What do low GPA, good ECs and art portfolio imply?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi there!

I am in G12, and now an applicant mainly targeting top 20s for chemistry+graphic/industrial design dual degree or design major (which means I am choosing chemistry as a second major at second year of college)

My stats are okey: (superscored by 2 times) 1500/1600 SAT1, 110 TOEFL, 760 chem and 740 math (gonna retake probably)

However, I have a 3.7~3.8 cumulative UW GPA with a 34/35 out of 42 at last semester in IB. Scores are really not my forte. :(. I had okey GPAs consistently except for that last semester.

I do have good ECs and a strong art/design portfolio (my teacher said that my portfolio has the level of work of an MFA student)

ECs:

  1. Founder of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Educational program Alchemy. around 800 followers.

Sub-program being published on university of Waterloo’s magazine and one of the most prestigious universities in Pakistan. Featured by American Chemical Society, Russian Embassy in America, Chinese Academy of Sciences and etc. Award given by Uni. of Waterloo. Interviewed Nature Chemistry editor and the Author of the book series ‘The Elements: A Visual Exploration’. Co-published 1 time with my mentor’s program, who is an (some kind of) associate professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (one of the outstanding universities here). He focuses on scientific communication through digital media.

  1. Chem blog with a post recommended by the Royal Society of Chemistry at Britain.
  2. President of school science club for 2 years.
  3. 6 week Pre-college at Rhode Island of Design in America. Obtained very good recommendation letter.
  4. Scientific artist of one of the peer-reviewed teenage scientific journal (sponsored by the London International Youth Science Forum, had collaborations with the Royal Society in Britain). We currently have at least 3500+ followers.
  5. Astronomy internship at The National Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences (most prestigious scientific research centre at China)
  6. Regional or National piano award gained at G9
  7. (This will be soon) Chemistry research internship at Institute of Chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences
  8. Consistent member of school’s student government and graphic design group
  9. Member of school’s philosophy club