Waiting on Decision, Chances anyone?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hey everyone, I had applied early to GT and I was deferred to Regular Admissions, so I'm waiting on the 15th. So I thought, while I'm waiting in what seems to be the proverbial "limbo" of the admissions process (you know the waiting part eh?), I might as well try to get some opinions on my chances. Thanks for your input in advance if you do. :)</p>

<p>Background:
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (Filipino)
Male
OOS - Connecticut</p>

<p>Academics:
Competitive Public High School</p>

<p>-My school has quite a few of people going to each of these places such as Cornell, Georgetown, UIUC, Virginia Tech, Duke, Colombia, Yale, etc. I think we had three admits to MIT this year as well.</p>

<p>-80% of students attend a four year college/university after school.</p>

<p>-My school does not rank, primarily because of the way it "misrepresents some students".</p>

<p>-My school does not carry and Honors courses, and uses a very unusual leveling system for classes.</p>

<p>(We have four levels essentially, which I listed in order of difficulty)</p>

<p>AP (Self-Explanatory)
Lvl. 1 (Equivalent of an Honors course, OPINION of a family member who is a college professor.)
Lvl. 2 (Standard Courses)
Lvl. 3 (Remedial)</p>

<p>However, these levels aren't reported on transcripts or anything such as that, so all of my would be "Honors" courses just look like regular courses. :(</p>

<p>Standardized Testing:</p>

<p>SAT Combined: 1890/2400 (I know, its kinda low...)
SAT Combined (CR+M): 1320
Breakdown: M 670 / CR 650 / W 570</p>

<p>ACT Composite (Math and Reading): 30</p>

<p>Grade Point Average (Calculated using GT Admissions Scale):</p>

<p>Freshman Year: 3.0 GPA / 4.0</p>

<p>During my Freshman year I slacked, I didn't care about much of anything, except for my aptitude with computers and programming. Because of this lack lust effort, I only received two A's (Geometry and Earth Sciences), four B's, and I failed my Lvl. 1 Spanish Course with a D.</p>

<p>Sophomore Year: 3.83 GPA / 4.0</p>

<p>After failing Spanish with a D, I woke up and smelled the coffee to say the least. That year I received five A's (Algebra II, Biology, U.S. History, etc. I even got an A in the Spanish course I had previously failed), and one B (English... grr...). I was in "Honors" courses for Math, Science, and Spanish, but since our leveling system is extremely screwy that doesn't really matter I guess.</p>

<p>Junior Year: 3.71 GPA / 4.0</p>

<p>Following my own example and determined to make something of the less than desirable situation, I received five A's (Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Economics, American Gov't, and Object Oriented Programming (nope, not an AP here in the CT)), and two B's (English and Spanish). At this point I was in all "Honors" course (except English and American Gov't which was leveled), but since our leveling system is extremely screwy that doesn't really matter I guess.</p>

<p>Current Senior Year: 3.64 GPA / 4.0</p>

<p>I currently am in all "Honors" courses, except for one AP course (AP Physics) which I have a B in. I currently have four A's (Calculus, Technical Writing & Research, Geology, World History) and two B's, but since our leveling system is extremely screwy that doesn't really matter I guess.</p>

<p>(I decided not to include +'s or -'s cause they are irrelevant, or the Levels of most of the courses, as it is irrelevant to GT cause the transcript doesn't include them when sent.)</p>

<p>EC's:
-Varsity Rugby Union Player (3 yrs) - Our team has played nationally, and we have won multiple State and Regional Championships.
-Well Versed in both C++ and Java Programming Languages.
-Over 75+ Hours working in a Local Homeless Shelter.
-Over 50+ Hours coordinating and working for some of my Church's events/fundraisers.
-Over 20+ Hours reading to underage children through Youth Services Dept. in town.
-Over 20+ Hours working bringing fresh produce and other food items to the elderly through the Filipino American Association of Connecticut.
-People to People Student Ambassador to Australia - Six Week Trip
-Over 20+ Hours of miscellaneous Community Service for People to People Programs.
-Forum Administrator (not for a well known website or anything, but still felt like including it anyway.)</p>

<p>(I'm not really the club type of person, I don't know why...)</p>

<p>Essay: Pretty Good (OPINION of my aunt, who is an editor to the dean of admissions at an Ivy League School)</p>

<p>I could only apply to public schools as my family is not that affluent and I have divorced parents. Of the schools I had applied to, I got denied at two and accepted to two. This is the last I'm waiting on. The schools are as followed:</p>

<p>-University of Texas-Austin (Denied)
-University of Illinois-UC (Deferred Early, then Denied)
-Purdue University (Accepted Early)
-Texas A&M University (Accepted Early)</p>

2

<p>Eh, I don’t think you have much to worry about. The SAT score is a bit low but the rest of your profile is great. Ditto with GPA. With any luck and a good essay, I’d say you are probably going to get in.</p>

