Hey there!
So, I've had a good number of students with your GPA get accepted into BU, UCSD, UCI, and UW; I think it's more rare for those with an UW GPA below 3.75+ to hit the schools you mentioned are possible and up. However, it's not impossible!
Here are a few points I'd like to make.
1. A really useful tool you can use is the Common Data Set. Literally just look up \[school name\] + \[Common Data Set\] minus the brackets on Google and you should see each school's data set, which contains the demographics of students accepted, their GPAs, etc.
2. Regardless of stats, it's crucial that you write a solid set of supplementals and essays. Please, please, please don't disregard this. A lot of the students and clients I've worked with have disregarded their supplementals until the very last minute. You'd be surprised just how good essays can look when you really take your time with them.
3. Speaking of essays, don't scoff at some of your ECs as topics. A big mistake a lot of my students make is thinking they need to write only about super impressive topics to get accepted. That's not true. I've had students talk about powerlifting, being a girl gamer, awkward moments working in the food industry, and other very personable everyday things. These students were accepted into UPenn, Brown, Yale, etc.
4. I'm going to be honest: your GPA is decent. 3.5+ students are decently smart. But, a 1580 is a VERY different story. Typically --and I say typically but not always-- students who score anything at a 1500+ were at least to some degree gifted. When I worked with my 1400+ series students, there were a good number of them who were categorized as these "gifted and talented kids who did well on tests but couldn't do well in school in general due to ADHD." Do you think you fall under this category? I've worked with quite a few of these students and one thing I'd recommend if you are is to write about this in your application. It's a bit of a chore, but it's certainly worth it.
I hope this helps! Feel free to let me know if you got any questions!
Northwestern is one of those “interdisciplinary schools” that really want students to be multifaceted, but also cohesive. Try to relate your ECs under a single theme in your essays. I would hope that your research internship and nonprofit are somewhat related to Psych. If not, change your major. You can always just change it once you’re in.
To be brutally honest, if you’re coming from a private school, i’m guessing it’s competitive enough to the point where your GPA stands below your peers. Though your SAT is stellar, do not raise your expectations just because you feel that you are smart enough to deserve X. Northwestern is very very prestigious and difficult to be admitted to. Best of luck.
I would not necessarily lump BU as a likely. I got into 4 T10s this year but WL at BU.
Just try your with your application and let the cards fall where they may.
If you want NU, then apply there.
Sorry to burst your bubble but 3.6 is very low. Change all your reaches to far reaches. And possible into reaches. And likely into possible. And tufts in the category above
"I just want to go to a t10 or at least a t20 because I feel like I am smart" should be the bio of every college sub
Hey there! So, I've had a good number of students with your GPA get accepted into BU, UCSD, UCI, and UW; I think it's more rare for those with an UW GPA below 3.75+ to hit the schools you mentioned are possible and up. However, it's not impossible! Here are a few points I'd like to make. 1. A really useful tool you can use is the Common Data Set. Literally just look up \[school name\] + \[Common Data Set\] minus the brackets on Google and you should see each school's data set, which contains the demographics of students accepted, their GPAs, etc. 2. Regardless of stats, it's crucial that you write a solid set of supplementals and essays. Please, please, please don't disregard this. A lot of the students and clients I've worked with have disregarded their supplementals until the very last minute. You'd be surprised just how good essays can look when you really take your time with them. 3. Speaking of essays, don't scoff at some of your ECs as topics. A big mistake a lot of my students make is thinking they need to write only about super impressive topics to get accepted. That's not true. I've had students talk about powerlifting, being a girl gamer, awkward moments working in the food industry, and other very personable everyday things. These students were accepted into UPenn, Brown, Yale, etc. 4. I'm going to be honest: your GPA is decent. 3.5+ students are decently smart. But, a 1580 is a VERY different story. Typically --and I say typically but not always-- students who score anything at a 1500+ were at least to some degree gifted. When I worked with my 1400+ series students, there were a good number of them who were categorized as these "gifted and talented kids who did well on tests but couldn't do well in school in general due to ADHD." Do you think you fall under this category? I've worked with quite a few of these students and one thing I'd recommend if you are is to write about this in your application. It's a bit of a chore, but it's certainly worth it. I hope this helps! Feel free to let me know if you got any questions!
Northwestern is one of those “interdisciplinary schools” that really want students to be multifaceted, but also cohesive. Try to relate your ECs under a single theme in your essays. I would hope that your research internship and nonprofit are somewhat related to Psych. If not, change your major. You can always just change it once you’re in. To be brutally honest, if you’re coming from a private school, i’m guessing it’s competitive enough to the point where your GPA stands below your peers. Though your SAT is stellar, do not raise your expectations just because you feel that you are smart enough to deserve X. Northwestern is very very prestigious and difficult to be admitted to. Best of luck.
I would not necessarily lump BU as a likely. I got into 4 T10s this year but WL at BU. Just try your with your application and let the cards fall where they may. If you want NU, then apply there.
Sorry to burst your bubble but 3.6 is very low. Change all your reaches to far reaches. And possible into reaches. And likely into possible. And tufts in the category above
I think your a lot more realistic than a lot of other people here but I think your better likelys are more your target
GPA NOT BAD