<p>I’m worried about my chances of getting into competitive schools. My extracurricular activities aren’t that great, and my GPA is on the low side. I’m relying on my test scores (35/36/36/36 on ACT, 800/800/770 on the SAT II for math, physics, and us history), but after listening to admissions officers i’m not sure how much the scores will help. Am I a good candidate for a competitive school?</p>
<p>of course you are, stop it.</p>
<p>obviously you’re not going to get into HYPS with nothing besides test scores… but there are plenty of tier 1 schools that would love to have you.</p>
<p>check out Reed. they are known for taking kids with lots of potential but might not have shown it in high school. they even take kids that have dropped out of high school. in the application, you have to show that potential through your essays probably, and for you your test scores. for them, potential > achievement.</p>
<p>that being said, Reed is still a very selective, upper-tier LAC.</p>
<p>I’m getting this information from Loren Pope’s 40 Schools That Will Change the Way you Think About College, a very reputable and important book.</p>
<p>One caveat: Reed says “High school diploma is required and GED is accepted”</p>
<p>[Reed</a> College 2008-09 Common Data Set SecC](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/cds/cds0809/cdssecc200809.html]Reed”>Reed College 2008-09 Common Data Set SecC - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>
<p>But Reed will sometimes take a chance on someone showing ample evidence of a lively, perhaps brilliant mind, yet indications of undisciplined application to school work.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>When I said “on the low side”, I meant like 3.8, not 1. Thanks for making me feel good about myself.</p>
<p>how is a 3.8 low??</p>
<p>like seriously, unless you are trying to brag, how on earth can a 3.8 GPA be considered LOW?</p>
<p>You see how “on the low side” can be interpreted. :)</p>