Upward trend--Current Highschool Junior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I guess to begin this post, I should introduce myself. I am a high school junior (female-born in Kenya but the inevitable Americanization has grasped my character) I've been galvanized into action, or...awakened from my slumber, whatever. My academic performance freshman and sophmore year was horrid in retrospect. My GPA at the start of junior year was 2.8. I know :( But I recently realized that I have a brain and a strong interest in science (in particular physics and astronomy-)--the cause of denouncing fundamental Christian doctrines and wanting an explanation derived through logical means alone--and Carl Sagan. I'm not incompetent and can fully apply myself, I just...didn't figure it out until now. This may be a long post (apologies distributed in advance :))</p>

<p>I'm taking some college classes at my local community college:</p>

<p>First semester: (already taken)</p>

<p>Logic A-
Introduction to Philosophy and Great Books A
Utopia (humanities) A+</p>

<p>Second Semester (have not taken these yet, but I shall predict my performance)</p>

<p>Applied Piano A+
Applied Flute A+
Astronomy-Stars Galaxies, and Universe-A
Astronomy lab-Stars,Galaxies, and universe-A+</p>

<p>At my high school (which is competitive and nationally recognized)</p>

<p>First and second semester:</p>

<p>English IIIAP A-
Physics A-
Algebra II A</p>

<p>Senior year, these are the courses I will be taking. Again, i'll predict my performance</p>

<p>High school classes:</p>

<p>English IV AP Literature and Composition-5
Precalculus honors A-
Physics AP-4
American Government and Politics AP-4
Comparative Government and Politics-5
Introduction to Economics-A</p>

<p>At the community college:
Drawing I-A
Drawing II-A</p>

<p>As for clubs and community service and such things:
Leader of Philosophy club (junior year)
2 years of basketball (freshman and sophomore year)</p>

<p>So, I've read that colleges love to see upward trends, but honestly--from what i've been seeing, most "upward trends" are from students who climb from 3.5 to 4.0 or whatever. I've dipped close to the bottom, which will affect my GPA considerably and class rank. What are my chances at MIT, University of Cincinnati, Caltech, University of Washington, Boston University, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon? I'm aiming for these schools because of my major and the the research opportunities they offer.</p>

2

<p>I’m in the same predicament as you, I just wish someone would reply to my post. Right now, my mindset is to stay positive, do good, and hope for the best. Also, I think Extracurricular activities and high test scores might round us off including an amazing essay. The problem is, I think some of these schools have like filters or something so we don’t even get looked at. I don’t know :stuck_out_tongue: I wish there was evidence of low gpa students getting into good schools.</p>

<p>My post I was referring to : <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1596004-chances-vatech-purdue-pennstate-njit-rowan-missouri-s-t.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1596004-chances-vatech-purdue-pennstate-njit-rowan-missouri-s-t.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>It depends on your essay now. As long as your recs are great, it would all ride on your essay. Low reach. Good luck! Chance me back!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1596582-chances-being-accepted.html#post16758880[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1596582-chances-being-accepted.html#post16758880&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>You kind of hit the nail on the head… other “upward trends” are a 3.5 to a 4.0, yours isn’t as impressive because your overall GPA would still be lower. However, if you explain this in your essays about how you figured it all out, etc, your GPA would be fine. It wouldn’t help you, but I don’t think it would hurt you then either. </p>

<p>Grades are a small portion of the application… you don’t exactly have any large “hooks” in your ECs (not that many at all compared to other applicants who also have a perfect GPA). I highly suggest getting heavily involved to try and outweigh that GPA. </p>

<p>You didn’t list any standardized testing scores (you may not have taken them, which is fine). Assuming they’re within the average range for those universities (2200+, 33+), I still think all the universities are high reaches for you. I would highly recommend getting those scores well beyond their range (75th+ percentile) to prove you have “figured it out” and to further prove your freshman/sophomore GPA is NOT an indicator of your level of skill. </p>

<p>Your GPA isn’t exactly your biggest problem (if you properly explain it and talk about your learning curve in your essays), it’s your lack of ECs. </p>

<p>Try and study for the SATs and get more involved! Those schools are reaches for everyone! In your case, you’re already behind as far as GPA goes (which can’t be fixed that much), you need to catch up by being superb in other areas.</p>

5

<p>My goodness, you’re in the EXACT same situation as I am! I’m currently a HS sophomore, and my average this year has been around 96%, but I think my freshman GPA was 2.6-2.8ish as well. Except I envy you for being in a competitive HS, as mine has around a 30% graduation rate. :P</p>

<p>You’re even interested in MIT, Caltech, and CMU just like me! I think our only hope at this point is to study our asses off for standardized tests, write spectacular essays, and some outstanding recommendations from teachers who really know you well won’t hurt (sorry if I’m repeating something someone has already said). Best of luck to you, and let me know how it goes.</p>