I’m a rising senior living in Maryland, and my list of colleges includes: UMCP, UMBC, Washington, Lafayette, St. Mary’s, McDaniel, Towson, Stevenson, UVA, and William and Mary. (If applicable, I’d appreciate chances to honors colleges in this list too!)
Intended Major: Biology (or a pre-med track)
Ethnicity: Asian
Class rank: not released yet but definitely top 10%
Unweighted GPA: 3.43 (upward trend; it went 3.00 -> 3.57 -> 3.71)
Weighted GPA: 4.10
ACT: 35 (33M/35W/34R/36S - 12E/35 W+E)
SAT: 2250 (680M/770R/800W - 10E)
AP: 5 on Gov + Politics (have taken Physics C: Mechanics, Psychology, Comp Sci AB, Lang + Comp, Calc AB; will take Bio, Calc BC, Spanish Lang (possibly Spanish Lit as well), Music Theory, Lit + Comp, possibly French Lang)
ECs:
Private piano lessons (10 - 12)
Domestic violence + sexual assault center youth program vice president and president (9 - 12) (200+ hours)
Rec + parks junior counselor (10) (200+ hours)
AP Scholars (9 - 12)
National Honor Society (11 - 12) (40+ hours)
Science National Honor Society (12)
Mu Alpha Theta (11 - 12)
USABO participant (9 - 12)
UMD Mathematics Competition participant (11 - 12)
AMC 12 (11 - 12)
Self-taught for AP Comp Sci, if I take French Lang I’ll be self-taught for that too
Awards/Honors:
National Honor Society
Most probably National Merit Semifinalist (PSAT: 225)
I think you have good chances at these schools. Your class rigor is definitely challenging and your test scores are great. Although the GPA is somewhat low, try to work on other parts of your application and try to bolster your profile even more. Maybe even take some SAT II tests in subjects that you are strong in and show that your grades may not be truly representative of you as a student.
Having slightly lower grades will not be the end of the world if the rest of your application is strong. It looks like you have a good range of schools. I just posted about this in a different thread, but when applied to colleges I was in a similar situation . When you have one area really strong but a weak spot in a different area, college acceptances can be unpredictable. However I put alot of effort into my personal statement, which helped me get into my favorite school, which coincidentally also happens to be on your list. I got a handwritten note from the school commenting on a joke I made in my essay when the admissions packet finally came in.
It’s not a sure bet, as I did get some surprising waitlists, but I think you are a strong candidate despite the lower grades freshman and sophomore year. Be sure to also get good recommendations from teachers that know you well, and you will be fine.
That is not sucky! It is great. It’s not perfect, but it’s still great. I hate how kids have to feel bad about a 3.43!!
Find out all you can about your schools and how you fit in there, and build the app around that (assuming you think they fit). Someone gave me advice to read the college website blog section to see the types of kids they take. Use what you have to the fullest:)
I think that’s a very realistic, balanced list, and your chances range from good to excellent at all of them. I do not know the criteria and thresholds for various Honors Colleges. You would need to check that for yourself. Some will use a weighting system that should work to your benefit. I presume that most will include senior grades for consideration, and your upward trend ought to help you there, too.
I agree that this is a good list considering your GPA. 3.43 really isn’t all that great these days, but the upward trend that you show works in your favor. Your test scores are great though, so coupled with the 3.43 GPA, that is what makes your list of schools reasonable for you. You could probably even choose a couple of reach schools. Good luck.
Hey just wanted to say that we’re in a similar boat!! One of my threads is like this haha. I think for these schools, though, you will be fine – just work hard on those essays and you have a solid chance
