What are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvey Mudd College
1

<p>GPA:
So my GPA is a strange story. I attended an extremely difficult private school my freshman year, which did not offer honors classes. I then switched into a public school which weights honors classes. So on my transcript it appears like I got mediocre grades in regular classes, pulling my GPA down farther than it should be. Apparently it somehow also affects my unweighted GPA (my counselor explained why, I don't entirely understand why). Either way, this is an inaccurate reflection of my academic performance and my counselor is writing a letter to each college I apply to explaining the situation. According to her, without this error I should be in the top 20% of my class.</p>

<p>Unweighted: 3.4
Weighted: 3.9</p>

<p>Tests:</p>

<p>SAT: First try- 2060, plan on retaking it
CR: 700
M: 650
W: 710</p>

<p>ACT: 33</p>

<p>SAT II:
US History: 710
Plan on taking Math I and Literature</p>

<p>PSAT: Semifinalist, most likely not finalist</p>

<p>Classes: Please see note under GPA for info on my freshman year</p>

<p>Sophomore Year: (all other classes honors)
AP US History (5)</p>

<p>Junior Year: (all other classes honors)
AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Chemistry</p>

<p>Senior Year: (all other classes honors/enrollment in a college)
AP English
AP Physics
AP Statistics
AP Spanish 5
AP Calculus AB
AP Government</p>

<p>Awards:
Two time national finalist at the North South Foundation senior vocabulary bee, two time 1st place winner at the regional level
Three time state finalist for National History Day, one time national finalist
Two time Merit Award (I think this is unique to my school?) winner
NHS Member (and running for vice president)
Semifinalist for National Merit Scholarship
Latin Award Magna Cum Laude </p>

<p>Summer Programs:
Interlochen Center of the Arts- Creative Writing student
Center for Talent Development, Northwestern- AP Chemistry
Volunteered for a nursing home
This summer: NYLF Medicine @ Boston, University of Chicago Research in Biology program</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Freshman year:
EAT (Environmental Action Team)
Think Tank (History club)
National History Day state finalist
Art in Action
Charter (school newspaper)
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Youth Representative
JV Volleyball
Piano</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
SMART Team (Students Modeling a Research Topic, if you want more info, just ask) leading member
Led a V-Day production
Borealis editor (literary magazine)
Club United senior member
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Youth Representative
Taekwondo
Piano</p>

<p>Junior year:
The 9th Dimension: Vice President (Student led tutoring program with over 50 tutors)
SMART Team senior member
Asian Culture Club committee head
Club United senior member
National History Day club President, state and national finalist
Stage crew
Borealis editor
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Youth Representative
National Honor Society member
Taekwondo
Piano</p>

<p>I have also led a creative writing website where teenagers can connect and improve each other's work since I was ten and plan on writing an essay on the experience.</p>

<p>I am a female minority student.</p>

2

<p>Everything looks pretty good. </p>

<p>I had a similar case regarding GPA, but not so extreme. My freshman year school had no honors or APs. It wasn’t a hard private school, it was a private school in which I received a terrible education. I got a 3.6 there, but not because the classes were hard, but this one teacher who didn’t like me gave me a B in both her health class and her Psychology class… how do you get a B in health and psychology??? Especially when I was getting good scores on my assignments and homeworks… and seeing as I got a 98 in my health class the following year that demanded more work since it was taught by the AP Biology teacher… and got a 4 on self studying ap psych for 2 weeks… but that’s neither here nor there.</p>

<p>Point is, I don’t think your low GPA freshman year will impact you that much, or the fact that you had no honors or APs. </p>

<p>You definitely have a good chance, but as always, nothing is for sure.</p>

3

<p>Try to demonstrate your special interests in one or several fields of science/mathematics. You seem well-rounded but not quite science-inclined. (More of an Ivy type than a Mudd type I dare say)Mudd impresses me as a science and math inclined school. Without passions for science related subjects, even if you get in, you won’t be perfectly happy at Mudd.(or Caltech and similar schools)

