Low gpa strong SAT with strong math focus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

A kid with the kind of math EC's OP mentioned has a hook.

[Anonymous]

Our DMV private had a 3.4 kid admitted to Chicago (unhooked) within the past 3-5 years. I saw it in the stats and the stats they show parents have all hooked kids removed. I do think Chicago may be tightening up on the GPAs that they'll take from top privates over the past admissions season or 2 but it has happened around here and within the recent past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This candidate is a bit of a puzzle: strong school, weak GPA, very strong in math. The only thing that seems certain is that even with the best advice there will be a lot of uncertainty and stress.

I’d like to suggest a safety: apply early in the fall to the University of Minnesota. Minnesota has rolling admissions and a 75% acceptance rate. The Niche scatterplot, for what it’s worth, shows high SAT-low GPA kids getting in. This year the supplement was 200 words on why this major, which sounds like it would be easy for this kid to knock out. The math department is well regarded (tied, in this year’s USNWR reputation score, with CMU and JHU), and it offers a BS degree that does not require foreign language. It’s also a big school (which she wants) in a fun city. And you will save so much in tuition that the new boots and jacket will be trivial expenditures.

Assuming she gets in, that will put a floor under her possible outcomes, relieving a lot of stress and letting her focus on her most preferred schools. If by chance she does not get in, then you will all have early notice to panic. Which sounds bad, but is actually much better than panicking after ED results come out in December, because it will give you time to get more applications in to EA schools before the November 1 deadline.

How is a 3.4 bad? I really don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

HW in LA
Crossroads in LA
Packer in NY
Ransome Everglades in FL

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

A kid with the kind of math EC's OP mentioned has a hook.

No that isn’t a hook. Hook is donor family, first gen, Pell grant eligible, athletic recruit, or legacy.

[Anonymous]

(2016 grad) I had similar stats and similar hooks.

If she has several APs with mostly 5s and you're fine being full pay, look to the UK. I was a CS+Math applicant and didn't do well on Oxford's admissions test (which is offered at the British school in DC), but I got a conditional offer from Imperial where they had me take Cambridge's admissions test in the spring, and unconditional offers from Warwick, Edinburgh, and UCL. You can't apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same cycle.

The UK schools other than St. Andrews are through UCAS, which is a common application system that's much simpler than the common app. It asks for a 500 word-ish "why this major" essay and a recc from your guidance counselor and nothing else. When I applied you could only apply to 5 unis.

I focused on small schools in the US and had luck with Case Western in the EA round. For various reasons I didn't do a regular admission round that year and ended up applying to SLACs without engineering programs a couple years later. I ended up attending St. Olaf (which is on the larger end of SLACs) and loved my time there and especially the math department. It's a smaller college but has one of the largest undergraduate pure math programs in the country. Would make a great safety. I'd also suggest Carleton and Grinnell if she's willing to look at any SLACs, but those are probably reaches.

If she's committed to a large school, I think your best bet is large state universities that have great research reputations but 50% acceptance rates. University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Ohio State, the UCs besides UCLA and Berkeley, University of Utah, UC Boulder etc. Math doesn't tend to have the kind of separate admissions process that engineering programs or CS often have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This candidate is a bit of a puzzle: strong school, weak GPA, very strong in math. The only thing that seems certain is that even with the best advice there will be a lot of uncertainty and stress.

I’d like to suggest a safety: apply early in the fall to the University of Minnesota. Minnesota has rolling admissions and a 75% acceptance rate. The Niche scatterplot, for what it’s worth, shows high SAT-low GPA kids getting in. This year the supplement was 200 words on why this major, which sounds like it would be easy for this kid to knock out. The math department is well regarded (tied, in this year’s USNWR reputation score, with CMU and JHU), and it offers a BS degree that does not require foreign language. It’s also a big school (which she wants) in a fun city. And you will save so much in tuition that the new boots and jacket will be trivial expenditures.

