Borderline Cases
/When visiting the University of Denver, the Director of Admissions provided a number of borderline admissions case scenarios from the prior year. They are instructive for any school in the 50-100 top schools in the nation. For context, DU is ranked #86 by US News, has a 73% acceptance rate and the middle 50% of its admitted class is: GPA 3.48-4.0, ACT 25-31, SAT 1180-1340.
What I see in the below cases is a consistent importance placed on the individual circumstances. Colleges are looking for reasons to admit rather than deny students. Factors that consistently matter include trends found on the transcript – primarily grades but also challenge of curriculum. Demonstrated interest and financial need weigh heavily when an application is a borderline case. And explaining the negatives is essential. Giving no explanation will likely lead to no acceptance…even if that explanation is “I screwed up”. It is important that students own it.
Below are borderline cases from the 2016-17 admission season at DU summarized as: the decision, the applicant’s grades and test scores, the deciding factors.
Denied:
3.14 UW GPA, SAT = 1390, Engineering Major. Downward trend, low grades in math / science, only IB standard level math (some calculus), no explanation of poor grades.
Denied:
3.12 W GPA, 36 ACT, CS major. Perfect ACT but… 17 C’s 3 D’s # F’s including a C & D in Pre-Calc and 2 C’s in Calc; no explanation.
Denied:
3.14 UW GPA, 1250 SAT, Business. 11th grade 1 F, 1 D, 3 Cs…D was Calculus; need aware.
Denied:
4.0GPA, 34 ACT. Two disciplinary marks: credit card theft and selling drugs.
Denied:
3.8 GPA 30 ACT, 1330 SAT. Downward trend with multiple D’s & F’s.
Accepted:
2.84 UW GPA, 1200 SAT, Econ major. Upward trend; very good essay; Teacher Rec: “Intellectual leader” “advances discussion”; Counselor Rec: “Persevered through low grades,” “strong work ethic, social justice leader”; visited campus & indicated DU 1st choice college.
Accepted:
3.08 UW GPA, 28 ACT, Arts & Humanities undeclared. Upward trend; very involved; assists brother with autism; Counselor Rec: “Came to this school unprepared in 9th grade and has progressively challenged herself with the curriculum”; not applying for financial aid.
Accepted:
3.64 W GPA, 32 ACT, Anthropology major. 2 F’s and an I in fall of Junior Year; sick and missed 3 months of school (student & counselor explained situation); solid 2nd semester junior year and 7th semester senior year.
Accepted:
3.22 W GPA, 33 ACT, Undeclared. 10th grade 5 C’s 2 Ds, 1 F when Mom admitted to rehab, family participated in meetings, and student raised younger sibling; solid 11th grade, excellent 12th grade.
Accepted:
2.62 GPA / 1330 SAT. Death in family; upward trend.
Accepted:
3.8 GPA, 18 ACT. English not 1st language; unique & motivated student.
Accepted:
3.15 GPA, 1280 SAT. Impressive letters and strong upward trend.
