<p>I am a female Native American artist 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
-3.4GPA (LOW... I KNOW... there are no excuses, however, I was diagnosed with EFD and was struggling with balancing work and EC's alongside bullying.)
-31 ACT
-MATH I and English Subject tests in 700's (retaking them, aiming for high scores)
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1688252-where-should-an-enrolled-native-american-female-with-a-3-4gpa-apply.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1688252-where-should-an-enrolled-native-american-female-with-a-3-4gpa-apply.html#latest</a></p>
<p>As you know, your GPA is your achilles heel – that’s true for Harvard, as well as many other top schools. In addition, I imagine it will be difficult for your teachers to rave about your academic potential as a scholar in their recommendations letters with such a low GPA. Have you spoken to your guidance counselor? What schools are they recommending you apply to? Although you can certainly throw in an application to Harvard, I’m not sure if you have a realistic chance even though you are a URM. I would suggest you apply to a number of schools on this list and think about transferring after you have successfully completed a year or two of college: <a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/a-plus”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/a-plus</a></p>
<p>@Gibby According to Naviance, Colby, Trinity, BU, Northeastern, etc are matches for me (top school, students from my school, on average, are accepted with a 3.3). I talked with my GC about applying early to Hamilton. I was also considering applying to Cornell ED.</p>
<p>Colby, Trinity, BU, Northeastern and Hamilton are good options; not sure about Cornell – that’s going to be a high reach. </p>
<p>Thank you. Are there any other colleges to which you’d recommend applying?</p>
<p>@Gibby I was hung up on Cornell… I can’t decide if it’s worth applying ED. Hamilton offers two chances at ED.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to apply to your flagship state college early. </p>
<p>You should only apply ED to a school if you absolutely LOVE the school and it’s your first choice. If you can’t decide between Hamilton and Cornell – it doesn’t sound like either is your first choice. It sounds like you’re trying to hedge your bets, in which case I would recommend applying to a broad range of non-binding schools early: <a href=“College Lists Wiki / US Schools with Early Action Decision Plans”>College Lists Wiki / College Lists Wiki News and Information;
<p>@gibby I am 100% sure that I want to attend Cornell, however, I am unsure about whether or not it’s worth putting all of my eggs in one basket.</p>
<p>^^ That’s the quandary for all students that apply SCEA or ED. Only you can answer whether it’s “worth it.”</p>
<p>@gibby thanks!</p>
<p>If I don’t get into Cornell ED, I think I am going to apply to Harvard RD just for fun, along with other colleges of course. By then I will have been able to re-take a few standardized tests, and have good S1 grades.</p>
<p>Did you check out the native american fly-in at Dartmouth? It is happening next weekend (if you are a senior), and applications were due a month ago, but where there are bureaucracies, there are waivers 
!! If you truly identify with your Native American heritage you may find yourself falling in love with Dartmouth. If you are in California, UC Davis has a strong Native community and the other UCs have presence as well. I know about AISES (American Indian Science & Engineering Society), which may be a good resource, as a starting place from a native perspective, even if you are more drawn towards Humanities, Arts, and Social Science (HASS). <a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/registration/bound/native/”>Error 404: Missing Link;
<p>@artisticnative, I am not sure whether you are notified unless you are mentioned, so I am tagging you. If you want to explore Dartmouth in person, there <em>MAY</em> still be time to arrange it (Dartmouth picks up all costs including travel, I have heard). By next week, the opportunity will be gone.</p>
<p>I just saw this. Thanks @ItsJustSchool, I will look into it :)</p>
<p>The application deadline was 9/3 :(</p>
<p>Call them anyway. Don’t e-mail, call on the phone. There might be a cancellation, or more space.</p>
<p>Where there are bureaucracies, there are waivers. Listen to @Hunt. You only live once, and this event is only for high school seniors. Please do not deprive them of the chance to make a decision for themselves, by reading their rules and interpreting them for them.</p>
<p>Okay @ItsJustSchool and @Hunt, I will call them. Thanks guys</p>
<p>Grrrr just called – too late </p>
<p>Well, you tried! You can still look at them and at Harvard (I posted in another of your threads). You can call and get some advice on applying from their Native American support group/club/association.</p>