Hey folks,
I’m a current junior with a 3.82 unweighted GPA and a 4.3 weighted. I am in the top 15% of my class (a whopping 53 people are in my class). My ACT is a 31 (not great, I know, I get tripped up with timing). I’m looking at applying to Columbia (ED), Brown, Princeton, Barnard, Scripps, Pomona, UChicago, and 2 safety school (UMN Twin Cities and UW Madison, both are cheap options due to tuition reciprocity). My grades have a strong upward trend, 3.6 GPA freshman year and now a 3.82 (straight A’s this year so far) although my sophomore grades don’t affect my GPA because my sophomore year I was studying abroad in Ghana with a merit based scholarship (acceptance rate ~4%~) sponsored by the Department of State (I was the youngest ever participant in this program). I volunteer on a regular basis with international education organizations, I hold a part-time job as a clerk at a Dry Cleaner’s, and I Stage Manage 2-3 plays/musicals per year. I am also my district’s Girl’s State Delegate for this year. I’ve got some sports (skiing), I play two instruments (viola and piano), some clubs (GSA, Politics Club, Social Consciousness, Spanish club) and in addition to English, I also speak Spanish (nearly fluently), French (moderately), Twi, and some Arabic furthered senior year by a college course). All these languages were learned outside of the home, as I only speak English at home. I write very well, I am also a trained seamstress.
Thoughts? I will not be applying for financial aid, as I’m in the ~ 400k ~ home income range. This sounds ridiculous, but my brother’s tuition and father’s medical bills do put quite a drain on that, so I am looking for some merit based aid (not at ivies) if possible.
Include some schools between your safety and reaches. Research the schools that offer merit but you need a 32 for many. You have a different story which may help but 3.82 and 31 are not going to stand out.
While your ECs are pretty impressive your GPA and ACT scores are a bit low for the ivies. But as sportsman said you should try some “match” schools in addition to the ivies and the safeties.
with a 31, brace for rejections and WLs at top schools so search for some more safeties and matches. Retake the ACT or take the SAT to boost your chances.
I should add, I just took the ACT on Saturday and feel like I did well, but obviously won’t hear back for a few weeks. Also, my school rounds GPA’s so if I can get that 0.3 more, I’ll be at a 3.9.