Let's hope I'm not being too optimistic

bulletandpima
Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:45:07 +0000

3.4 for Harvard, Brown, UC and MIT will just kill you, plus the fact that you don’t have only the hard AP’s. AP Psych means nothing to MIT. Brown would probably prefer to see APUSH, LIT over Psych. Also, 4 is a low number for those schools, most come with a much higher number.

Our DD has a much higher uw (@3.7 - 4.25 w) with more APs and would never suggest those schools, unless I knew she had a hook. The problem is you look good as a test student, but I would question why the low gpa, does that mean you are not motivated in class or does it mean you can’t manage your time (band)? Either answer makes me concerned that transitioning to college at these schools will be difficult. Your reaches will have students that have that SAT score, plus the gpa uw of 3.9+, and their APs will be all core subjects (math, science, english).

Not trying to be a downer, but just trying to give a realistic view. Now take that and throw it in the garbage, because the only way NOT TO BE ACCEPTED is to NOT APPLY!

Also I would place Harvey Mudd as a maybe only because of Band, but realize that Harvey Mudd is hardcore academically, so again the low gpa might hurt in the admit process.