<p>Received a D in AP Chemistry. 730 on the SAT II...
I don't know where to explain this but, my situation is that during Junior year, in addition to the stress of all activities being alone for most of the time after my mother lost her job, I lost a very close relative that I had a close relationship with (Aunt) and was really devastated because I had been contacting her and visiting her since I was younger...Guidance counselor will be writing about this in her letter to colleges I'm applying to...other than that here are the stats</p>
<p>Receiving a letter of recommendation from the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Yale Genetics department and am wondering if this will have any noticeable effect on my chances.</p>
<p>Anyways here are the stats....</p>
<p>3.45 GPA UW (Inc. freshman year after junior year)
SAT: 2150
Top 20% of Class
AP Chem
AP US History
AP Spanish
AP Calculus
AP Physics
AP English
+Mostly honors classes</p>
<p>EC/Athletics:
Genetic Research at Yale University (Internship)(Advisor will be writing rec.)
Volunteer at Yale-New Haven Hospital 200+ hours (Also a trainer for new volunteers)
Student Leadership Board at Yale-New Haven Hospital
Class Council Officer
Student Council Vice President
Student Leadership Team at my High School
Commended Student (PSAT)
National Honor Society
Varsity tennis 9-12
Fencing 11-12
Southern Youth Symphonic Orchestra and jazz Band(First chair)
Tae Kwon Do (Martial Arts, black belt)
Marching Band Squad Leader</p>
<p>Opinions+suggestions?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Would I have a any chance with early decision? Really want to go to Hopkins</p>
<p>Which schools would I have the best chance at of the following? Reg. or ED?
Tufts
Wake Forest
Brandeis
Johns Hopkins
Boston College
Carnegie Mellon</p>
<p>You’d have the best chance in this order:
Brandeis
Carnegie Mellon
Boston College
Wake Forest
Tufts
Johns Hopkins</p>
<p>I think Hopkins is too much of a reach. Even if you didn’t get a D, your UW GPA would still be low for it. Don’t let their 47% ED acceptance rate fool you.</p>
<p>If you are at 1400 (math + verbal) or 1420, Hopkins might be possible and it’s a school where you have a slight advantage applying ED. It’s worth a try. Check out whether you can also do an EA (Boston College?) Carnegie Mellon seems to care a little about demonstrated interest, so visit or attend one of their events in your city.</p>
<p>I’d say out of those, you have the best chance at Boston College. Plenty of college apps I’ve seen have allowed space to explain a slip in grades - if they don’t, you can always put it in the additional information section of the Common App.</p>
<p>You won’t know until you apply, but personally I don’t think this situation is going to be as detrimental as you think. Obviously, you need a safety or two. But overall I don’t think any of those schools are so much of a reach that it’s not worth applying.</p>
<p>Nice, Student Council VP (I’m one too!)
If you got a 730 in SAT II Chem and it seems you have a legit reason for your D, I say it’s in the past. Write about it in your essay and point out your 730 and you’ll cross that bridge fine.</p>
<p>As for the colleges…I’m sorry I’m not too familiar with most except I’d say Wake Forest and Carnegie Mellon are matches, Johns Hopkins is a bit of a reach.</p>
<p>What I can tell you is that you should not have to ask people for their opinion on where to go ED (in my opinion). You should be set on somewhere, without the pushing of someone else to apply somewhere ED. I know some people may disagree…but I’m kinda in your situation, not wanting to “waste” it, but none of my ED choices I definitively I want to go there over all my other choices. But I view it more as a convenience rather than a tool.</p>
<p>Thanks for the opinions irish and oliver! I’m EDing at Cornell…hopefully the one bad grade can be excused… Is there a specific place to explain discrepancies besides the guidance letter?</p>