The Official Chances Thread!

[Satyrcub]

HELP...I need some advice!

I graduated from high school in 1989. I went to college for five years after graduation and never applied myself and, consequently, made terrible grades (GPA of 2.44). After a break of nearly ten years, I returned to school in 2005 and will finally graduate with my bachelors degree in May 2009 at the ripe old age of 37. Because of my poor performance in my early 20s, when I graduate next spring, I will have a cumulative GPA of around 2.95 (My GPA since I returned to school is about a 3.60).

Here is my concern....I am planning on applying to some of the country's top business schools for graduate school, but I am not sure that they will even notice me once they see a GPA of 2.95. Can anyone give me some advice on how good my chances are of being accepted?

I have been working professionally in the real estate industry as an appraiser and as an analyst for the last four years.

[bpfarmer29]

Are the admissions criteria different for out of state?

I'm considering reapplying to different colleges because I'm reconsidering the school I thought I would go to this fall. I was waitlisted by a few this year (Stanford, Dartmouth, Williams, Chicago) because of a low class rank 78/375, but it seems like UC schools don't take that into account (correct me if I'm wrong). Also, my school has rampant grade inflation, so my UC GPA is a 4.8-4.9, whereas my regular GPA is relatively low. What I'm wondering is whether I have a shot being from out of state.

White male
SAT: 2400 one sitting
UC GPA: 4.85

Going for Econ or Poli Sci, maybe math minor also

I don't really want to get into my EC's but they're pretty solid, and I won a few awards. Based on my numbers, do I have a solid chance or will it come down to essays and subjective stuff? Thanks for replying.

[hamburgler2]

@ bpfarmer:

yes haha, you have a good chance. and yes, UCs do not look at rank.

[ThisCouldBeHeavn]

UC GPA: 4.32
Unweighted GPA: 3.94
Weighted GPA: 4.27

California Resident

SAT Reasoning Scores
2160: 780 Math, 730 Reading, 650 Writing (6 essay)

SAT II Scores
Took US History, Math 2, Chem in June

Letters and Science (I think - math major)

4 years Jazz Ensemble
2 years Science Bowl (1 year Captain)
2 years Academic Decathlon (1 year Captain)
2 years Math Club
3 years Chess Club (1 year Vice President; 1 year President)
AP Scholar with Distinction

Should UCSD be considered a safety?

Thanks.

[nemz1e]

uc gpa: 4.33
unweighted gpa: 3.88
rank: top 5/240. my school is VERY rigorous academically

senior year schedule: ap calc, english 4, religion 4, ap physics, ap gov, PE

cali resident (socal)

ACT: 33
SAT: 2130
SAT IIs: chem 610 math II 620 us history 720 (I plan on re-taking math II/chem)

major: not sure, but definately not engineering haha. probably L&S

ECs
NHS service chair (tutor and I coordinate and plan our community service projects!)
Peer-helper and SCORE (student coalition of respectful education. both activities I work with freshman. basically I counsel them an give them!)
Varsity XC and Track (very time consuming..)
Hospital Volunteer (200+ hours)

I'm going to europe for 3 weeks this summer so I can't get a job/internship. will that hurt me?

also, I'm going to apply to UCLA/UCSD/UCSB/UCD. thanks!

[ThisCouldBeHeavn]

Updated SAT II scores

800 Math 2
800 USH
780 Chem

I was also wondering how much Berkeley looks at the writing SAT score, especially the essay.

[bpfarmer29]

@hamburgler

Thanks for the info. I realize I probably look like the stereotypical insecure CC kid that posts ridiculous stats just so people will reassure them, but I was rejected or waitlisted from 6/9 colleges that I applied to, so I'm kinda worried. Basically, I did little to no work in high school, but whatever. Kids, do your homework.

[Shubham92]

GPA - Unweighted: 3.96
GPA - Weighted: 4.08
UC GPA: 4.08
Class Rank: top 5 students
Class Size: 443

SAT I: 1870
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 760
SAT II Biology - M: 770

Extracurriculars:

Varsity Tennis Sophomore/Junior Year
~100 Total Community Service hours at
-Local Hospital
-Soup Kitchen for homeless in San Fransisco
-Math Tutoring

Honor Roll
National Honor Society

[kindKid]

Here are my stats
Profile:
Chinese
Male
OOS Maryland
rising senior
Want to major EECS

Dunno UC GPA for my school
UW GPA: 4.00
W GPA: 4.81

Note: GT classes are the equivalent of "Honors"
Classes taken

Freshman:
String Orchestra
Humanities Eng/SocialStudies(The equivalent to an honors/GT course)
GT Biology
GT Precalculus
LifetimeFitness/ Health(Regular and recquired for students)
Spanish 2 Honors

