Horrible grades (sub 3.0), good test scores (2350+)

jimmy2 · October 13, 2011, 1:15am

I wrote a terribly long post in the What are my chances thing, and people probably won't read it. So i'll just condense it here
White male, low to middle class, 1st gen college (except for 2nd cousin), CA)

9th: AP Human Geo; Algebra 2 H; English 9; AP Environmental; AP Music Theory; Spanish II

10th: AP Bio; Precalc H, English 10, PE/Health, Spanish 3, APWH

11th: AP Physics B, AP Calc AB, US History, English 11, Spanish 4, AP Psych

12th: AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP compsci A, AP Econ (1 sem Macro 1 sem Micro), AP Eng Lit, AP German Lang

UWGPA 2.89 WGPA 3.44

SAT 2380 single try ACT 36 single try PSAT ~228 (natl merit)
Sat subject- Math 2c 800, German w/Listening 800, Biology M 640 (omg fail, idk what happened)

ECs- Harp 15 years - abrsm grade 8 w/distinction, art supplement (getting a rec from harp teacher); Crew 7 years - state + national competitions, Astronomy Club founder + president (4 years), NHS member (4 years), 600 hrs service total

AP scholar awards; probably great recs from AP calc aB + bc teacher, school counselor, and AP psych teacher (IS THIS CONSIDERED CORE?)

Grades aren't because I'm lazy, but I just found standardized testing easy, I'm not really that smart. Kinda Upward trend. If you guys want a fuller explanation of stuff look here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1224510-where-should-very-bad-student-strong-test-scores-apply.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1224510-where-should-very-bad-student-strong-test-scores-apply.html</a>

Need target schools. Currently have 3 super-reaches: Stanford, UC Berkeley (instate), Dartmouth (should I apply ED? Friends with admissions officer/head, but might want to wait for upward trend senior year grades? again if you want to know more check the other thread)

ucbalumnus · October 13, 2011, 1:23am

Have you calculated your UC/CSU GPA?
CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - GPA Calculator

Also, for UC/CSU, SAT CR+M is most important.

For CSU, you can calculate your eligibility index:
CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - Calculate Your Eligibility Index

San Jose State looks pretty safe for you for admissions for most majors, if fall 2012 does not get too much more difficult than fall 2011:
SJSU</a> Admission

Your three reach schools look very unlikely (even by the standards of "reach-for-everyone" in the case of Stanford) due to your low GPA (if your UC/CSU GPA is under 3.0, then you may only be eligible for UC by exam: <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/examination/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/examination/index.html</a> ; eligibility by exam does not necessarily mean admission, especially with Berkeley). Early decision (where you agree to go if admitted) application is not appropriate unless a school is your clear first choice and you know that you can afford it.

Between those and San Jose State, there should be other CSUs that are within admissions range. Some UCs could also be if your UC/CSU GPA is at least 3.0 or you are eligible by exam. Note that selectivity at many UCs and most CSUs depends on your intended major.

But you want to put "financial aid estimator" in each school's search box to get an idea of what your net cost will be.

jimmy2 · October 13, 2011, 1:28am

[Quote]
Your three reach schools look very unlikely (even by the standards of "reach-for-everyone" in the case of Stanford) due to your low GPA. Early decision (where you agree to go if admitted) application is not appropriate unless a school is your clear first choice and you know that you can afford it.

[/Quote]

Thanks, I know Dartmouth and Stanford have really good fin aid so I'm not too worried about affording it. As for Cal, it's cheaper for in state and my parents have stated that they can afford it, although I don't know if we would qualify for fin aid there- Do you know of a calculator or scale for financial aid?

Edit: Yes, my UC/CSU GPA is above 3.0

I forgot to mention (though I think i did in the other thread) I'm applying to Cal Poly - both Cal Poly SLO and Pomona campuses. I have no idea what they are tho - reach, match, target, safety?

Edit again: I think i'll apply to like UC SC, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside (not merced though.. it has a bad rep). So do you think I have no shot at Cal, should I even apply there? I really want to apply to stanford even if i have no shot, I think i'd regret it if i didn't. How about dartmouth? You probably can't answer this but do you think the admission head actually knowing me personally will effect the decision?

ucbalumnus · October 13, 2011, 1:32am

Each school should have one. Put "financial aid estimator" in its web site search box to find it.

Also, make sure that your UC/CSU GPA is at least 3.0 or you are eligible by examination. If not, don't bother applying to any UC because it will be automatic rejection.

jimmy2 · October 13, 2011, 1:40am

^Thanks. Yeah, I am definitely eligible by examination (My Index was 496, only 410 was required.) However, My UC/CSU GPA is at least 3.0 so that's moot anyway.

Hey can you tell me if an AP Psych teacher is ok to write a rec - is it considered a core class (because i think she would write a really good one)? (other teacher rec is ap calc, no problems there)

Doener · October 13, 2011, 1:46am

No one got into stanford with a GPA below 3.0 last year

Shrinkrap · October 13, 2011, 1:58am

Cal Poly SLO freshman profile

<a href="http://admissions.calpoly.edu/Pdf/profile041509.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.calpoly.edu/Pdf/profile041509.pdf</a>

Are you saying you worked hard in school? With all due respect, saying you worked hard and ended up with less than a 3.0 is hard to wrap ones head around, Especially with a high ACT AND high SAT.

wizkhalifa1 · October 13, 2011, 2:05am

You're... like freakishly close to me, minus the SAT (which I didn't do as well as I expected on, but whatever). We need more low-GPA kids up in hurr, and I don't mean low as in, "OHMYGOSHMYTIGERMOMWON'TFEEDMEIFIDON'TGETA3.9alksdfjklasdjlkasdj"--I mean 2.8-3.2 UW low, with a high test split. I wish I could help you, but, frankly, I can't even figure college out for myself.

