Exponentially upward trend enough to make difference in college admissions?

<p>STATS
Freshman (moved middle of year)
2.8 GPA (unweighted), 1 honors class
Sophomore
2.6 GPA (unweighted), 1 AP Class (D+ in class but AP Exam
grade of 4)
Junior (moved again)
3.6 GPA (unweighted), 1 AP Class (B, 4 or 5 on AP Exam)
First Semester of Senior Year
4.0 GPA (unweighted), 3 AP Classes (A, A, A, 4 - 5 on all AP Exams)</p>

<p>Old SAT:
1210 / 660 Math + 550 Verbal
New SAT:
1770 / 640 Math + 570 Verbal + 560 Writing
2100 / 670 Verbal + 730 Math + 700 Writing </p>

<p>SAT 2 Math II: 700
SAT 2 Physics: 650 (did not take AP Physics)</p>

<p>EC’s:
Freshman : freelance webdesign work for high school teachers
Sophomore : captain of JV Basketball team, 100 hours of community service for American Embassy (Habitat for Humanity)
Junior : 100 hours of community service for public library and hs tutoring, job at well-established design firm starting at age 16 (janmedia.com - designed websites for famous clients including Joseph Kahn, director of Torque and many other famous MTV videos like Britney Spear’s “Toxic”), graphic award for graphic art submission
Senior : 100+ hours of community service for Smithsonian Institute managing largest paleobotonical image collection database, 21+ hours of work for Janmedia per week, soccer, clubs - debate, philosophy</p>

<p>Basically started off horribly as I’ve had many family problems along with social and cultural obstacles I faced moving to different countries (job’s dad as American Diplomat). Matured by junior year when father left to Baghdad, Iraq (he’s coming back in two days) for job - became the turning point of my life and the return to “normal” American life, in which I adapted well. </p>

<p>So what are my chances at these colleges(VA instate residence):</p>

<p>SAFETY

  • George Mason
  • University of Maryland : Baltimore County
  • U. Washington</p>

<p>MATCH

  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
  • GWU
  • SUNY Binghamton
  • U. of Texas Austin
  • Virginia Tech</p>

<p>REACH

  • Carnegie Mellon
  • Lehigh
  • New York
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • U Maryland College Park
  • U Michigan Ann Arbor
  • U Rochester
  • U Southern California (father went here… don’t think it helps though?)
  • U Virginia</p>

<p>Thanks much! And sorry if I sound conceited with my ramblings of Janmedia’s local reputation… just happy to have worked/work with them as they’re an awesome company. Also does working at the Smithsonian add any effect to my college application? Final note, are there any other schools I should consider? (looking for school in urban area, preferably in North Eastern or California area with good computer science department)</p>

<p>You have a great list, and I think that your rankings of reach/match/safety are right on the money. Your GPA might just be too low for the reaches and possible some of your matches. </p>

<p>An explanation of how you turned your grades around, and how moving around hurt you may make up some of the difference.</p>

<p>USC considers legacies heavily, so your father having gone there will help you quite a bit. But it is still a reach b/c of your GPA.</p>