What are my chances at Brown or BU

My GPA is a weighted 3.6

My cum SAT Score is 2100
Writing- 750
CR- 700
Math- 650

Extracurriculars:
-Vice President of JSA Team
-Secretary of American Red Cross Club
-President of Student Council
-President of Mock Trial Team
-Young Women’s Leadership Committee
-National Youth Council of 100 Black Women

Employment:
-2 summers at a state legislature’s office
-A year long internship at New York Civil Liberties Union

I know my GPA is low to be applying to an ivy but I’ve been told that that Brown is a pretty liberal school that focuses more on the person than the grades, but I am not sure…I am going to apply anyway because the worse they can say is no right?

Are you a senior who already applied? If then, why ask?

You are being deluded by “focuses more on the person than the grade”. That means they are going to look at something beyond grades-essay, ECs, rec letter whatnot-but I don’t think your records don’t really shine that much.
Brown rejects bunch of people with over 3.8 GPA and sparkling ECs, and they have absolutely no reason to accept someone with unimpressive stats
Brown: out of reach for various reason

  1. VERY low GPA
  2. weak SAT(also it’s super score, not cumulative). No subject test? Then you are not even eligible for applying.
  3. Mediocre ECs
  4. LOR and essays won’t make up for your mediocre records.
    BU: High reach~~~out of reach.

Hi Estebania,
I highly disagree with Paul. While a 2100 is not perfect, and a 3.6 will not place you in the top tier of students applying, there is certainly nothing terrible about your application. Brown is a highly selective school, but like all Ivys, consider more then just your GPA and SAT scores. I recommend applying to both schools, but you should not have a problem getting into Boston University, and may even get Merit aid. Your ECs are eclectic I admit, however you show a strong desire for social justice, which I believe Brown wants to see in its applicants.

@Paul, your negativity towards a perfectly acceptable application is uncalled for. In what way in BU an “out of reach” school for an application of the above caliber? Please, correct me if I am wrong, but it appears as though you are attempting to perpetuate a mistaken ideology that the Ivy League schools are only for elitist, “perfect” students. You are discouraging an entire tier of students who can, and will be, incredibly successful from achieving their greatest potential. I can only hope that you reconsider your mistaken and closed-minded ideology, lest you find yourself in the same situation.

Giving wrong hope is much much worse than giving realistic chance, albeit negativity.
Hello…Brown is probably the least ‘elitist’ Ivy. Brown is most liberal arts like among the Ivy league and very focused on humanitarian activities.

I have seen many people around me and many of them got flat out rejected even though they had not only great EC/SAT/GPA but also great personalities. Why? simply there aren’t enough spots! They got in other good schools, though.
ONLY person I knew who had 1800 SAT and 3.8 GPA and got in Brown was one of my acquaintances but his personal essays, ECs(can’t remember now) were much more that enough to make up for his low SAT score.
OP’s SAT IS weak compared to other applicants, and GPA is much less competitive.

@estebania16‌ can I ask why your GPA is low? Is it because of extenuating circumstance(Ex: bad family background, financial situation and other very debilitating situation).My comment may be negative but it’s not aimed at you personally, just giving you a realistic guess.

@Askaboutmygrades‌ who are you to label me an “elitist?” I am one of people who tell others that Ivy=/=everything, particularly international students(I myself am an international student and as a person who went through hellish admission processes, I feel obligated to help other foreign students unless they say something really stupid)

“You are discouraging an entire tier of students who can, and will be, incredibly successful from achieving their greatest potential.”
NO, I am discouraging from dreaming “too much”. I am not saying ‘oh you suck you better go to community college or vocational school’, but I want to tell them there are other alternatives that are as good.
Yes, Ivy leagues consider more than GPA/SAT but, to some extent…solely judging by op’s post, they are good, but not competitive enough, unfortunately.

@estebania16‌

no point in worrying now lol… Id suggest not gettting too attached to Brown (because it really is all a toss-up)

you did leave out your rank and SAT IIs… both of which are vital info

It’s okay not to have a rank if there isn’t one because not all(and significant portion of high schools) don’t rank or rank only top ones.
Not having SAT 2 is a problem, though. They won’t even consider you

Even though your gpa is a little low for an Ivy, I think your positions in clubs shows a strong sense of leadership.

@paul2752‌ i don’t take SAT 2’s until june but i plan on taking literature, u.s history, and french

@ggwpafk823‌ i go to a magnet school, we don’t get ranked

You have a good chance because judging by your CC name, I think you’re a URM.

Like you said, Brown is a very liberal school, with a liberal admissions process. Sometimes they’ll look past the gpa and look at how involved you are. Keep your hopes up!

I have to agree with @paul2752‌ , “You are being deluded by “focuses more on the person than the grade”. That means they are going to look at something beyond grades-essay, ECs, rec letter whatnot-but I don’t think your records don’t really shine that much.
Brown rejects bunch of people with over 3.8 GPA and sparkling ECs, and they have absolutely no reason to accept someone with unimpressive stats”

I think that you should apply anyway, unfortunately I think that your chances at Brown are very low. However, your chances at BU are much better. I would recommend applying to both, as there’s no harm in doing so, but don’t overestimate your chances.