Am I really wasting my time?

Colleges & Universities Oberlin College
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<p>My Gpa weighted is a 3.08 (unweighted 3.00) I KNOW IT IS BAD (i express why in my essay i have an upward trend junior year gpa 3.35 unweighted)</p>

<p>My complete schedule is:</p>

<p>Middle school: Algebra 1
Freshman: Performing arts english 9, Performing arts acting 9, Business, Law, and Rights, U.S. History, (Bussed to different school for an accelerated math science technology program) MST Biology, MST Geometry, Earth science honors. (freshman and middle school GPA: 2.88 unweighted)</p>

<p>Sophomore:Performing arts english 10, Performing arts acting 9, MST Chemistry, MST Algebra II, A.P. U.S Government, Choir, Honors English 10, Spanish 1 (took two english classes) (2.81 unweighted GPA)</p>

<p>Junior: Academic AP World History, Performing arts English 11, Performing arts acting 11, A.P. English Language and Comp, MST Honors Pre-calculus, MST Physics, Choir (3.35 GPA unweighted)</p>

<p>Senior Year schedule: A.P. U.S. History, A.P. English literature and comp, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, Performing arts english 12, Performing arts acting 12, Directed study: Russian Lit.</p>

<p>My current ACT scores are:
English: 30
Math:30
Science: 32
Reading: 32
Essay: 8
Composite: 30</p>

<p>AP
Lang: 5
World: 3</p>

<p>Volunteered an immense amount of time at a therapeutic horseback riding program for the physically and mentally disabled.
letters of rec from my A.P Lang teacher and my Current directed study teacher who i also had sophomore year. My guidance counselor wrote a glowing rec as well</p>

<p>Class rank: top quarter</p>

<p>Not to toot my own horn, but i am gifted when it comes to the writing department.</p>

<p>Probably going to apply anyway but just curious what you guys thought, i know its a reach but i really like the school, i’m most likely headed to The University of Michigan.</p>

<p>Please let me know!!</p>

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<p>based on the title of your post, you know it’s a reach. No one can tell you if you’re wasting your time and money, but in the context of a college education, writing an essay and paying an app fee is not a lot of time and money. Your gpa/class rank is interesting, in our school your gpa would land you in the bottom 20%. So maybe there’s some grade deflation at play in your school, you might want to find a way to point that out somewhere on your apps if it’s true.</p>

<p>Not sure if you mean UM ann arbor or another school in the UM system, but I think UM AA is more of a reach than oberlin. If you do get into AA, check out the residential college, my oldest son chose it over Oberlin. He likes the small school of the RC coupled with the big school spirit, great/broad academic programs and great college town. </p>

<p>You also might check out schools like Oberlin that aren’t quite as selective: rhodes, knox, clark and earlham come to mind. You may not have heard of them but check them out, each one of these schools will</p>

<p>good luck to you!</p>

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<p>@quietdesperation‌ I go to public school in the Detroit suburbs, so GPAs arren’t the best. Also since I’m in state For U of M I have a pretty good shot at getting in, I know a friend who had gotten into U of M with a 28 act and 3.3, they’re much more privy to in-state.</p>

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<p>I dunno, it’s tough to beat UM with in-state tuition. Check out the RC if you haven’t done so. best of luck to you!</p>