Assuming she gets in, that will put a floor under her possible outcomes, relieving a lot of stress and letting her focus on her most preferred schools. If by chance she does not get in, then you will all have early notice to panic. Which sounds bad, but is actually much better than panicking after ED results come out in December, because it will give you time to get more applications in to EA schools before the November 1 deadline.

How is a 3.4 bad? I really don’t get it.

Kids with multiple Cs rarely get into HYPSM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(2016 grad) I had similar stats and similar hooks.

If she has several APs with mostly 5s and you're fine being full pay, look to the UK. I was a CS+Math applicant and didn't do well on Oxford's admissions test (which is offered at the British school in DC), but I got a conditional offer from Imperial where they had me take Cambridge's admissions test in the spring, and unconditional offers from Warwick, Edinburgh, and UCL. You can't apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same cycle.

The UK schools other than St. Andrews are through UCAS, which is a common application system that's much simpler than the common app. It asks for a 500 word-ish "why this major" essay and a recc from your guidance counselor and nothing else. When I applied you could only apply to 5 unis.

I focused on small schools in the US and had luck with Case Western in the EA round. For various reasons I didn't do a regular admission round that year and ended up applying to SLACs without engineering programs a couple years later. I ended up attending St. Olaf (which is on the larger end of SLACs) and loved my time there and especially the math department. It's a smaller college but has one of the largest undergraduate pure math programs in the country. Would make a great safety. I'd also suggest Carleton and Grinnell if she's willing to look at any SLACs, but those are probably reaches.

If she's committed to a large school, I think your best bet is large state universities that have great research reputations but 50% acceptance rates. University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Ohio State, the UCs besides UCLA and Berkeley, University of Utah, UC Boulder etc. Math doesn't tend to have the kind of separate admissions process that engineering programs or CS often have.

College admissions are about ten times more competitive now than ten years ago. It’s nice you took the time to write this, but it’s completely useless.

Dear Lord…this. Even worse if poster is a 2016 college grad, which is likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

A kid with the kind of math EC's OP mentioned has a hook.

No that isn’t a hook. Hook is donor family, first gen, Pell grant eligible, athletic recruit, or legacy.

A hook is something that gives you a significant advantage relative to others with similar stats. An impressive accomplishment, like being accepted to Ross/Promys/SUMAC will definitely help. It doesn't make it a sure thing, but then of course, neither do any of the things you listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(2016 grad) I had similar stats and similar hooks.

If she has several APs with mostly 5s and you're fine being full pay, look to the UK. I was a CS+Math applicant and didn't do well on Oxford's admissions test (which is offered at the British school in DC), but I got a conditional offer from Imperial where they had me take Cambridge's admissions test in the spring, and unconditional offers from Warwick, Edinburgh, and UCL. You can't apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same cycle.

The UK schools other than St. Andrews are through UCAS, which is a common application system that's much simpler than the common app. It asks for a 500 word-ish "why this major" essay and a recc from your guidance counselor and nothing else. When I applied you could only apply to 5 unis.

I focused on small schools in the US and had luck with Case Western in the EA round. For various reasons I didn't do a regular admission round that year and ended up applying to SLACs without engineering programs a couple years later. I ended up attending St. Olaf (which is on the larger end of SLACs) and loved my time there and especially the math department. It's a smaller college but has one of the largest undergraduate pure math programs in the country. Would make a great safety. I'd also suggest Carleton and Grinnell if she's willing to look at any SLACs, but those are probably reaches.

If she's committed to a large school, I think your best bet is large state universities that have great research reputations but 50% acceptance rates. University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Ohio State, the UCs besides UCLA and Berkeley, University of Utah, UC Boulder etc. Math doesn't tend to have the kind of separate admissions process that engineering programs or CS often have.

College admissions are about ten times more competitive now than ten years ago. It’s nice you took the time to write this, but it’s completely useless.

Your approach is problematic nowadays.

In 2016, yes your case worked for UCs and other state us. UCs have been test blind for several years now, and they don't even look at test scores for the most part.

I am surprised that you never tried stem heavy schools like CMU and JHU. A hook like OP's would not be overlooked there.

