Where should an enrolled Native American female with a 3.4GPA apply?

<p>Who goes to the #1 public school/lives in the wealthiest town in her state.
-700+ community service hours at a soup kitchen and a nursing home
-15hours a week at grocery store as cashier and front-end supervisor
-extraordinarily gifted arist (painting and drawing)
-founder of school newspaper
-editor of school literary magazine
-attended the renowned New England Young Writer's Conference at Middlebury College
-attended Cornell University Summer College
-31 ACT
-MATH I and English Subject tests in 700's (retaking them, aiming for high scores)
Does she have a chance at Cornell ED? How about other Ivies and top-tiers? If so, which schools?</p>

<p>^Cornell CAS v. Ecology? Which would I have a better shot at? I plan to major in psych. but the school of ecology has a major that looks at the science of psych and similar topics.</p>

<p>P.S. I have taken honors courses, and took AP Lang&Comp last year, and am taking AP Lit this year. My GC told me to only take AP’s that I’d enjoy. I have straight A’s this year (so far) in my classes! <— I’ve been in school since 8/27 and have had multiple assessments in each class.</p>

<p>Honestly, you could apply anywhere and if you are a registered as Native American, your chances of getting accepted to any school dramatically increase.</p>

<p>Thank you. I am merely afraid that if I apply to a top college (i.e. Harvard), I would not be at the academic top of my fellow Natives. However, I have amazing artwork that sets me aside from nearly every artist. I intend to major in psych.</p>

<p>bump10char</p>

<p>With your 31 ACT, and NA hook, you could certainly be a candidate for top Ivies. Do you have any interest in pursuing studio art? Yale has a great BFA program. For a psychology major, any of the Ivies will offer excellent programs. </p>

<p>If Cornell is your top choice, applying early would be a great idea, as it matches your GPA nicely. </p>

<p>Your portfolio + record + Native American status do NOT make you a “shoo in” anywhere, but they make you competitive for most universities in the country. Your GPA is on the low side for Top 20 schools, but try… you never know
I agree with Yale’s BFA if you’re an artist.
Do include 3 -4 matches (schools with 30-40% admission rate) and 2 safeties (40+% admission rate) - schools you like and, after you’ve run the NPCs, know you can afford.</p>

<p>Read “The Gatekeepers” and consider Wesleyan. </p>

<p>Thanks guys. @fuave and @MYOS1634‌ Yale address the importance of the transcript all over its website. X_X </p>

<p>I did not mention it above, as it is no excuse, but I was diagnosed with executive functioning disorder at the end of sophomore year. It was not until the end of junior year that I received a working medication. My current grades (all A’s except for a B something in AP Lit) reflect this. I have always faced severe bullying and social exclusion at school, however, I no longer care what others think about me. I saw a psychologist who helped me so much that she inspired me to become one myself. I got a job and began volunteering, which helped me as well. I wrote about this and my heritage in my CA essay.</p>

<p>I am stumped about where to apply early. Harvard and Hamilton don’t require SAT II’s. Harvard exclusively says all over its website that it wants diversity, and Gibby wrote this so well: <a href=“Chance Threads - PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING ONE - Harvard University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>A student with a WEIGHTED 3.25 from my school was accepted to Harvard REGULAR decision, according to my school’s Naviance.</p>

<p>Harvard has a Harvard University Native American Program: Harvard University
Native American Program</p>

<p>14 Story Street, 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-4923
<a href=“mailto:hunap@harvard.edu”>hunap@harvard.edu</a></p>

<p>You may wish to contact them and ask them for advice. From what I understand, they have a lounge area (with keycard) to build community and provide “Cultural Compatibility” space, and they support the Native American students on campus, as well as providing programming and scholarship relating to NA. Also consider Dartmouth.</p>

<p>@ItsJustSchool‌ My guidance counselor told me I should settle for schools like URI and Drexel. :)) </p>

<p>Since you are only a senior once, and none of us has a crystal ball, you may want to work with your GC (read post #6) to identify some matches and safeties, assuming your executive function essay and URM status don’t pull you into the “reach for everybody” schools. Drexel is great for hands-on engineering (and you can cross enroll across the street at UPenn). For Psychology? Maybe there are better choices for you!</p>

<p>I am very bullish on you- I think you have a good shot! But I have no downside risk, and you do. Be careful out there, it’s a wild, unpredictable world! :)</p>

<p>I agree with ItsJustSchool: those schools can’t be “counted on” admitting you, but you have a definite shot. I agree even with the HArvard suggestion even if that one is a very long shot.
Suggesting Drexel for an artsy kid who wants to study psychology… o_O
I second Clark, absolutely.</p>