous school (will college consider the average SAT score for the school is 990?)</p>

<p>Goal: Pre-Med major</p>

<p>WHAT ARE MY CHANCES FOR DUKE UNIVERSITY OR EVEN YALE OR PRINCETON? IF I SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE MY SAT SCORE IS THERE ANY CHANCE FOR HARVARD?</p>

2

<p>Wow that's a lot of AP classes and since you are a URM (no offense), you probably have a pretty good shot, but you should retake the SAT b/c it seems that just like all those AP Tests you have taken, you could probably do much better...but a 1980 is a great score nonetheless...just saying that b/c you are talking Duke, Yale, and Princeton</p>

3

<p>Hey, also! Does it matter if your SATII scores are low and you have generally good AP exam scores? I mean...college level tests against SAT level subject tests. It was a bad idea to take these tests 10th grade. Now I'm gonna have to study this stuff all over to improve them. I know if i took the us history test i'd get over 700! What should i do? Take more SAT II tests or improve the old ones??</p>

4

<p>Kind of low SAT II's. Solid AP's; good variety. Decent chance at Duke, about equal chances for Yale, Princeton, and Harvard.</p>

5

<p>I'm aware that yale has a point system based on each section of your application, awarding a max on 9 points for academics, then for test, letters of rec, and interview. Do you think it is possible to survive a low point value for tests and possible get in? HOW ARE MY LEADERSHIP AND EC'S?</p>

6

<p>Will colleges consider that the SATIIs were taken in 10th grade...a rather unfocused year for AP tests as well!</p>

7

<p>yo apfreak, i got your stats almost exactly.... except higher SAT scores... 700s.</p>

<p>im mexican american. we'll prolly both get in though. i hear they have an awesome minority recruitment program.</p>

<p>can't wait to meet you at Yale! ;)</p>

<p>funny, cause i want to go into med school also. :p</p>

<p>weird... o_O</p>

8

<p>you are hispanic, consider yourself in.</p>

<p>plus, thats alot of APs, wow. insane. congrats on those scores too. you can probably skip a semester.</p>

9

<p>yep. in A is for admission, the guy talks about how hispanics and mexicans with mid 550s and a high class rank are basically "in" since there are too few with good stats.</p>

<p>the Ivies will take high rank with moderate stats or vice versa, but not both bad.</p>

<p>so, you look like a hard worker, so i would assume you would succeed at Yale.</p>

10

<p>tough courseload, props on that...truly impressive however im a lil confused...how do u have all those AP scores already...im assuming ur a junior because theres no way a freshman or soph can have all those AP's and as a senior u should know where ur goin already...so how do u know ur AP's already, they r released in july...would u mind giving us your real scores when they come in...thanks. o and i dont quite understand the 7.2 out of a 4.0 GPA...if you could clear that up too id be much obliged</p>

11

<p>Doogie311, excellent! You are quite observant! (I was wondering when someone would say something like that). Yes I am a junior and the score to the right are guessed scores. My junior scores are most likely correct due to constant practice tests throughout the year but my senior score are more likely to vary. The only senior scores that may be lower by a point are Physics and Literature. Yes I realize that my 10th grade scores (actual) are significantly lower than my estimated scores however as a junior I know how to prepare for these exams (as I did nothing in 10th grade hence the 3's!) </p>

<p>As for the GPA an A is worth 4 points which is averaged with each grade. Honors classes give .04 added to your GPA while AP adds .08.</p>

<p>Also I am on block schedule so I can only have 4 classes year long (any more was taken online at FLVS). In first two nine weeks, AP classes offer a plus .08 to gpa while the last two nine weeks they only offer .04. Thus, a whole yearlong ap class gives you .24 added to your GPA! Remember though that only 4 ap classes can fit in your schedule and online year ap classes (not block schedule) only offer .16 total!</p>

<p>IS THIS WEIGHTING SYSTEM INFLATED?</p>

12

<p>I think they look at unweighted GPA anyway.</p>

13

<p>I think the "apfreak" moniker is pretty appropriate here. First of all, is it just me or does it seem completely absurd that this person is predicting her AP scores not only for this year but for NEXT year too, for classes she hasn't even taken yet? Maybe they have done extensive research into these classes and used some complex formula to come up with these numbers, but my guess is that these are being pulled out of thin air. I think that your GPA is, ahem, a bit "inflated" too (7.2? out of 4?). Colleges are going to look at it on a course-by-course basis and will probably come up with a slightly different number themselves. But seriously, you probably will get into all the school you apply to, if only because they love precocious over-achievers of all races, colors and creeds.</p>

14

<p>"precocious over-achievers of all races, colors and creeds"</p>

<p>Haha. Nice choice of words.</p>

15

<p>im glad you guys are being realistic, because any hispanic or native american with moderate stats will most likely get in.</p>

16

<p>You have a very good shot, especially if you are low income.</p>

17

<p>Not low income but middle middle class. Will that hurt because most Harvard or Ivy league people are upper class. (aren't they?)</p>

18

<p>Ok Theo235 it is absurd to predict next years scores but I'm sure I'm right about this years! Quit your sarcasm! Ok my soon to be 7.2 will be a bit inflated however I've gotten all A's in all my classes including my APs so I think it won't matter much to the college about the "inflation". How are GPA's weighted in your area? I'm curious.</p>

19

<p>I've never heard of a 7.2. It's usually ___ out of 5 weighted. Schools do it differently (usually for class rank) so the colleges use unweighted.</p>

20

<p>Out of 5 mmm? Our GPA is on a scale of 4.0!</p>