These two are great, and very “Muddy” too. I highly recommend you to participate more in similar programs. </p>

<p>SAT score doesn’t look quite good. Keep in mind that Mudd’s average SAT score is one of the highest of all US colleges. On your next try, aim at a 2200+. :smiley: </p>

<p>In a nutshell, I do think you have a very good shoot indeed. You are perfectly fit for Mudd.( Assuming that you can write pretty interesting application essays and be more science-inclined.)</p>

4

<p>I say you have a very good shot despite the GPA :)</p>

5

<p>I didn’t read the entire post, but I noticed you have a 650 on SAT Math and are planning on taking SAT II Math I. I’m not certain but I think Mudd requires Math IIc, and even if they don’t I think taking Math I will reflect quite poorly on your mathematical ability. You seem to be more inclined towards biology, but Mudd is unlike most schools in that it requires a very rigorous core curriculum. The 2 years of required math is getting reduced to 1.5, but there is also 1.5 years of required physics and 0.5 of engineering, which all require a fairly high level of mathematics.</p>

<p>Bottom line, a 650 SAT Math and Math I SAT IIc (in my opinion) will possibly barely get you into HMC (provided Math IIc isn’t required) given your other credentials, but I am certain you will have a very difficult time in core. I wouldn’t recommend going to HMC unless you can essentially live and breath Calculus AB, much less the algebra and geometry on the SATs. Unless of course you think you can master it in the process, which I would not attempt doing given you have 3-4 other classes you are taking simultaneously.</p>

6

<p>^
as much as it sucks, looking back, I think I agree (though i’m not a mudder yet. I’m just talking merely about chances of getting in)</p>

7

<p>So, may I ask what your PSAT score was that you obtained the National Semifinalist title, particularly in terms of your achieving a 2060 on the SAT?</p>

8

<p>

This confuses me. You can get “commended” and not make it further, but once you get to semi-finalist you mostly just have to jump through their hoops and write an essay and get a recommendation. As long as you don’t have any major disciplinary issues and a decent GPA, isn’t “finalist” a gimme after “semifinalist”? Based on my understanding of this ridiculously long and drawn-out process, I think anyone just finishing up his junior year would only be commended.</p>

<p>My understanding:[ul]
[<em>]Oct Junior year - take PSAT
[</em>]Spring Junior year - get “commended” - one in 50,000 - and have the right to send “looky me!” letters to two colleges
[<em>]Fall Senior year - get “semi-finalist” - 1/3 of the commendeds, or about 16,000, and you have the right to write them an essay and get a principal rec
[</em>]Spring Senior year - get “finalist” - most of the semi-finalists, or about 15,000
[*]Late spring Senior year - get “scholar” - about 1/5 to 1/2 of the finalists, depending on whether you count the ones who get money from schools or just the ones who get money from NMC itself[/ul]</p>

9

<p>As far as the math scores go, I agree that a 650 is low. But give the kid a break - it was the first try. You don’t know the test, the format, etc. A final score of 650 isn’t encouraging, but a first try of 650 doesn’t mean much. </p>

<p>About the SAT II Math: From the Mudd website: “You must submit scores from the Math 2 subject exam and a second one of your choice.”</p>

10

<p>Suin is right: Getting in may be the hard part at many selective colleges, but it’s the easy part at Mudd. If all those ECs represent significant time commitments, then the good news is that rajasa must have pretty good time management skills – which are likely to be critical.</p>

<p>The other geek mom is right: rajasa may have commended status now, but won’t know about semifinalist status until September. Mudd offers a small (~$1k/year with some modifiers) NM scholarship for finalists who identify Mudd as their first choice by the deadline.</p>

<p>I agree with others’ comments regarding math testing. A higher SATI M score would be advisable, and the SATII Math II (c or no c) is required (and the curve for that test is better than the Math I anyway). </p>

<p>An ED application might possibly be advantageous here, but applying ED means the tests have to be finished in November. Not a lot of retake opportunities there.</p>

