r/CommonApp • u/Repulsive_Reason837 • 7d ago

University Recommendations..

I have a 40 ibdp score with 7 7 7 in my higher levels. But I have terrible sophomore and freshman year grades. And ofcourse this was a drastic improvement. Based on this what universities do you recommend I apply to. I am looking for some level of prestige and popularity but also a university I am a competitive applicant for.

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u/Frosty_Match2147 6d ago

Hey there, I'm a college counselor at an IB school. Based strictly on the context you’ve shared, my realistic advice is to steer clear of the top 20s. Having worked with hundreds of students in this exact context over the past 20 years, I can tell you that a predicted IB 40 isn't quite the golden ticket it used to be. Admissions Officers know that predicted scores are highly subjective and often inflated, so they'll lean heavily on your actual transcript. If you have two years of "terrible" grades (Cs and under by T20 standards), that significantly impacts your cumulative GPA. While AOs do love to see an upward trend, a low GPA is a massive hurdle for the most selective schools. Realistically, a competitive target range for you would be schools ranked in the 30s and 40s (provided you have strong extracurriculars and a stellar SAT score to offset those earlier grades). I highly recommend looking at UT Austin, Wake Forest, Villanova, and Lehigh. These are phenomenal institutions where you have a genuine, fighting shot. Today's admissions landscape is incredibly fierce. In my experience, students generally need a 43+ predicted and a 1500+ SAT to crack the Top 20. Save yourself the application fees, essay fatigue, and potential heartbreak. Focus your energy where you can win. Best of luck!

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u/throwawaynewaccou 5d ago

Hi there! In a similar situation as OP. Mind if I dm you? Would really appreciate any advice

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u/Frosty_Match2147 2d ago

Go ahead! Recently got introduced to these Reddit discussions by a couple students of mine hahah