With the Legacy and Early Decision, how much does that help for going into H&SS?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
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<p>Hi,
My dad went to Carnegie Mellon and made good connections there.
I am a Junior right now. He thinks I will get in, I think it is just ridiculous.
CMU and the local community college are the only colleges he is letting me go to.</p>

<p>So, I am a legacy, will do early decision senior year, and will major in Economics in H&SS.</p>

<p>Stats:
I go to a private school in Massachusetts (it has a great reputation)</p>

<p>About 50 (critical reading) 70 (math) 50 (writing) = 170 PSAT score
I am getting tutored in critical reading, and so that will probably be a 600 on the SAT at least. I am guessing my SAT will be 1850.
on the SAT II, I got a 560 on Biology(M) and 490 on World History.</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.3, unweighted. There is no ranking at my school either.
(it goes from AP --> Honors --> Level 1 --> Level 2)
I have taken about 6 Level 1 Classes, 11 Honors and no APs. That will change next year when I am a senior (probably 3 APs and 3 Honors).
My Strength of Curriculum is about 6 out of a possible 10</p>

<p>I did Math Team (grades 9, 10) 2 hours a week
Chess Club (grades 10, 11)
History Club (grade 10)
Intramurals (grade 11)
I won the school chess tournament and earned the title of "grandmaster" at my school (chess is one of my nerdy talents), but I doubt colleges would care
In town, I am helping my dad with a chess club for little kids
I will be tutoring kids at another high school
Baseball (in the town though- not school) (grades 9, 10)
Political Group (10, 11)</p>

<p>I have toured CMU (and they wrote my name down), and I also sent an email to them.</p>

<p>I am just ticked off because my dad thinks I am a lock for CMU, and I won't even make it- and he won't let me apply to any other colleges.</p>

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<p>Not sure what to make of this thread – always a concern with a first time poster with hot posts like this.
If a sincere post, then you need to show your dad the stats and explain to him you are completely not even a viable candidate for HSS - even as a legacy. Unless your dad’s name is Mudge, Porter, Hammerschlag or Doherty?? </p>

<p>If you’re only a junior, you have plenty of time to explore other schools this spring. With your stats and being in Mass- you should consider Northeastern U.</p>

<p>Of course, you truly never know.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

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<p>Yah, I understand there are many ■■■■■ topics on the forum.
I am just not smart enough to get a GPA higher than I have now… I mean, like, I am trying my best! I am sure I can make it into average colleges though!
My dad is the only person I know who thinks I will get in, too.</p>

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<p>To be honest, you look like a good student candidate, but H&SS/CMU is a far reach for you. </p>

<p>If your dad is dead set on you going to CMU (or a school like it), why not pitch RPI, RIT, or Boston U to him? These are schools that are a little less competitive than CMU but are still really top-notch quality academic institutions with a similar “feel” to the liberal arts departments. They would have more of the tech-slanted humanities experience that H&SS is known for.</p>