Just as a general question (although I am secretly hoping for optimism) is it possible to get into a Top 20 school with a negative aspect to your application? Out of the 5 main parts (GPA, test scores, ECs, LoR and essays), if you do really bad in one of those categories, can you still get accepted if the rest of your application overcompensates?
“Lower than average” would mean GPA < 3.7, SAT < 1520, ACT < 34, not many ECs, bare minimum LoRs and meh essays.
Yes. It’s what the entire thing looks like when it’s all taken together. But if one of those things is low, the other parts have to be even more compelling.
And - I suspect that while you can get in with a less than near-perfect stats (GPA, test scores) as long as the depth/type of ECs, LORs and essays are outstanding, the opposite is not generally true. IOW, I don’t think many of the 4.0/1600/36 kids who have weak ECs or a bad LoR or meh essays are getting in.
Closing – this is a duplicate thread.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/2087947-do-i-have-a-chance-of-getting-into-top-schools-with-a-3-6-uw.html#latest