<p>Also agree with dawncoming. The stats seem to say “bright and well-rounded” and “likes to help people,” but I’m not really seeing “furiously passionate about STEM.” I see ECs in practically everything but STEM, and nothing out of the ordinary STEM-wise in the high school classes. That combined with the math scores would have me really wondering, why Mudd? And “why Mudd” is very important.</p>

<p>Overall, I think I wouldn’t be as optimistic as the prefrosh respondents without some other evidence of STEM passion and proficiency.</p>

<p>(Note: “STEM” == Science/Technology/Engineering/Math.)</p>

11

<p>Whoops, sorry- I meant just that I’ll most likely get commended. </p>

<p>Thank you for all of the input- the Math II versus Math I was definitely not something I thought about, and I’ll have to take Math II in the fall. Thank you for the heads up.</p>

<p>That’s basically what I was wondering- while I am science oriented, I’m not quite up to par math wise. I’m not even entirely sure how much I’d enjoy going to such a mathematically-oriented school, either- I was just wondering how my scores measured up.</p>

<p>I’m taking the SAT again in the fall- hopefully over a 2200 this time! </p>

<p>I need to check up on my PSAT scores, but I recall that my selection index was around 205.</p>

<p>Thank you all so much!</p>

12

<p>Commended is not a status you get before Semifinalist; it’s instead of, and they are awarded at the same time. Mudd’s National Merit scholarship is actually $1000/semester now, which was surprising when I saw that on my FA sheet, but obviously it made me and my parents happy (although I’m not sure whether Mudd’s policy of deducting the first $500 of any extra scholarship you get from the family contribution is per year or per semester).
You are correct, rajasa: with a score of 205 you are very likely to be Commended but not be a Semifinalist (209 was the cut-off for the last 3 years for Semifinalist status).</p>

13

<p>

This is accurate; however, students are notified in the preceding Spring that they will be recognized, meaning at least Commended. So it’s reasonable for rajasa to say that she has Commended status at this point.</p>

<p>

Not for everyone. Quote: “HMC National Merit Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,000 per year depending on financial need and grade level. Qualifying National Merit finalists who do not apply for or do not receive financial assistance will be awarded the minimum award of $1,000 per year.” [Ref: [HMC</a> Merit-Based Awards](<a href=“http://www.hmc.edu/admission1/costsandaid1/typesofaid1/scholarshipsandgrants1/hmcmeritbasedawards.html]HMC”>Merit-Based Scholarships | Admission and Financial Aid | Harvey Mudd College)] Full-pay families should also note that tuition is raised about 5% per year; need-based financial aid is adjusted accordingly, but merit aid is not.</p>

<p><a href=“209%20was%20the%20cut-off%20for%20the%20last%203%20years%20for%20Semifinalist%20status”>quote=“thefirstdude02”</a>.

[/quote]

This is not accurate. The cutoff score for NMSF varies from state to state. Many states’ cutoff scores were below 209 this year, and many were above. Every September, CC members compare notes to determine the cutoff score for each state. See, for example, [the</a> final cutoff list in this year’s official PSAT cutoff thread](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063359519-post1169.html]the”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063359519-post1169.html).</p>

<p>@rajasa: With your academics and ECs, I think you’ll have a lot of great choices next April! In your quest for the best college, don’t forget “fit.” :)</p>

14

<p>You need to take the Math II, not the Math I. I dont even know why they would offer the Math I anymore.</p>

<p>Also 650 for math is too low to get in. ~80th percentile can mean you will have a hard time getting through core and the application reviewing counsel knows that. </p>

<p>Also, having talked with the relevant people at Mudd over dinner recently, dont put NHS on your list of activities if its one of those joke setups where people are mostly in it for the name and dont even do much community service. They know which NHS/CSF/etc. programs dont do much.</p>

15

<p>Okay, I definitely didn’t hear anything until the fall.</p>

<p>Oh, really? Reading is good. Interesting. Thanks for the info.</p>

<p>Oops, I forgot about that. My bad…</p>