Hi guys, I’m a junior at a small private Christian high school and I’m wondering what you think my chance are at these schools based off of the following stats:
3.5 UW GPA: Huge upward trend this year, I’m sure it’ll go up a decent amount as I have almost all A’s.
1520 SAT Score
No Class Rank: Tiny Class Size
APS: Taking the AP test for my US History and Government classes, I’m in all Dual-Credit classes besides Physics: Economics, College Algebra, Literature, World Religions, US History, and Government.
Also wanted to mention that I’m an African-American male, not female, the amount of African-American men applying to colleges (let alone ivy-leagues) continues to decline. Not sure if that has a major impact, but I figured it’d be smart to mention it.
ECS:
Jack and Jill of America: Organization made up of African American families that engage in nation wide events that cover political and social issues. I just finished a trip to Washington D.C, and I’m going back for a journalism event.
Model United Nations
National Honor Society
Internship at local Congresswoman’s office
I’m planning on taking several classes this summer at my local community college to boost my GPA to a mid 3.6 level
Essay: Planning on covering the importance of dual perspective whether it’s religious (I’m an atheist at an all Christian school) or racial (lot of very conservative right-wingers and a few extreme left-wingers, I’m in between). Hopefully my situation and ideas stand out to the people reading over my application.
Finally here are the colleges I’m planing on applying to: (Political Science Major)
Yale (early action)
Harvard
Cornell
Brown
Princton
Dartmouth
Vanderbilt
University of Virginia
UCLA
UC - Berkley
Stanford
Georgetown
George Washington
UT Austin
University of Oklahoma
Tulane University
UNC Chapel-Hill
University of Maryland (College Park)
Rice University
University of Michigan
Here’s what I’m thinking:
Your GPA will significantly hurt your chances at the top schools on your list (Ivies+UC schools+Stanford). Being a URM will certainly help your chances at most of these schools (UC system does not consider race in the admissions process), however, there will also undoutably be more qualified URM applying to these schools too. Moreover, the fact that your school does not rank makes it hard for colleges to put your GPA in context with the rest of your class’. Good luck!
Also, why are you applying to so many public schools? They won’t give you any funding if you are NOT a resident of their state.
If you aren’t a resident of California, you won’t receive a dime of funding towards any UC’s. Berkeley may not accept you, if you are not a resident, with that GPA. The URM status in California does not matter at the publics because it is illegal to admit on the basis or race.
I know my GPA isn’t good enough right now, hopefully doing well this year over the summer and the beginning of next year can bring it up close to 3.7, I’m relying heavily on my test scores, ECs, and my essay to try and get into these competitive schools. Also I’m stuck between Yale and Princeton as my choices for early action, Princeton’s average gpa acceptance is a 3.9 so I likely have a better chance there as they could accept me along with a student with a 4.1 to even out there average.
Sorry about this, but while bringing up grades now is good, it doesn’t erase the non-A grades in the past. When adcoms look at the transcript, they can wonder about past learning. And drives.
It’s important to research when matching yourself. It’s part of the complete thinking they expect. (That’s more than just picking targets that match your wants. It’s looking at how you match what they want.) Princeton, eg, shows that for a 3.5-3.59 gpa, 3% were accepted. It’s right on their web, no need to assume about averaging.
A big chunk of those will be athletes, legacies, big donors, and kids with extraordinary accomplishments. Some may have only gotten B grades in non cores or electives, eg, gym, woodshop, etc.
Look at the web pages, see for yourself. They don’t go, "Okay, we got xxxx 4.0 kids, now let’s find some 3.7s. I nag kids to be informed what it takes to have a solid shot, all the pieces.
Understand how insanely fierce the competition is. These top colleges cherry pick among thousands who have it all.
I understand what I’m saying is that my application includes other elements that makes me stand out compared to the usual 4.0 kids these colleges get. I’m trying to see if my test scores, ECs, and essay can make up for my low GPA I understand how competitive the applicants for these schools are.
You should apply. But that 3.5 will really hurt you and your ECs are nothing special, so won’t maje up for the low GPA. Despite what many believe, URM is not a golden ticket. Please take a look at the stats; the overwhelming majority of URMs get rejected. I know plenty of high stat URMs who were rejected from the Ivies, including young men.
Will do thanks this has been a good reality check I’m working hard to get my GPA up. I’ve also read that focusing on a few ECs that all align with your passion is better than being in a lot of clubs that have nothing to do with your interest. So maybe that’ll help me at this point it’s all luck for me
OP, you really have to read what the colleges, themselves, say, versus other sources. In fact, it’s depth and breadth. They rarely mention “passion,” per se. MUN, working for the congresswoman are good. What else, during hs? What responsibilities and impact? Most kids describing J&J, btw, talk about service, not events.
I don’t mean to be harsh, but your list is very reach heavy.
The kids who talk about service in their essays use it to describe their drive as a person. For me the political panels and events I attend help shape my worldview that makes me unique. My main leadership position would be the head of my schools’ Model United Nations Club. I’m well aware that I have plenty of reach schools, I see my application as such a wild card that have no way of knowing where I will end up going.
I meant J&J as an EC on the Activities list. The right sorts of service are active and giving, often separate from career interests.
You’ll make the choices you think are best. But a number of posters have mentioned the gpa will make it very tough for the reaches. They want a full picture of consistent academic strengths. (After all, this is about 4 years in a tough college.) It may be savvy to pare them down, really learn what those “look for,” be that sort of thinker, not throw a handful of darts. Not divide your energy among a dozen-plus reachy-reach supplements when you’re not sure what they want.
Tippy tops don’t select based on “worldview,” but on how an applicant chose, over 4 years of hs, to follow through, that active record that shows, not what you claim. In and out of school. That’s not events you register for, nor “pay to play” experiences.