3

<p>Thanks peacein345, I hope you are right… </p>

<p>I don’t want to go 2/5, that is only a 40% success rate. Not to mention I only got into my safeties…</p>

<p>Oh, BTW, if it helps to know I am trying to go for dual degrees in Discrete Math and Computer Science.</p>

4

<p>second opinion anyone? It would be appreciated greatly.</p>

5

<p>I think you have a very good chance. I got in with about the same GPA/AP/SAT/ ACT and less ECs. Also male, OOS, accepted for Aerospace Enginering.</p>

6

<p>i think you have a pretty good chance SAT/GPA are pretty decent and your EC’s are really good! Good Luck</p>

7

<p>Thanks man, I appreciate it.</p>

8

<p>I think it depends on how many they can get that are better than you. Considering the early apps, what worked one or two years ago may not work this time.</p>

9

<p>Well, how many AP courses are offered at your school? Because to colleges, you may not have been taking the most challenging classes. I got into GaTech within a couple weeks of applying early. </p>

<p>My Stats: 2170 SAT, rank: top 14%, loaded E.C</p>

<p>I think you have a decent shot; you might be rejected if this year’s class is stronger than past years.</p>

10

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</p>

<p>Whoever told you this gave you horrible advice. All of the schools you applied to are OOS, and OOS public schools are usually more expensive than private schools, because you do not get in-state tuition and usually do not get very much aid. If you plan on going out of state it can often be cheaper to go to a private school after you account for financial aid.</p>

11

<p>Unfortunately, I am in the lower part of the middle class. We had to declare bankruptcy last year. This being said, I have a low chance of receiving need-based aid, which is usually reserved for students in lowest salary brackets (ie. $20000 Family Income, 0 EFCs).</p>

<p>Another unfortunate fact is that my numbers simply won’t get me much of anything in the ways of merit based aid. I have too low an overall GPA, and my SAT scores would need to be at least 150-200 Pts. higher to have even a slight chance at many places.</p>

<p>In-state really wasn’t an option as the local business climate is not the greatest here in CT, plus our main university (UConn) doesn’t really have that good of a Mathematics or Science Department.</p>

<p>That being said, I’m probably going to be paying for my education out the backside for a while after undergrad. But I’m prepared for that reality none the less.</p>

12

<p>As an added note, my school only offers a couple of AP classes. Many of the ones I had applied (AP Calc, AP Psych, etc.) to take got filled up by people because they had better GPAs then I did, mostly because of my poor Freshman year performance.</p>

<p>And for that, I curse the administrative department at my school.</p>

<p>BTW, thanks all for your input on my situation.</p>

<p>And if it’ll help anyone trying to apply next year, I’ll post my decision here when I get it.</p>

13

<p>your sat scores are fine. I dont really understand the grading system you have posted, but it looks like your GPA is fine. you should bet set.</p>

14

<p>I’m similar to you in a lot of ways. I was accepted to Purdue, deferred from GA Tech, similar scores and grades (on the GA Tech scale anyway). I’m pretty nervous though, and have no idea what’s going to happen.</p>

<p>I did want to let you know that a huge percent of the early applicants are deferred. Then a bunch of those students are admitted later. I found it somewhere on the Georgia Tech website, and it made me feel better after being deferred. Good luck though!!! 7 days!</p>

15

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<p>I don’t even understand why they do it (and I go to school there?)… it is a completely random and archaic system.</p>

<p>Anyway, good luck to all, only about seven more days!</p>

16

<p>InPursuit is right. You do NOT need $20K familiy income and $0 EFC to get decent financial aid. Most privates will provide up to the EFC with some combination of grant/loan/work study aid. Some schools, Tulane for one, have a no-loan (grant/merit/work study only) program for families making $75K or less. Too late at this point.
Good luck!</p>

17

<p>It’s a shame you looked down upon UConn - it’s the top public university in New England and it also has one of the best engineering programs in public universities and it has been getting a lot more competitive lately (it’s no UVA, UNC, Mich, GT, UIUC, etc…) but it’s still a solid school.</p>

<p>And in your situation, $9k a year or w/e it is now is not really a bad deal. That value is incredible.</p>

18

<p>My parents would have been enraged if I had chosen to (they both went to NYU, my mother went to grad school at Columbia after that.) I’m also not originally from Connecticut (born in NYC), and I hate living in New England. (Especially in Connecticut…)</p>

<p>To tell the truth, I really wanted to be somewhere South of the Mason Dixon line or West of the Mississippi. Of the colleges I visited (all of the ones I applied to) I definitely liked Atlanta and Austin the most out of them all. </p>

<p>UIUC was alright in its own aspects, and I definitely wouldn’t have had a problem going there, but it was kind of out in the sticks a bit.</p>

<p>(I’m not an Engineering major either, BTW. I’m trying for Comp Sci and Pure Math degrees.)</p>

19

<p>Waitlisted…</p>

20

<p>how’d u get a decision already?</p>