Sophomore:
String Orchestra 2
AP Humanities US Gov(4)
Humanities Eng
AP Chemistry AP(4)
AP Calculus AB (5)
Spanish 3 Honors
GT Physics

Junior:
AP Computer Science A (4-5 5 more likely)
AP Physics C (4)
AP Psychology(A very interesting and insightful course)(5)
AP Humanities USH (4-5)
GT Humanities Eng
AP Biology(5)
AP Calculus BC(5)

Predicted Senior:
String Orchestra 3
AP HUM eng lang/comp
Humanities SS
AP Computer Science AB
AP Statistics
AP Economics
Spanish 4 Honors(Glad to have a language again)

SAT/SATIIS

SAT:
Reading:730
Math:770
Writing: 710
Superscore: 2210

SATII:
Math2: 780
Physics: 750
Biology: 760

ECS
Music:
Regional Youth Orchestra (8 years)
All State Orchestra (4 years)
High School Quartet (2 years)

Clubs:
Debate Club(3 years)
Team President(Founder)
National Traveling Team
It's Academic/ Quizbowl(3 years)
Math team(2 years)
Columbia Community tutors(100 hours +)

Sports:
Varsity Tennis(3 years)
County Champions(2 years consecutively)

COMAP Meritorious Winner(a notch above commended)
Student of the Month(3 time recipient)

Summer internships at:
UMD(Engineering)(1 month)
JHU(School of Medicine)/ Research(3 months)

[summerinthecity]

I know I don't really have a shott...but is it even worth it for me to apply?

Profile:
Hispanic
Female
OOS Illinois
Probable major--sociology

UC GPA: 3.84
UW GPA: 3.58
W GPA: 4.11

Classes taken

8th grade:
2 Spanish H
Geometry H

Summer before freshman year:
Art I

Freshman:
Algebra II Honors
Humanities English H
Humanities History H
TV/Radio Production
Photography I
Biology H
2 Spanish for Native Speakers H

Sophomore (note: my school doesn't offer APs before junior year):
Trigonometry H
2 English H
3 Spanish for Native Speakers H
Business Management (required credit)
Latin American History H
Child Studies H
Chemistry H
Health

Junior:
AB Calculus AP
3 English H
4 Spanish for Native Speakers AP
Advanced Journalism H
AP US History
Physics H


Predicted Senior:
Senior Studies H (course unique to my school combining English, history and community service--culminates with student-produced community projects)
AP Psychology
AP Spanish 5
Advanced Journalism H
Sociology H
1 Electronic Music

SAT/SATIIS

SAT:
Reading:700
Math:750
Writing: 800, 11 essay
one sitting, not retaking.

SATII:
Math2: 690 (retaking in October)
Literature: 730
Spanish: 710 (retaking also)

ECS

Good...don't want to write them all out but 3 sports (including all conference and captain and rookie of the year in cross country), student council (elected secretary), YMCA musical (executive board this year), the student newspaper, some other smaller stuff. About 50 hours of community service not including the 100 hours that will come with my Senior Studies course.

[vicissitudes]

summerinthecity: your SAT I is good but the good news stops there. Honestly I don't think your GPA is high enough for Berkeley OOS. ECs are pretty good but nothing outstanding. Berkeley is too expensive for OOS anyway, I think you would be happier at another private university, to be honest.

kindkid: great resume and scores, ECs look solid, I think you have a great chance, the only thing is you're applying to OOS EECS which is the hardest way to get into Berkeley, but I still think you have a good chance. Of course there's always that possibility Berkeley could reject you out of its stupid Berkeley randomness it's known for.

I'll do more later if I'm bored.

[summerinthecity]

Hah, that's what I was thinking too. Thank you though!

[animefreakss4]

Here are my stats, please give me honest feedback::
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, i dunno weighted
Rank: 1(out of 604)
ACT: 30 but shooting for a 33
SATI: - will take soon
PSAT: 192
SAT II: Math2-710 Bio-770
I've taken AP Bio and AP Calc as a junior, i'll be a senior soon and will take AP Chem, dual enroll in Calc II and III and might take AP History.

Health experience: Physician shadowing (50+)
Nursing home (100+)
Medical Research (250 +)
Volunteering: Big Brother once a week, Hindu Temple (50+)
Freshman tutor (plan to be next year)
EC's: NHS, Chess club, UNITE club, and Anime Club (of course lol)
Work Experience: Kumon; tuesdays, thursdays and Saturdays 12 hrs a week

Please help me out what are the best colleges can i get into? i'm also looking into BA/MD programs

[whosthat1234]

@bpfarmer

you'll get in for sure, but fyi UC weighted GPA is capped at 4.5

[whosthat1234]

@animefreakss

if your weighted GPA is at least a 4.3, you'll get in. For berk, GPA >> test scores