<p>In what situation is a university like Harvard or Yale willing to overlook a bad transcript? I have a B- average at a leading New England boarding school, which puts me in the last decile of the class.</p>
<p>Well the schools have a formula they use for athletes. If they have really high SAT scores it can balance a not so good GPA. So if you will be a high impact player in a revenue sport there’s still a chance.</p>
<p>Other that that a $10MM gift combined with high SATs may do the trick.</p>
<p>Let’s be honest. There is no way that you are going to get into HYPS with a B- average in the last decile of the class.</p>
<p>i disagree with smart.cookie
we dont know his background, a friend of mine had a pretty low GPA 3.2 or something but he got into columbia because he wrote his essay about how his environment was (not very favorable) and a year-long crisis that ocurred in his family.</p>
<p>if u can write somethign that explains ur bad grades u can get anywhere.
they want unique peoople,not robots.</p>
<p>If there are extenuating circumstances then yes, it might be possible, but you would have to face some serious adversity.</p>
<p>with a B- (3.0)? u wouldnt need serious adversity (gunshots everyday outside my neighborhood lol) u would just need something more along the lines of the death of someone really close to u, family struggles (economic-wise) and yeah as cliched as the death thing sounds it can work wonders.</p>
<p>Sorry biogal, I disagree. Just reading this site has shown me how many people claim adversity/illness/death of close ones…Top colleges aren’t going to forgive a B- average for any of these things.</p>
<p>If someone is a URM who worked 50 hours a week and babysat their sibs while living in the ghetto, they’ll get a break. But their stats will have to show they can do the work.</p>
<p>A B- is 2.7. I’d be amazed if anybody, even an athlete/URM, could get in with that.</p>
<p>^ I agree. And honestly, being an athlete, unless you are literally amazing, won’t help all that much for HYPSM</p>
<p>hmm. I have a 3.4 unweighted GPA, and I’ve been wondering the same thing. I had relatively shi.tty grades sophomore year, and all A’s and a couple B’s junior year, but I’m striving for Columbia (ED). On the bright side, despite the atrocious transcript, all my APs and honors bumped me to the top 12%. </p>
<pre><code>So basically, I have a statement from my GC attached explaining extenuating circumstances that may have contributed to my not-so-hot transcript: heroin-addicted brother was living with me at home & alcoholic mom was in and out of prison for breaking restraining order I had against her/stalking me. I didn’t go into detail about it in my essay, instead describing visiting brother in jail, how his upbringing makes me appreciative of my own opportunties, and how i kind of forged my identity form the 2 opposite sides of family dysfunction and a totally normal suburban high school experience.
But yeah, I’m curious too: will the overlook a mediocre transcript, even with C’s, in light of some certain conditions?
</code></pre>
<p>And also, would a somewhat decent SAT (2190) help offshoot the weak grades?</p>