How to improve chances?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

My stats are not so great, but I truly do not know whether or not they are an actual excuse for my poor stats. I just would like to know how I can possibly improve my chances at Rutgers, Farleigh Dickinson, Drew, and Drexel.

GPA: 3.23 (UW) // (W) 3.514

Courseload: Have taken most rigorous courses( all AP/honors) with exception of freshman year (took algebra 1); had to double up in math to move up to advanced, now testing out of calculus to take multivariable as a senior.

Senior Courseload: Honors English 12, Multivariable Calculus, AP Biology, AP Spanish Lit, AP European History, Sociology, Global Social Issues (semester)/ Intoduction to Film (semester)

AP Tests: United States History (4), English Language (3)

SAT/ACT: SAT 1750 (first time; will retake; June 6th test)

Extracurriculars: Mock Trial (9), Math Team (9-11), working at various fast food places to support family (35-40 hours per week, during school year and summer)
This summer, I successfully completed a free, super-selective, 3-week/residential summer program. I gained 3 college credits. (Math/science oriented)

Reccomendations:
1st teacher, should be excellent
2nd teacher, should be good
Guidance counselor, AMAZING! (is like my BFF; understands my situation)

Hooks:
URM (half black, half Caucasian (mother is Moroccan/European descent))
Low income
1st generation college student
Female who wants to go into science

Circumstances:
I understand that my GPA may garner a toss of my application after the first round or review. However, I think I deserve a chance. I have had to work practically full time during my entire high school career. My father gambles quite the lump sum of his income away and has a lot of bills to pay. I have practically kept my family afloat during these last 3 years or so. My dream school is Harvard, but I highly doubt that I can make it through their first round. My guidance counselor says I should apply ED, but my junior year grades are heinous, junior year is when everything started to go downhill.

How can I improve my chances at Rutgers? I have borrowed the textbooks and books this summer to attempt to get ahead in my classes so that I would not do as poorly as I had during junior year. What else can I do? I have already started my common app essay and it is looking good so far. I guess the summer program shows initiative. I love education and I cannot let a bad 10 months of my life push me away from learning. I obviously cannot cure cancer or win the Intel science search; I have to work. I have no choice. I am in love with learning. I am at my wit’s end.

2

Honestly, you aren’t going to get into Harvard with your current stats.

However, I do think you are pretty good shape for Drexel and Rutgers. I didn’t look that closely at the other schools. You obviously have a passion for learning - unfortunately your family circumstances have hurt your high school career, but you still have lots of opportunities open to you. Don’t feel down, keep at it and good things will come. Working nearly full time while going through high school is not a conventional “extra-curricular activity” but it is damned impressive in its own way.

One issue you need to discuss with your guidance counselor (and maybe some other adult you feel you can trust) is how you are going to be able to afford school. I think that is more of a concern than your academics at this point.

3

@NickFlynn Thank you very much for your honesty. I guess maybe I should try to transfer after a year at another school that is easier to gain admission into. Thanks for your help.

4

Bump. I want to forget about top schools
for a moment. Do you guys believe that if I edit my common app essay and make it stellar, write stellar supplements, raise my SAT score significantly, study for the ACT and do well on it, and aim for/obtain a 4.0 GPA for the first semester of senior year, and subsequently apply RD to a few schools, would I have a chance or would I be killed in the applicant pool? I’m really worried, angry, and annoyed. I just want to go to college at this point. I just want to keep learning.

5
  1. Good essays will definitely be important, and I feel like you will have good ones that will explain your life struggles.
  2. For the colleges you said you were looking at, your GPA is good enough so don't worry too much. Obviously, try to do well senior year even though that won't be a big factor. However, your senior year schedule looks a bit difficult if you plan on continuing to work during school. Just something you may want to think about. 3.Getting your test scores up is a good idea. I recommend sticking to either the ACT or SAT rather than studying for both.

For the colleges you listed, you are in decent shape. Getting your test scores up will be beneficial to improve your chances, but your chances right now are good.

As the person above said, make sure you know the financial aspects of the colleges as well.

Good luck to you!

6

Chances are literally zero at Harvard but why the jump from Rutgers to Harvard? Seriously, that’s a huge difference. I think you have a shot at Rutgers and you should get into the others.

7

So I should not even bother applying to any top universities or any university that is renowned for a program that would aid me with my major?

8

You need to realize that they teach the same material at Rutgers as they do at Harvard.

The most important component in your education is YOU - your desire and drive to learn will enable you to learn wherever you go - and wherever you go, there will be good opportunities to learn, to grow and to make the next step in your own personal journey. And by doing the best you can at wherever you end up, you will open more up the doors to more opportunities. Yes, at this particular moment in time. some opportunities are closed off to you because of the circumstances of your life - but you will overcome this if you work hard and keep at it.