<p>menloparkmom suggested I repost this thread in the parent section.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/772860-realistic-match-low-gpa-high-test.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/772860-realistic-match-low-gpa-high-test.html</a></p>
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<p>Any help is appreciated, I am not a donut, so I don’t want to be sugar coated.</p>
<p>I think WPI might take a chance on you, RPI a little less likely. Are you interested in pursuing comp sci as a major? Do you want a techie school? Do you prefer city or rural? Small or big?</p>
<p>Comp Sci/Comp Eng/Elec Eng, a tech school, a plus. I prefer city, but I couldn’t really care less where it is, or its size</p>
<p>U of MO Rolla is an engineering school. You will likely get in there.
Rose Hulman? GPA might be a problem there, unless you are still in top 25% of your class…</p>
<p>Any particular geographic location? U of Hartford would likely take a chance on you.</p>
<p>Did you take the PSAT, and are you a likely NMF?[ I think the cut off for Mass is pretty high- something like 225?] If you are a NMF then colleges like U Southern Calif. might take a chance on you. At USC, accepted NMF’s receive an automatic 1/2 tuition scholarship. They have a very reputable UG Engineering program[ top 10 I believe]. But Engineering is a tough major, requiring lots of math, physics, as well as all the engineering classes.</p>
<p>Try large publics that really appreciate high test scores. Also, I think that you can get into the Missouri University of Science and Technology (in Rolla) or to Michigan Technological University, aka Michigan Tech, in Houghton, Michigan, and I think that at either of these schools you would find some great professors and classes that would interest and inspire you, and you would make some nice friends. Another option, if you are trying for a large public and don’t get in, would be to enroll in one of the “branch” campuses of the large public university, a school where you can easily/automatically transfer to the main campus if you want. </p>
<p>You will be fine. Apply to a number of schools where you have a chance of admission, including some safety schools. You will find somewhere to go next year. It might turn out to be a great place for you - or you might end up transferring to a more selective school for your second or third year. It’s okay!</p>
<p>I’ll also say Michigan Tech. Not in a big city though, but a good engineering school that’s not very selective.</p>
<p>My National Merit Commended Niece, who was number 3 in her class is at UNH doing engineering (civil in her case) and she’s enjoying it very much.</p>
<p>I “second” Missouri-Rolla.</p>
<p>I really doubt OP will make NMF with a 2.95 GPA, even if his PSATs were great. </p>
<p>OP, Can you afford OOS costs? What is your EFC?</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>I am not sure what my EFC will be but I am sure will be able to afford out of state costs.</p>
<p>“Raise from 2.5, got all A’s” </p>
<p>I’m not exactly clear from what you stated when you got the A’s, but if your junior year grades were all A’s…it is likely many admission committees will take a closer look at your application – especially with the high test scores. If you have some bad grades in early years, but there’s an upward trend, many ad coms will consider the trend. (Stanford says they don’t even consider 9th grade section of transcript.)</p>
<p>You might want to stay away from the state schools that don’t require essays and put a high weight on GPA. You will probably do better at schools that indicate they take a look at everything you submit. </p>
<p>Be sure to find a teacher to write a rec from a junior year class where you worked hard and did well. Hopefully, your GC will also write a good report about how well you’ve done. These items should also help counter balance the GPA.</p>
<p>How about U AZ or Purdue?</p>
<p>How about Florida Institute of Technology? I know they have CS and all the other techy majors. Lots of space related sciences (given their close proximity to Kennedy Space Center). They seem to value SAT scores over gpa and give merit aid accordingly. Also the student body is very diverse- ~2500 undergrads-25% international, 25% florida residents, 50% other states. ~2500 graduate students as well. Lots of research opportunities even as freshman.</p>
<p>You might work like crazy this fall and wait to ship your school transcript until after mid term grades (or end of the semester if there is time between the end of the semester and the college app deadline. Don’t leave it too late as some times a school registrar closes a day or two before the school does for winter break). A fist full of senior A’s could widen your pool a great deal. It shows that you are developing maturity and a work ethic. </p>
<p>Think about what you want from a school. Sunshine? Central Florida or New College might be good. Skiing? Colorado College is funky – and they might take a chance on you if your fall grades are strong. Univ. of Montana has its strengths. </p>
<p>You have a lot going for you (debate, robotics). Oregon Tech or Illinois Tech might be fun. Get one of those huge college guides and start paging through. You’ll start having a gut reaction (big city? Yeah or Nay? Frat life? Beautiful campus? Snow? Robotics team? Drinking? Team spirit? Football nuts?) Every NO is also helpful – ask your folks to page through Ye Enormous Guide too. They may turn up some gems that you have overlooked.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the suggestions </p>
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<p>This seems like a good idea. Do I have to include my college transcript with my application, or can I wait until mid January? Would it be possible to include my first quarter grades?</p>
<p>Do you mean your High School transcript? If so, yes you can include your first quarter grades, you can even wait and have the school submit after the first semester (as long as you submit your application on time). The problem with this is that many schools will not send the file to the admisssions committee until it is complete-- At rolling admission schools, you want that completed file in front of the adcom as soon as possible.</p>
<p>In your intitial post you asked if your programming work “counted”–I would say YES, in fact I think I would focus on it’s success. Good luck!</p>
<p>Most of the private schools won’t make a decision without seeing at least the first quarter’s grades.</p>
<p>I’d sell your programming work in your applications, and if there’s anyone available who can attest to what you did, see if you can get a letter of recommendation from them.</p>