<p>Yeah, even if you got into these schools with that kind of attitude towards work and group projects, you wouldn’t do very well. I don’t think you’d be admitted simply because I know that top schools want more than just high test scores, especially when the most crucial part of your application (your grades) is lacking.</p>
<p>I don’t want to beat up on the OP, so let me try to put this in a more constructive way: you obviously are smart and have great potential, but you haven’t been working up to your potential in high school. It doesn’t appear to be because the material is too hard for you; rather, it appears to be because of attitude or work habit issues. You need to solve those issues, either before you go to college or after you get there. Going to a large, impersonal college may make those issues worse–and going to a super-challenging college might cause you to fall behind quickly if you are still struggling with them. Look for schools that will provide support for your particular needs.</p>
<p>Here is the link to show your eligibility based on scores:</p>
<p>[University</a> of California - Admission by exam](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/examination/index.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/examination/index.html)</p>
<p>My kid is in similar situation but with slightly higher GPA, and it is indeed somewhat unfair to characterize the low grades as “laziness”. AP courses in particular generated reams of homework sheets. Cynically, the emphasis on homework points seems geared to boost the GPA of the worker bees who don’t do so well on tests. Kids could turn in all the homework and fail tests, and still get a B in the classes. Some kids just take a while to master the filing system to handle the vast amount of busywork. If you can study your book & lecture notes and do well on tests in college you will do fine.</p>
<p>Before everyone blasts OP on GPA, I think your classes were definitely harder. Which freshman takes 3 APs ? Why would your school counselor allow that? And then your grades tank in freshman year, they still let you take honors and AP in sophomore year?
Before you think all is gone, I would urge that you do really really well in your 1st semester senior year. Does your grades have upward swing? You have great scores, PSAT and AP and subject scores. You have good ECs. If you can show upward (all A’s preferably) in your first semester of senior year, your selectivity will turn around. I would strongly suggest dropping some EC right now (to get more time to focus on your grades), enrolling in extra tutoring, being on top of your class assignments and basically do everything you can to focus back on your grades in senior year. </p>
<p>Applying RD may help. Also in UCs, I have heard folks getting back in to the top UCs (in spring semester /appeal). Dont apply just to CSUs or cal poly. Have all the top UCs as a reach. You never know. Good luck.</p>
<p>And yes, do write up a great essay on your ECs. You have some good ones in there - crew, harp, astronomy…</p>
<p>Just read your long post…</p>
<p>By all means capitalize on your harp talent! Make sure the orchestra directors at your schools of interest see your application-you may get a scholarship based on this. We were told that colleges without strong music programs are especially interested in recruiting hard to find instrumentalists. If you can possibly claim that English is not your first language, go for it. Your low key and honest assessment of yourself is refreshing but perhaps tweak it a bit in the college essay to sound more confident. Good luck!</p>
<p>Many HS boys are not as mature as girls, and that aspect is reflected in the grades and work habit. As long as OP have learned his lessons and will work hard in college, no doubt he can be successful even at elite colleges.</p>
<p>OP is a German harpist who rows crew. He should look for colleges that are seeking interesting people (and that have crew teams).</p>
<p>OP, tests scores have less correlation to success in college than do high school grades. It doesn’t really matter how smart you are if you don’t/won’t/can’t do the work. It doesn’t matter if you personally think the work is busy work, or boring, or non relevant, or not interesting. Colleges and universities want to admit students who will succeed and graduate, and proof of previous ability to manage a heavy work load is highly relevant. The department rep. of a very highly respected undergraduate program in engineering said straight out (in a group setting with potential undergraduates and parents) that, in that particular department, SAT/ACT scores are somewhat irrelevant. The faculty of that department has found that high school grades, and the difficulty of the classes taken in high school, is much more predictive of success in college than are any test scores.</p>
<p>Read, and re-read Hunt’s advice. It is excellent.</p>
<p>One school that tends to look at qualities other than grades is Reed. Only 25% IIRC is based on GPA and scores.</p>
<p>Although it would be a big reach, I suggest applying to U. Chicago EA, as Chicago has historically been willing to accept interesting candidates, although perhaps lately its admissions practices are becoming more normal for a selective school. Reed also sounds like a good suggestion.</p>
<p>Your mismatched stats are more extreme than typical, so it is really hard to predict where you will get accepted. It will be important to apply to schools with a wide range of selectivity levels. I would also suggest to apply EA or rolling wherever you can. If you get an early admit, you can concentrate on reach schools, and if not, you will know that you need to add some less selective schools.</p>
<p>Would you prefer a large or small school?</p>
<p>I basically had your stats and I’m going to Grinnell. If you don’t mind Iowa, it would be a nice addition to your list.</p>
<p>If I were you, I wouldn’t waste money on applying to Dartmouth, Stanford or Cal without a MAJOR hook. It just ain’t happenin’.</p>
<p>Instead, look to test-score happy schools, which place a (much?) higher value on test scores, like USC. Look for schools that award merit money to NMSF’s…</p>
<p>Definitely consider UChicago and Reed, which treated me very charitably in the admissions process despite my low GPA (3.3). Grinnell is another good option, and maybe Oberlin. URochester and Case Western as well? These are all high reaches, but they are high reaches worth considering.</p>
<p>Do not apply to Dartmouth and Stanford; they will not accept you.</p>
<p>Most importantly, however, sort out your attitude. Some great schools, like UChi and Reed, *might *be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if they absolutely love your essays and personality, but for that to happen, you need to make it crystal clear to them that you do not intend to slack off in college, and that your attitude now is completely different from what it was like when you were getting Bs and Cs galore.</p>
<p>And your essays need to be sensational.</p>
<p>Hunt…I do not agree that because this student has high SAT scores that makes him smart. The grades are telling another story and if this student were to attend a very selective school he would likely struggle for several reasons. His work ethic has not developed and if he has not performed well up to this point there are some holes in his education that need to be mended.</p>
<p>Jimmy2,</p>
<p>What do you want to study? Are you the type of student who aces your favorite subjects and just gets by in your least favorite ones? You might get the benefit of the doubt from a school that focuses on the areas in which you excel. Based on your classes, it looks like maybe you are a math/science person and if that is the case In suggest Case Western, Rochester Institute of Technology, RPI, Carnegie Mellon (high reach), and UCSB. If you are more liberal arts oriented, I agree with the other posters who suggest LACs where you will get more faculty interaction. A few suggestions for you on the west coast: Occidental, Scripps, Reed, and Whitman. Beyond the west coast for LACs try Macalester, Grinnell, Kenyon, and Oberlin.</p>
<p>Lol, I meant Pitzer form the Claremont Consortium, not Scripps (the womens college there).</p>
<p>
blujebayou, the average UNweighted GPA of accepted students at USC for Fall 2011 was 3.8. Yes, the average test scores are also high (middle 50% = 2020-2240), but those scores are combined with great transcripts and interesting/impressive ECs. It honestly looks silly for you to suggest that this applicant is a viable candidate for USC with a 2.89 GPA, especially with USC’s move to the Common Application this year and an expected 40,000+ applications.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/1112/USCFreshmanProfile2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/1112/USCFreshmanProfile2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>With great essays, I think you stand a good chance at a school like Leigh in PA, WPI in MA, Case Western in OH, perhaps Pitzer in CA, Baylor in TX, Grinnell in IA and give a shot at a few of the Ivies and top 20 schools like Cornell, emory, Rice etc! Good luck! Your sat ii’s show your mastery of subject!!</p>
<p>ucbalumnus, your always practical, sans BS, advise is always appreciated.</p>