Any reccomendations for an applicant with unusual stats?

College Search & Lists
1

I was deffered from ED by my top choice school, which happened to be an ivy. Inevitably, I’ll end up rejected. I have applied to safeties along with a couple other schools, but I am hesitating on where else to apply. During the first two years of my HS career, I did awful. I explained why (and my GC did as well) in my essays/ her rec, but I am afraid even with my extreme turn around, it won’t be enough.

ACT (English: 36, Writing: 36, Math: 28, Science: 28, Reading: 36)

My grades junior year and this year are all great, and I have always taken rigorous classes. However, my overall GPA is very low, I’d say around a B- (without senior year). I was/am on a uphill trend, but I did very bad for two years. There’s a good reason for it, but it still happened.

I have great recs, strong essays, EC’s, hold a bunch of minor awards in writing and art, and I have a pretty formidable hook (enough to get likely letters from schools I was not seriously considering), but it obviously wasn’t as notable as I thought, considering the results of my reach. Additionally, I run a small non profit organization and do a lot of work with underprivileged children in my area, not sure if this nesscarily helps college admissions (as it seems everybody does tons of community service), but I do feel it paints a more detailed picture of who I am. I do not need financial aid.

To give you an idea…my guidance counseler has told me that my application is like what she would see from somebody applying to exceptional schools, but that my GPA sticks out like a sore thumb.

Any recommendations on schools that I may have a shot at?

The “prestige” of a school is of my least concern, however, I am ideally looking for a school that has a good writing program.

ALSO: I know that Emory is a reach, but would you say I have enough of a chance to apply?

Thanks

2

Where have you applied and what do you want to study? Financial resources?

3

@TooOld4School no need for financial aid, I plan to major in English.

4

You’re not giving enough information about where you are applying/wondering about applying for anyone to be of any help. Your B- average would make a lot of top schools a huge reach.

5

I see you’re from PA. Have you applied to Penn State and Pitt?

6

http://flavorwire.com/409437/the-25-most-literary-colleges-in-america

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/writing-programs

http://college.usatoday.com/the-10-best-american-colleges-for-writers/

http://contently.net/2014/11/06/resources/10-best-colleges-creative-writers/

7

you were deferred from the ivy, not denied. that means that they still take you as seriously possibly qualifying for admission , and to an ivy. your good reason for the low grades and your other strengths have been judged by that ivy as keeping you in the running even at an ivy, despite the low overall GPA. dont give up ! yes, apply to matches and safeties, but you still have a chance at ivies and the most highly competitive LACs based on that deferral ( not a denial) at your ivy ED school. if this were not true, that ivy would have denied you rather than deferred you. in my opinion.