<p>^U of C is definitely in that category.</p>
<p>Yeah, U of C would in many ways be a very good fit. Unfortunately, though, no engineering or architecture.</p>
<p>Well, Arch schools definitely have the least emphasis on GPA because the portfolio is what really matters. not that it makes any easier to get in… it’s quite the opposite.</p>
<p>“… I wonder which would place LESS emphasis on rank/GPA?”</p>
<p>Um Brooklynborndad if I may respond with a metaphor: Which is less likely to be crowded during rush hour … the Whitestone or the Cross Bronx?</p>
<p>Your D has some special qualities that may override the rank/GPA issue at elite schools. However, I don’t believe it’s practical to identify which elites are more (or less) likely to do that. This does not mean she won’t receive an absolutely wonderful education wherever she ends up.</p>
<p>newhope - are you suggesting DD not bother applying to reach schools?</p>
<p>Or apply to the ones she likes best, without regard to chances?</p>
<p>Reaching too high most likely. SAT scores and one AP score are not more indicative of academic sucess than GPA, espicially considering how the school offers more AP courses (with other students taking them and achieving higher GPA and “class rank”)</p>
<p>If your school is truely competative, the top schools you mentioned will know that a 3.3/3.4 (in the bottom quartile or so) is very weak compared to the other applicants this year/previous years.</p>
<p>Not at all. I was suggesting that trying to identify which reach schools would be more likely to ignore rank/GPA is like trying to determine whether the Whitestone or Cross Bronx is less likely to be crowded next Wednesday morning at 8:15 … it’s speculation at best, because both are generally jammed at that weekday hour.</p>
<p>I’m advocating that your D go ahead and apply to reaches she really likes, unless you think she might be hurt if she was turned down by all of them.</p>
<p>No, I think she could handle being turned down by the reaches. She’s pretty realistic. </p>
<p>It would have been nice having a way to narrow down the reaches, because time spent visiting them competes with time spent visiting the matches, and too many visits to schools we all know she has a slim chance at can be disspiriting.</p>