chances?

twilightstar4670 · 04-11-2005, 04:27 PM

Just got SAT scores (first time taking) 1980 combined (lower than all practice tests ive taken - usually about 2100). 3.8 gpa, lots of ec's, will have great recs, very strong writer so essay isn't an issue. My boyfriend got in with much lower stats than mine (unusual) - but what do you think of my chances? I'm weak in math - hoping that won't hurt me too much. Very strong in english/writing - hoping it'll make up for math, especially since case has a rep for being so math/science oriented, I'll be one of the more rare applicants next year? My verbal SAT is significantly higher than their middle 50% scores. Can someone loosely evaluate my chances?

mominsearch · 04-12-2005, 07:14 AM

twilightstar4670 - What is your major going to be?

twilightstar4670 · 04-12-2005, 04:43 PM

I'm thinking psychology/french, but definitely going into the prelaw program.

xokandykyssesox · 04-12-2005, 05:20 PM

case is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo easy to get into

mominsearch · 04-13-2005, 07:16 AM

xokandykyssesox- Not so true. We know a lot of kids with great scores that did not get admitted and are heartbroken.

twilightstar - Case is trying to make the school much more well-rounded and if you are not doing pre-med, engineering, etc. you have a much better chance of getting in. At most top schools these days pre-med and engineering students are lined up around the corner to get in so they don't offer as many scholarships to these people. They don't need to. Good luck.

btc8 · 05-07-2005, 07:58 PM

I think the main reason why Case was ABLE to be choosier this year was because they got a crapload of applications compared to last year. Believe me, I work in admissions for my work-study (I am a sophmore), and Case is really not that choosy.

They purposfully were able to deny more kids this year because they had a much bigger pool to choose from. Usually though, the applicants that apply to Case are amazing anyway, and Case does accept 70% or around of its applicants. Thus, Case is not choosy, or even really hard to get into: it's just the calibar of applicants who apply which make it SEEM like a tough school to get into.

But, all statistics aside, congrats to all those who were accepted. And also note, that Case is extremely difficult. I cannot stress that enough. I know many who had 1600's or 35's on their tests, number one in their class, who barely manage to pull off a 2.8 GPA here.

Which basically leads me to my next point: Test scores and grades aren't everything. That's one good thing I like about Case and the counselors here: they are not bent on making sure that they need to choose those students who scored in 98th percentile on those stupid standardized test scores. They are more interested in grades and Extra's.

Personally speaking, I was actually shocked I got in to Case. I only had a 23 ACT and a 1100 or some noise on my SAT.

There's a popular saying that goes around Case: Case is not as hard as Ivy leagues to get into, but it is certainly harder to stay in.

mominsearch · 05-07-2005, 10:05 PM

btc8 - If that is the case (about 2.8 GPA) then how do the kids keep their scholarships. Should I be worried?

An0nym0u5 · 05-07-2005, 10:07 PM

I have a friend whos miserable there. (in premed.)

btc8 · 05-07-2005, 10:22 PM

No. YOu should not be worried. Depending on your year, the cum. average for your scholarship changes. For first years, I believe it is a 3.0, and decreases each year. It's like 2.5 by the end of your sophmore year.

I do know many miserable people here at Case (at times, I feel that way). It is certainly worth worrying over, mominsearch, to realize that many students at Case are, in fact, very unhappy with the extreme amount of pressure professors and the curriculum puts on them. (Most of the profs mottos are, It was hard for me, so I am goign to make it 10 times harder for my students now).

Of course, I cannot speak for everyone, but personally, I feel as though my best is never good enough for Case.

If you have any questions, go ahead and PM me or email me.

Brad

kowsnofskia · 05-07-2005, 11:15 PM

Twilightstar, I'd recommend stating "undeclared" on your app. I did that and got in with an ACT score of 31 and a 3.3ish GPA. My ECs were also very good (though not really spectacular), and I had solid recs as well.

Btc8: are there really that many miserable people at Case? Hmmm. Although I stated "undeclared" on the app, I'm thinking of going pre-med-now, I wonder what I'm getting myself into. Are the successful people the ones that stay up all night studying and have little (if any) social life? Would "balanced" be utterly inappropriate in describing the lifestyle of Case students? Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.

Ctheflute · 05-07-2005, 11:23 PM

kowsnofskia: the people that seem to do the best at Case are the ones that are really driven to succeed, they know how much they need to work to get the grades they want and take the time off to stay sane and have a good time. I am good friends with several pre-meds and they are having a great time. It's completely possible to have a balanced life if you make it a priority.

btc8 · 05-07-2005, 11:37 PM

Ctheflute: Totally agree with you. Hands down.

It's important to realize that others deal with school and its pressures differently. I too know pre-meds who like to have a good time, but it catches up to them, just like with anything. It comes easier to some people in the pre-med fields than others. Of course, that doesn't mean they work any less harder. Sometimes perfection can be our downfalls.

The point being: Case is for those who know what they want. If you are driven, as C pointed out nicely, then nothing will stop you.

psatmadness · 05-08-2005, 07:56 AM

btc8 - the gpa expectations you refer to must be for a different scholarship than i have (i have trustees scholarship). freshman year the gpa must be above 2.75 ...after that it must be above 3.0. If you fall below that ever you lose the scholarship...no second chances.

btc8 · 05-08-2005, 11:22 AM

Yes, psat, you are correct.

I mixed those numbers up.

Congratulations on your scholarship, and good luck in the coming years.

mominsearch · 05-08-2005, 07:04 PM

Do you think that some of the reason that people find it harder or are unhappy is because they are now going to school with the best and brightest kids? I know that that is one thing I talked to my son about. I think that if you have always been the best at your high schools it would be more difficult not to be on top anymore. Also we have seen that a lot of the bright kids at high school just breeze through because the curriculum is not so great & in many cases we have seen kids get a lot of A's just because they are good in class, etc. I don't know just a thought.