Very Confused Person Seeking Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>So ever since visiting campus and researching Tufts, I've thought that it's a very slim reach for me because my class rank and GPA aren't very high. I thought that my only only chance of getting in would be applying ED to demonstrate interest. Two years later, I go to my guidance counselor to review my final list of schools and she tells me that Tufts is more of a high match for me? What?? Can anyone tell me what my chances are at Tufts? I used to think I knew, but now I have no idea!</p>

<p>Half white/half asian from a Connecticut public school
school is very competetive (ranked 8th best high school in CT) last year, 10% of the graduating class went to Ivy League Schools, and about a quarter to top 25 ranked schools
GPA (weighted): 3.7 (but my grades from first quarter this year are very good (4.1 if they were semester grades)--if I maintain them through the semester, my cumulative GPA will go up to a 3.84)
AP Classes:
Junior Year
AP Calc AB (5)
AP Chem (5)
AP US (4)
Senior Year
AP Language and Comp.
AP Spanish
AP Statistics</p>

<p>Honors Classes:
Freshman Year
Honors Biology, Honors Algebra II, Accelerated English, Accelerated Spanish
Sophomore Year
Honors English, Honors Chemistry, Honors Precalculus, Honors Spanish
Junior Year
Honors American Literature, Honors Spanish
Senior Year
Honors Physics</p>

<p>Test Scores:
SAT I
Math: 770
CR: 720
Writing: 780
SAT II
Math 2: 740
Biology-M: 710
Chemistry: 780
ACT
33</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Commended Scholar (2011), Tri-M Music Honor Society (2010, 2011), Spanish Honor Society (2010, 2011), AP Scholar (2011), CTY Scholar (2007), Music for Youth Scholarship (2011)</p>

<p>College Programs:
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (2007)
Notre Dame Summer Scholars (2011)
Michigan Math and Science Scholars (2011)</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
Odyssey of the Mind (20 hrs/wk): team founder, team captain (10, 11, 12), assistant coach to middle school team (9), participated grades 7-12
Darien Library Teen Advisory Board: secretary (9,10), vice president (11), president (12), basically we organize reading hours for kids, book drives, read-a-thons, etc. as well as plan events for teenagers to raise awareness about our new library
Debate Team (10-12)
Quidditch Team (11, 12)
Kids in Crisis Youth Corps (9-12): we organize events for children who are abused or underprivileged
St. Thomas More Youth Group (6-12): my church youth group--we help the elderly and/or underprivileged with a variety of weekly events
Tennis (7-12): I play on the JV team, as well as on the Solaris Tennis Academy team, and at USTA tournaments--about 12 hours per week
EMT training: 15 hours/wk--I am taking classes to get my EMT-B license
Babysit
trombone (marching band, concert band, jazz band, brass ensemble, and i give free lessons to middle school students through my Tri-M Music Honor Society)
volunteer at various animal hospitals and shelters</p>

<p>Any other questions just ask me--thanks so much!!</p>

2

<p>I think you are a VERY high match or even a low reach, based on your stats and resume. I think you have a shot but your GPA could hurt your chances. What is your rank or approximate decile?</p>

3

<p>Only about top 20% (probably in the 17th percentile), which will hurt me. Like I said though, the top quarter of my class tends to get into top 30 or so schools. Also, unfortunately, many students at my school practice GPA stacking. Since we’re on a weighted GPA scale, lots of people will take all regular core classes and boost their GPAs with things like Honors Art (I respect art, but this class is a joke at my school), Honors Earth Science, etc., which results in some students with 4.0+ GPAs who, in my opinion, don’t deserve them.</p>

4

<p>also, does it help me AT ALL that i’m a female applying to engineering?</p>

<p>More info: i have very generic teacher recs (good, but probably nothing that will stand out), my counselor rec is very very good, also i have a rec from a professor at university of michigan (he’s a math professor) which is stellar</p>

5

<p>i had good stats when applying, but i think what tufts is really excited about is people who are really unique and interesting, and who are able to get this across in their apps. if you are a really passionate person, convey as much of that as possible in your app and i think tufts will appreciate it</p>

6

<p>“also, does it help me AT ALL that i’m a female applying to engineering?”</p>

<p>Yes! This will definitely improve your chances. Whether being a female Engineering major will improve your chances enough to offset a 17% decile is up for debate, but knowing this tends to make me think your GC might be correct about Tufts being closer to a high match. Tufts will also take into consideration the competitiveness/quality of your high school as you have pointed out. The only other concern though may be why you didn’t take BC Calculus, since your intended major is Engineering. I also think your ECs, with an emphasis on helping the youth in your community, are a big plus. Are you also applying to Northeastern by chance? I think they have a really good Engineering school and you would receive some nice merit aid there. I would be curious to see where else you are applying for Engineering because you would have some great options.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>What would my chances be if I were to apply EDII? Any higher?</p>

<p>As far as other schools I’m applying to for engineering, yes, Northeastern is on there, as is Wash U, Notre Dame, Michigan, Villanova, Lehigh, and Case Western Reserve.</p>

8

<p>If you’re a woman applying for engineering, you have a very strong shot. If you apply EDII, I think you’ll get in. My only concern is that you’re not taking BC Calc, but I think you’ll be fine.
Also, Tufts will only look at your Math and Chem Subject test scores, both because they look at the top 2 and because they want math and either chem or physics for engineering applicants.
Good luck!</p>

9

<p>just saw that you applied ED to WashU. As a woman applying to engineering with your particulars, i think you’ll get in there, but if you don’t, if would definitely go EDII at TUFts</p>