1st Semester Senior GPA

Applying to College
1

<p>I've had a relatively terrible GPA during high school (3.5 UW).</p>

<p>My coursework has been rigorous with multiple APs (5's on tests) and have never gotten less than a B. After seeing the average GPA's at top colleges, I hugely regret mine.</p>

<p>My question is: How much do colleges(cornell, northwestern, CMU) take into account senior 1st semester grades? I will get all A's in my classes this semester, with 4 AP, 1 standard, 1 Honors, and 1 college-credit course. Also, do you think that I should say anything about my idiocy in the common app "additional info" section?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>no, I wouldn’t talk about your grades in the Additional Info section. What more can you say beyond “I was distracted/over-involved/immature/whatever and now I’m regretting it?” Just power through your fall semester and get the best grades possible. It’s not going to change three years’ worth of lower grades, but it will help at least a bit.</p>

3

<p>Wow, I’m in the <em>exact</em> same boat as you. </p>

<p>I have a pretty low overall GPA because my school is ranked in the top 50 and I have taken tons of AP and Honors classes. </p>

<p>However, I’ve also gotten 5s on all my AP exams and 780+ on all my SAT IIs. I’ve also never gotten below a B.</p>

<p>Additionally, I will also get As in all my classes too (2 AP, 1 Honors, 2 Standard). Which would be a 4.6 weighted for 1st Semester Senior Year. </p>

<p>We’re so similar that its freaky.
Could someone please answer this question? XD</p>

4

<p>???
bump
???</p>

5

<p>All colleges take first semester senior year grades into account. Go back and read post #2.</p>

6

<p>When you say CMU do you mean Central Michigan University?</p>

7

<p>Alabo: I think the OP means Carnegie Mellon.</p>

8

<p>I would say that with a 3.5UW and all A’s your first semester you still can’t change your outlook for a super reach (Ivies, MIT, etc.). The reality is at the most selective schools, those students have high GPA’s as well as very high SAT scores. I think what you should shoot for is a reach school (not super-reach) that would give you props for extremely high SATs and a very strong GPA. At a state honors program you could end up with a great scholarship and at a strong LAC you could still get some great merit aid, but no school is going to say that your grades are poor, so you need to give yourself more credit.</p>