3.4/176 - Lots of WE - Non URM Forum

[ameinseto]

My story is a pretty complicated one, but here it is in a nutshell -

Decent grades my first two semesters (3.7ish) and straight As for the most recent three. In between I have lots of bad ones (mostly Cs, one D, no Fs) and five withdrawals as a result of family medical and financial emergencies post-economy crash. I come from a lower middle class family and have worked at least one full time job every semester throughout UG to pay my way through, plus one or two additional part time jobs on top of that to help pay family bills during the year and a half of bad grades.

I don't know how sympathetic adcoms will be to any of this, and it also means my LoRs are going to be primarily work-related, though I do have one from a professor who offered and another letter from a prof whose class I withdrew from stating that I would have gotten an A were it not for my circumstances. I'm in a good position right now to take a year or two off and just work before matriculating, will that be long enough to separate me from my grades?

With a good PS and a solidly written addendum, what are my chances in the T14?

[bmore]

With all your good grades, why would you not be able to get LORs from professors? Where do you want to go? I think with a good PS, good LORs, and an addendum you will get some Top 14's. Even without all that you will get some.

[ameinseto]

I don't really know many of my professors because almost all of my classes have been online. You can't really fit an 11:20 class into your schedule when you're working 70 hours a week.

If I could choose anywhere that I thought I might have a snowball's chance in hell of getting in to, I would love to go to Chicago. Northwestern, Michigan, Duke, GULC, and UT are all on my list, too. My boyfriend has a pretty small job market, so certain cities (like NYC) are out of the question. I'm also about 80% sure that I would like to end up in LA, so that will affect my choices, as well.

[Verity]

You'll get T14. Just apply as early as possible, and try to strengthen your application in every way you can. If you ED to NU, I'm almost 100% certain you'll get in. You'll probably get most of the lower-T14 if you apply early. CCN is a stretch, though; I wouldn't bet on it. HYS are out.

[Corwin]

You will crack the T14. In at NU, chance at NYU. People have gotten in ED at Columbia with your numbers as well. I'd blanket all of the T14 with the exception of HYS (unless you want to go for a really, really, long shot).

[dpk711]

You will get some of MVP given that you write "Why Essays" and apply early. You also have a small shot at CCN (especially N). If you really want CC then I would suggest you ED.

[09042014]

3.4 isn't that bad all. Small chance at CCN. Good chance as lower t14, except Boalt.

Is your undergrad real, or a for profit online school.

[ameinseto]

It's a real school - large public state university.

[09042014]

It's a real school - large public state university.

Ok good. Yea, 3.4 isn't a dealbreaker at all. Apply to Columbia, Chicago, NYU, PEnn, Michigan, Virgina, Duke, Northwestern, Cornell, and Georgetown. Then whatever schools are in the region you want to work in.

[ameinseto]

This makes me feel much more optimistic than I was before. Now the question is more about money versus what school will get me back to the west coast.

[Stringer Bell]

3.3/177 got Boalt and Chicago this cycle. CCN will be tough, but certainly possible. You may as well throw an app to H as well. Someone in the t13 is going to bite.