My older cousin is applying to Berkley, Stanford, and the University of Chicago, along with her first choice of Notre Dame. She had a 3.91 unweighted GPA, has taken four A.P. classes this year (senior) and took three last year, is fluent in Spanish, and goes to a highly selective Catholic prep school in Dallas. She has lots of volunteer work at her church and spent a semester in Spain.
Do you think she'll get in?
2007-04-02 16:17:32 · 10 answers · asked by glachtrup@sbcglobal.net 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
For Stanford and U.Chicago, you would need a crystal ball. Schools are so competitive that they are regularly turning away students with similar stats. (And you don't say what her SAT scores are.) Schools are looking for a combination of everything: great scores and grades, glowing recommendations, a high level of participation in a few different extra-curriculars, and fabulous essays that show what a glowing person the applicant is. And with so few spots, a person can have all of these things and still not get into the top schools. Berkeley is also extremely hard to get into out-of-state. And it doesn't matter if she takes 50 APs--they want to see that you've done well on the tests as well.
Notre Dame might be easier. But with so many people vying for so few spots, everything is up in the air for the next few years. The best advice for your cousin? Reach for the stars, but choose several colleges--ones that she has a small chance of getting into (Berkeley, Stanford, U.Chicago), ones she has a decent chance of getting into (Notre Dame), and ones she is pretty much guaranteed admission to.
2007-04-02 16:25:59 · answer #1 · answered by kimpenn09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know much about the University of Chicago or Notre Dame, but I know she probably won't get into Stanford. Your cousin seems to have about the same things as me, and I got flat out rejected from Stanford. She does have a shot at UC Berkeley however, and she'll probably get into Notre Dame.
2007-04-02 16:43:56 · answer #2 · answered by musicrazy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends. Although her GPA is decent, it isn't between a 3.98 and 4.0. You also don't mention her test scores, class rank, financial need, ethnicity and proposed major. It also depends on the quality of her recommendations and her writing style on the essays. You mention she goes to school in Dallas. Does that mean she resides in Texas? If so, residing in a state different from the states those schools are located in may help. There's no way to say with certainty if she will be accepted. A lot goes into a college acceptance decision. Sometimes it's simply a matter of the school wanting more diversity and they already have accepted many students with your cousin's same credentials.
2007-04-02 16:33:20 · answer #3 · answered by purelluk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She sounds very impressive, but so is everyone else who's applying to those schools. It's really anyone's guess who gets in and who doesn't. For instance, going into college, I had a 4.65 GPA from a very selective high school, a high SAT score, 11 AP credits, fluency in French, a wide variety of activities - horseback riding, cello, singing, volunteering, travel experience - living in the Philippines...
And, I didn't get into Yale or Princeton, but made it into some other great schools, including William and Mary, where I ended up.
It really depends on who the other applicants are.
2007-04-02 16:26:48 · answer #4 · answered by skichamonix515 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Strong possiblity.
You didn't say what the major is. That has a bearing too.
Berkeley is strong in engineering and physics.
Chicago strong in Art, Medicine, Theater, Cinema
Notre Dame is strong in Sports, Theater
2007-04-02 17:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hard to tell, because they are all very competitive schools. I would hope that she applies to "safety" schools also - ones that are less competitive to get into, but still places with a good education where she would be happy.
2007-04-02 17:13:00 · answer #6 · answered by jellybeanchick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are very impressive credentials, and my gut feeling is that she will get in. Though, you have to remember that college admissions officers also tend to make a big issue out of the essay requirement. So, assuming that she has a great essay, she will probably make it.
2007-04-02 16:24:43 · answer #7 · answered by TheSport 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
her stats seem close to mine...but I'm still waiting, too.
my guesses...
UCBerkley: yep
UND: yep
Chicago: iffy (although for my own sake I hope that's a yes)
Stanford: probably not... (I didn't even bother to apply)
Wish her good luck for me!
2007-04-02 17:19:47 · answer #8 · answered by clomppers 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh without a doubt!
2007-04-02 16:25:08 · answer #9 · answered by Suzy Suzee Sue 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
she'll get in.
2007-04-02 18:19:03 · answer #10 · answered by martin z 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