3.2 GPA, late bloomer, HIGH SAT score, top university?

Protagonist111 · 10-29-2009, 10:30 PM

I have a 3.2 (unweighted GPA) at the top school the state I live in, the school is very selective and I rank in the top half of my class. I had a rough life my first 2 years of school and I was unmotivated, I had a 2.9 overall GPA at the end of my sophomore year but at the end of my junior year it was a 3.2 (I took an AP class as well, though most classes at my school are honors).

My SAT score right now is a 1940 (I know, not competitive), but lets say I raise it to a 2100 or 2200, will I have a decent shot at a top university?

Also I have tons of volunteer hours and a lot of extra curriculars

By that I mean

Boston College
NYU
Emory
UNC Chapel Hill (out of state)
and Cornell

don't know if this means anything but I learned English late in life because my parents had to move around so much from one country to another....

jums89 · 10-29-2009, 10:38 PM

This is a toughie... your GPA is what colleges look at the most as it gives them the best indication of your academic progress over four years. When I visited colleges, all of them said that the GPA was the most important criterion when they accept student. I'd say it's an extremely long shot for many of the schools above.

Protagonist111 · 10-29-2009, 10:49 PM

well when I went to the college night booth a person from UVA said that a 3.3 or 3.2 is acceptable if the SAT scores are above a 1300 on the math and reading scale

jums89 · 10-29-2009, 10:54 PM

If that's what the rep says, I'd go with her. I'm not an expert, just another guy who wants to help. I wish you the best in your application process.

Protagonist111 · 10-29-2009, 10:56 PM

well dude if you say that is what most colleges told you then I am scared

I think I will apply to colleges for B students then...

I heard they will weight my GPA differently but oh well. May as well take Cornell, Boston College, NYU, UNC and Emory off my list.

jums89 · 10-29-2009, 11:03 PM

That's what I heard at all admissions talks, that the GPA is the most important factor. There isn't a need to be scared. You won't know you chances unless you apply. It's not going to hurt to fill up the application and send it. Make sure you have a mix of schools, both A and B schools as well as couple of safeties. Don't take them off your list. Just apply. You never know what could happen. Let me tell you something, I'm an international student and when I applied, I submitted both my O-Level (exams we take at the end of grade 10) and A-Level (exams we take at the end of grade 12). I did really badly for my O-Levels but I buckled down, worked my butt off and graduated valedictorian at the end of grade 12. I thought my O-Level score would hurt me greatly during my application process. I'm attending a Top 20 university. So what I'm saying is, don't give up hope, just apply, wait and see.

FallGirl · 10-30-2009, 09:13 AM

Well, anything is possible. I would certainly apply if the grades stay up and especially if the test scores rise. You do need to consider some "safety schools" though.

Not to be negative as far as what the UVA person told you, but college reps seem to be very loath to tell anyone that scores/grades aren't high enough. Our local HS sends several students to UVA each year (we're in state) and realistically they have all been 4.0 or above and in the top 10% of the class.

Good luck.

fineartsmajormom · 10-30-2009, 09:29 AM

Protagonist: I'm sorry..a 3.2 at UVA?! I agree with Fallgirl. I don't know what that rep was talking about unless you are from rural Virginia. If you are a Northern virginia resident you have one C on your transcript, you are told not to apply by our school counselor. It is common for the 3.9 2300 SAT student to be turned down from UVA ....generally students applying to HYP also apply to UVA and we have cases of kids getting into an Ivy but not UVA. OOS is sometimes slightly easier. Your best bet for such a school would be to be URM from a rural county in VA. That being said, some of the private schools may be in the real of possibility especially if your counselor can write about how you have changed over the last 3 years. Remember, a lot of the state schools don't require essays and generally don't have time to look at the LOR so it is hard to tell your story. You may want to consider William and Mary if you want to go to a good school in Virginia.

kathiep · 10-30-2009, 09:33 AM

I would say all of those schools are reaches. Super reaches.

meezermom2 · 10-30-2009, 09:34 AM

I would second the comments about UVA. Unless you are in state, I think you are a reach. D had a higher GPA and test scores than you and was rejected. Perhaps learning English later could be the hook that helps you. D was also rejected ED at Cornell U.

Protagonist111 · 10-30-2009, 07:00 PM

ouch, the reality hurts

Protagonist111 · 10-30-2009, 07:06 PM

I had people tell me on here I have no chance at UGA but yet my guidance counselor she has seen people with 2.9 GPAs get into UGA and UGA should be a match or a safety school for me because my SATs are high.
Now the same thing was said about University of Vermont and University of Delaware but the people on here told me that I have little chance at them and that they should be my reach schools, so guys I am kind of confused. Is the whole dream bash nature typical at college confidential?

A friend preferred this site to me and I have read some really dumb stuff.....

thumper1 · 10-30-2009, 07:07 PM

To be honest, both William and Mary AND UVA would be a tough admit for this student with this GPA. Both are quite competitive even for IN STATE students. VA offers many other instate options...James Madison might be worth a look see. Is the OP instate for VA? I'm not sure he/she is...

Quote:

Boston College
NYU
Emory
UNC Chapel Hill (out of state)
and Cornell

I'm curious why these schools appeal to the OP. If there are some reasons...like course of study or something...those would be helpful. I would pick one or two of those schools as reach schools and try to find some other schools with similar characteristics.

Re: UGA...it has become more competitive in recent years again...even for instate students.

Most states have a flagship U that is more competitive than the other schools (e.g. UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, UGA). But they also have other public universities within their state systems that are less competitive. You might want to look in your state of residence at the public universities there.

Protagonist111 · 10-30-2009, 07:10 PM

Also the schools my guidance counselor told me would be reaches are Emory, Georgia Tech, Cornell, Brown, and Boston College but she told me not to apply to Yale or Harvard because I won't have much of a chance at getting in....

Protagonist111 · 10-30-2009, 07:20 PM

Okay, I am not an idiot, that is a bunch of bull and I can pick it out. We had 2 kids get accepted into UVA last year, one had a 3.4 GPA and another had a 3.6 GPA, both did spectacular on the SATs (1900s) and had some ECs and Volunteer Hours.

That is not true.
I am simply done with this site, forget about it, I will ask the real people and people who have experience rather than those who are making up stories behind a screen.

Best of luck to all of you in life and PS: I am applying to Cornell, Emory and Boston College. Already applied to my safety schools and now applying to the reaches.

I bet all of you ignored the fact that I had a 3.2 at a competitive magnet school.

Forget it, good bye and good luck in trying to discourage someone else from applying to a good college. If you have any issues message me.