OP said that she is not interested in LACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

A kid with the kind of math EC's OP mentioned has a hook.

No that isn’t a hook. Hook is donor family, first gen, Pell grant eligible, athletic recruit, or legacy.

A hook is something that gives you a significant advantage relative to others with similar stats. An impressive accomplishment, like being accepted to Ross/Promys/SUMAC will definitely help. It doesn't make it a sure thing, but then of course, neither do any of the things you listed.

That isn’t a hook, it’s an extracurricular that may help with admissions. Maybe read up on what hooks actually are.

[Anonymous]

^ meant to reply to PP's PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(2016 grad) I had similar stats and similar hooks.

If she has several APs with mostly 5s and you're fine being full pay, look to the UK. I was a CS+Math applicant and didn't do well on Oxford's admissions test (which is offered at the British school in DC), but I got a conditional offer from Imperial where they had me take Cambridge's admissions test in the spring, and unconditional offers from Warwick, Edinburgh, and UCL. You can't apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same cycle.

The UK schools other than St. Andrews are through UCAS, which is a common application system that's much simpler than the common app. It asks for a 500 word-ish "why this major" essay and a recc from your guidance counselor and nothing else. When I applied you could only apply to 5 unis.

I focused on small schools in the US and had luck with Case Western in the EA round. For various reasons I didn't do a regular admission round that year and ended up applying to SLACs without engineering programs a couple years later. I ended up attending St. Olaf (which is on the larger end of SLACs) and loved my time there and especially the math department. It's a smaller college but has one of the largest undergraduate pure math programs in the country. Would make a great safety. I'd also suggest Carleton and Grinnell if she's willing to look at any SLACs, but those are probably reaches.

If she's committed to a large school, I think your best bet is large state universities that have great research reputations but 50% acceptance rates. University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Ohio State, the UCs besides UCLA and Berkeley, University of Utah, UC Boulder etc. Math doesn't tend to have the kind of separate admissions process that engineering programs or CS often have.

College admissions are about ten times more competitive now than ten years ago. It’s nice you took the time to write this, but it’s completely useless.

Your approach is problematic nowadays.

In 2016, yes your case worked for UCs and other state us. UCs have been test blind for several years now, and they don't even look at test scores for the most part.

I am surprised that you never tried stem heavy schools like CMU and JHU. A hook like OP's would not be overlooked there.

OP said that she is not interested in LACs.

lol that you think Hopkins is accepting this kid. No wonder so many posters here are shocked when their kid is rejected, they are living in lalaland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

A kid with the kind of math EC's OP mentioned has a hook.

No that isn’t a hook. Hook is donor family, first gen, Pell grant eligible, athletic recruit, or legacy.

A hook is something that gives you a significant advantage relative to others with similar stats. An impressive accomplishment, like being accepted to Ross/Promys/SUMAC will definitely help. It doesn't make it a sure thing, but then of course, neither do any of the things you listed.

Perhaps a big spike.
A hook is meritless. A spike is based on merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School context matters. If it's a top feeder like Harvard Westlake, there is nothing to worry about. They sent 3.2 to Chicago.

💯

Op should search that “levels” post about national private high schools.

There is no school in the country where unhooked kids from the bottom half of the class are going to Chicago. None.

A kid with the kind of math EC's OP mentioned has a hook.

No that isn’t a hook. Hook is donor family, first gen, Pell grant eligible, athletic recruit, or legacy.

A hook is something that gives you a significant advantage relative to others with similar stats. An impressive accomplishment, like being accepted to Ross/Promys/SUMAC will definitely help. It doesn't make it a sure thing, but then of course, neither do any of the things you listed.

Perhaps a big spike.
A hook is meritless. A spike is based on merit.

A spike helps at the top schools when everything else is in range, it isn’t going to be enough for a kid who isn’t remotely close in terms of gpa with respect to their own classmate.

No top 20, and likely no T50 is taking a kid with multiple Bs and Cs who isn’t in the top half of their class, no matter what the crazy trolls claim about Harvard Westlake.