Shrinkrap · October 13, 2011, 2:08am

Not as unusual as you'd think. Here's a search.

College</a> Confidential - Search Results

<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/132194-high-sats-low-gpa-vs-low-sat-high-gpa.html?highlight=high+sat+low+gpa%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/132194-high-sats-low-gpa-vs-low-sat-high-gpa.html?highlight=high+sat+low+gpa</a>

<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/999930-really-really-low-gpa-high-sat.html?highlight=high+sat+low+gpa%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/999930-really-really-low-gpa-high-sat.html?highlight=high+sat+low+gpa</a>

<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/988253-high-sat-low-gpa.html?highlight=high+sat+low+gpa%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/988253-high-sat-low-gpa.html?highlight=high+sat+low+gpa</a>

wizkhalifa1 · October 13, 2011, 2:15am

Yeah, I've seen. On CC, though, low GPA = 3.5, and high SAT/ACT = 2100/30--not that those aren't respectable scores, but I'm talking LOW = 3.0 and HIGH = 35-36/2300-2400. There aren't too many of those floating around.

Shrinkrap · October 13, 2011, 2:26am

I don't know; I think the discussion is still relevant. Nobody is really going to be able to tell you don't try. There was a really good parents one; something like unbalanced or mismatched or lopsided in the title.Or tm the "parents of 3.0 thread. Lots of those kids have good SAT's, 'though maybe not as high as yours.

<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/939935-3-0-3-3-gpa-parents-thread-2012-hs-graduation.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/939935-3-0-3-3-gpa-parents-thread-2012-hs-graduation.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/987479-advice-nephew-3-1-gpa-near-perfect-sat-satii-act-ap-scores.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/987479-advice-nephew-3-1-gpa-near-perfect-sat-satii-act-ap-scores.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/707436-new-3-0-3-3-gpa-parents-thread.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/707436-new-3-0-3-3-gpa-parents-thread.html</a>

ELM277 · October 13, 2011, 2:44am

I was reading this with a Dartmouth friend and I asked if they would possibly accept a student with your stats. She read your post and said: you know, Maria has worked in the admissions office for many years, I doubt she'd want to lose her job over a kid with a 3.0. She sent the post on to Ms. Laskaris. She was sure she'd want to see this claim on a board read by tens of thousands.

I'd have to agree. You compromise the head of admissions at a very top college accepting under 9% of applicants by even suggesting your personal relationship might result in an unwarranted admission.

Many kids with your SAT score are rejected, almost all of whom have way higher GPAs. Please have the maturity to not flaunt a relationship that is certain to not get you into Dartmouth.

Erin_s_Dad · October 13, 2011, 8:49am

[quote]
Grades aren't because I'm lazy

[/quote]

You and I can disagree about that. You choose not to be involved in group projects or to hand in homework.

Hunt · October 13, 2011, 9:07am

Well, one piece of advice is not to apply to test-optional schools.

I'll be honest here--I very much doubt if you should go to Stanford, or Dartmouth, or even Berkeley, even if you get in. You're not likely to do that well there.

cool5s · October 13, 2011, 10:50am

@Hunt, "one piece of advice is not to apply to test-optional schools."

why? they do need high number to boost thire SAT scores. they do like to show off how many % students submit SAT score even they don't require it.

Hunt · October 13, 2011, 11:04am

I was kidding, sort of. What this person needs is a grade-optional school.

Seriously, I think you should be looking at a different set of schools--take a look at the "Colleges that Change Lives," for example.

cool5s · October 13, 2011, 11:44am

@Hunt, Honestly most of "Colleges that Change Lives" schools are not prestigious. I don't think it would fit this super smart student.

He needs strong ECs and excellent essay to "cover" the low GPA.
He needs figure out the reason why his gpa is low, and what he is going to do to improve it. Let colleges believe he can do well if he gets admitted.
My2cents

ucbalumnus · October 13, 2011, 11:56am

The common data sets of UCSC, UCR, Cal Poly SLO, and SJSU say that recommendations are "not considered". UCM does consider recommendations.

Based on University</a> of California - Statewide path , you are not in the top 9% that is guaranteed UC admission, so even UCM is no guarantee (although its common data set does say that about a quarter of the freshmen had high school GPAs in the range just about 3.0).

Check whether SJSU is likely an admissions safety for you based on your major. If not, then your admissions safeties are likely the less selective and non-impacted CSUs. Community college is another option; do well there, and you can apply to transfer to a UC or CSU that you may not be able to get into now (use <a href="http://www.assist.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.assist.org</a> to match up community college courses with UC and CSU campuses and majors).

Of course, all of the options need to be qualified by financial considerations. Put "financial aid estimator" in each school's search box and use it to estimate your net cost at each school.

educ8me · October 13, 2011, 11:59am

You definitely qualify for UC based on scores alone. That guarantees you to Merced, but likely you would be admitted to Riverside, perhaps Santa Cruz. You NMS should open some doors. With applications requiring just a few keyboard clicks and a check for 50-80 dollars, I don't see any reason not to apply to as many schools as you have time to write essays for. Considering the investment in the next 4 years, the application fees are insignificant. Nothing wrong with pursuing personal contacts, they are a major component of Ivy admissions.

And congratulations on the German score! Sehr Gut!

Hunt · October 13, 2011, 12:32pm

[quote]
He needs figure out the reason why his gpa is low, and what he is going to do to improve it.

[/quote]
In his other thread he says his grades are low because he doesn't turn in work and doesn't like to do group projects. That, at least, isn't super-smart. I think a person like this should really consider a smaller college with a lot of interaction with the faculty, to try to prevent recurrence of this problem.

Horrible grades (sub 3.0), good test scores (2350+)

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