<p>Alright, this is probably going to be more of a rant than a legitimate question but I'm just extremely frustrated and disappointed right now.
So far, I've heard back from 3 colleges: Indiana (accepted), Tulane (deferred), and Northeastern (deferred as I found out just now). I honestly thought I had a good chance of getting into both Tulane and Northeastern EA with my stats. My school uses naviance and most of the dots around mine were green. But enough talking...here are my actual stats:
SAT superscored (out of 2 tests): 2090 SAT highest: 2070
ACT: 30 (but I didn't send it in because SATs were higher)
GPA UW: 3.25
Extracurriculars: not exceptional but decent. I have a passion for piano, been playing for 12 years...1st chair all-state jazz band. Concert band since 5th grade. Science Olympiad since 5th grade (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals in State tournament). Assistant manager for a retail store. Tour guide for my school. 100+ hours of community service (80+ at the children's hospital I go to for my scoliosis, 30+ at a nursing home). I'm involved with a few clubs at school. No sports in high school but I did take capoeira for awhile.
Rank: N/A (we don't rank)</p>
<p>Yeah, I know, it's probably my GPA. But I go to an extremely rigorous private school where below-average classes would be considered honors in public schools. I wrote an additional info essay on why my gpa is lower too, and it's not just whiny...I talked about how my parents had major financial problems in addition to my dad getting heart surgery and I had to help my parents a lot. And my grades have an upward trend.</p>
<p>I dunno man, I just feel kinda hopeless right now. I have plenty of harder colleges on my list and now I feel like I'm going to end up going to Indiana which is definitely not my first choice. According to Naviance, plenty of people with lower GPA's and SAT scores from my school got into these colleges...is it just that this year is much more competitive??</p>
<p>Also I’m hearing from University of Illinois tomorrow. Fingers crossed…does anyone know what my chances are? Is it harder to get into Illinois than Tulane or Northeastern?</p>
<p>While admissions are holistic for the most part, I’m pretty sure that admissions officers regard GPA and course rigor as the most important components of an application. So, your 3.25 UW is probably why you are getting deffered. Your SAT and ECs are good.</p>
<p>Did you take AP and honors classes? That will affect how they view that GPA.</p>
<p>Also note Tulane’s average GPA of the last freshman class was 3.55. So yours is in the ballpark but apparently far enough below the average to not warrant an EA spot. (see Section on their Common Data Set)</p>
<p>The good new is that they haven’t denied you, they just want to compare you to the RD pool.</p>
<p>Yeah, unfortunately I can’t do anything about my GPA I’m just surprised because other people from my school with lower GPAs got into these places! But then again, they could have better course rigor or something :/</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl I’m currently taking AP literature and AP statistics. We don’t have any pre-ap classes and my school only lets you take three APs max a year.</p>
<p>Oh I also forgot to post my subject test scores…700 math 1 and 710 literature, they’re decent but idk if they’re high enough to help with anything</p>
<p>Not surprised you were deferred from Northeastern and Tulane. Both schools are becoming quite competitive, particularly northeastern, and your SAT is average maybe a little above average, and your gpa seems weak but definitely good you have an upward trend. Good luck but don’t be too surprised if you get rejected later on from both schools.</p>
<p>You should be good at Illinois(Urbana?) Except if you applied to Engineering/CS which is VERY competitive. If you did apply there, they might not reject you outright, just bump you down to their undeclared college, can’t remember what it is called… It’s too bad. I can’t believe how many really bright accomplished kids have such trouble securing spots at universities that seem a good fit. The process is just out-of-control crazy these days. You expect it at HPY but it’s getting that way at so many places. Can you get a 4.0 first semester this year? That would help at the deferred schools. Other than that, you can take more tests. Northeastern accepts January tests for the RD round. The ACT is a very easy test to study your grade up by a few points if you are determined. Spend Xmas break with Barron’s and the real ACT book, etc. Take SAT subject tests on 1/26 in subjects you feel confident in (need to register by 12/28. )You don’t have to send scores unless you do well. Also, you might be able to rework your essays, not sure what the policy is. You should talk to someone in admissions and ask.</p>
<p>Two thoughts. One, supposedly Tulane likes you to ‘show the love’. Did you visit? Contact in any way? I’d find a way to show your interest (especially if you got a ‘quick app’ through your email). Two, if you have an upward trend that is notable, both schools may be watching to see if your MY report reflects a continuation. Good luck!</p>
<p>Well, I got into Illinois I didn’t get my first choice major though, which was business. My status said “offered alternate program” and then it brought me to a page where I had a list of majors to choose from. It said that I would be automatically admitted to the major I chose, so I picked economics. I’m not that bummed, since economics is pretty close to business.</p>
<p>@89wahoo Nope I didn’t visit, but I went to the college meeting at my school with the regional admissions person. And yeah I’ll probably send the admissions counselor an email to show my interest (though I’m not really that interested anymore)</p>
<p>I’m surprised Northeastern deferred you. People were posting that they were told by admissions people that they accepted everyone with a certain sat. And that’s really what they looked at. The next people were holistically looked at for deferral. The cutoff was probably 2100 or 2150 though. </p>
I’m just surprised because other people from my school with lower GPAs got into these places! But then again, they could have better course rigor or something :/</p>
I didn’t get my first choice major though, which was business. My status said “offered alternate program” and then it brought me to a page where I had a list of majors to choose from. It said that I would be automatically admitted to the major I chose, so I picked economics. I’m not that bummed, since economics is pretty close to business.</p>