<p>I will not explain the exact specifics of my situation for fear of revealing my identity, but I expect to be admitted based mostly on my academics and my GPA is a paltry ~3.67. However, I took all hard classes and did not take a single “GPA padding class” - for example, instead of taking five hard classes and one easy A, I took six hard classes. It’s not that my courseload was significantly more difficult than the average applicants, it’s just that every single one of my courses was a struggle and a grind and I think the adcoms realized this. Anyway, don’t give up hope - most CCers have unreal stats, but admission committees realize the difference between someone who is well rounded and genuinely interested in learning and someone who has perfect stats and a glut of extracurriculars but is obviously an overachiever and a grinder. Don’t give up hope, I know people with worse stats than you who have gotten in :).</p>