<p>Hi all. Junior here. Sophomore year I transferred to a public magnet school that was very, very difficult for me (and most other students). I just recently looked back over my grades to calculate my gpa (not including orchestra, which I got A's in).</p>
<p>Freshman year, sem 1: 4.00
Freshman year, sem 2: 3.88 [just before being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes]
Sophomore year, sem 1: 3.57
Sophomore year, sem 2: 3.57
Junior year, sem 1: (about) 3.62</p>
<p>Total so far: about 3.7. I'm not really sure where this stands at my school, probably in the top 20-25%. There are about 6-8 students in my grade with straight A's, but most I'm taking the hardest course load available.</p>
<p>Assuming I have solid ecs, where does this put me in terms of Ivy League admission? I've always wanted to go to Harvard, but looking at my actual GPA is kind of terrifying me.</p>
<p>Thanks, and I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum.</p>
<p>A 3.5 GPA would make ivies a very very far reach. You would need near perfect, if not perfect SAT scores, amazing essay and recs, ECs that no one else has, etc. I wouldn’t get your hopes up for the ivies. You may want to look into other top schools, depending on how your SATs turn out.</p>
<p>I think you should consider schools that are not so ambitious. Kids with great test scores, grades and solid ECs mostly get turned down by the top colleges. Go look at last years acceptance threads. </p>
<p>There are many great schools out there. Start doing research. Find some schools that match up with your stats, schools that would make your stats looks pretty good, and some that are better than your stats, but none as high as the top schools.</p>
<p>you’ve gotten some great advice so far. But be encouraged that you have rock solid academic achievement and you’ll find that come senior year, tons of colleges will be clamoring for you to apply and hopefully attend their schools. But like the others have said the Ivies and other tippy top schools are not realistic for you. </p>
<p>You yourself have ascertained that your marks aren’t one of those of thee tippy top students in your own HS class. How will that compare with the tippy top students from across the country and indeed, the world?</p>
<p>Certain high schools that are extremely academically rigorous (like a lot of magnet schools) send students with lower GPAs to amazing colleges (like Ivies) because those colleges are aware of the academic rigor at those high schools and know that a student with a 3.5 GPA from one of the most academically rigorous high schools is a stronger student than one with a 3.7 in one of the least academically rigorous high schools.</p>
<p>I go to an extremely academically rigorous high school, and plenty of students from my school who do not have amazing GPAs have gotten into Ivies. Just last year a student who had around a B+ average (I think like a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale?) got into Harvard, and he was not an athletic recruit. He did get in on off of the wait list through the gap year option, but he did still get in and will be starting classes next fall. So don’t discount yourself.</p>
<p>Talk to your college guidance counselor and see what GPAs from your school are getting into the Ivies. It’s very possible that they aren’t all 4.0s; they could be a lot lower (not an absurd amount lower though; 3.5 is probably as low as it dips). Then again, they could all be 4.0s, but you just have to check with your school before you make that call.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. I’m also looking at schools like Northwestern, University of Chicago, and Rice. Would I have a chance of admittance at those colleges?</p>
<p>Northwestern and U Chicago are still very competitive and will most likely not accept a 3.5 GPA. (3.7+ typically). Look a bit lower (Not T20 schools).</p>
<p>Fungus, I was diagnosed about two weeks after the school year ended. My a1c was 13.3. The high blood sugars definitely affected my work, especially towards the end of the semester. </p>
<p>And to clarify, I actually should have a GPA of about 3.7 when junior year is over. It’s just that I had a 3.5 as a sophomore, and I don’t know how much that will affect my score.</p>
<p>If your cumulative GPA remains 3.6+, (depending on the caliber of your school and thereby what a “good” GPA is) certain T20 schools may still be in your range.</p>
<p>How interesting are you? That matters too. How impressed with you are your teachers? Do you engage with them? Your counselor? Are they wow’ed by your intellectual prowess and curiosity? An excellent rec and stellar essay can bring you a long way from these not-so-bad stats. Oh. And a good SAT/ACT score helps.</p>
<p>Don’t write off the ivies. As some have said, it depends very much on the school and how competitive it is. Plus your test scores, your individual acomplishments and your personal story. Where do graduates from your school usually go to college?</p>
<p>Several important questions that need answering before anyone can really answer:</p>
<ol>
<li> Are you URM?
2 What is the general difficulty of your school? a 20-25% class rank at Harvard Westlake prep still has a chance at several Ivies, but at an above average suburban HS, not so… would need top 5%. What are the ave. SAT stats for your high school? Last year, what % of your school’s graduating Seniors were accepted into-- 1) Ivies, and 2) other Top 20.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>Nope, I’m a white female.</p></li>
<li><p>For the class of 2010, the average SAT reading and math were both about 700. The ACT score average was 32. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, about 25% went to a top 20 university. 35% went to a state school.</p>
<p>Also, I just got my PSAT results back today. I got a 235 with no preparation. Is this significant?</p>
<p>I dont think PSAT is that impressive at the top schools, because it is so common, but it bodes well for your SAT scores. You might want to check out schools that give automatic scholarships to admitted NMSF/F</p>
<p>Yes, it makes a big difference that you are attending a very competitive high school… all the difference in the world.</p>
<p>However, bear in mind that even with competitive high schools it is unusual for Harvard to take students outside the top 1-3% of class rank. From an above average high school, it would be unusual for Harvard to take anyone other than Val or Sal.</p>
<p>Given your PSAT result (which converts to 2350 SAT) and the competitiveness of your HS, I think you should feel confident about getting into severa; of the schools ranked 10-20 in USNWR. As to HYPSM, probably a very long shot.</p>
<p>Putting prestige aside for a second, your PSAT puts you into a postion to possibly get a full ride at quite a few public flagships (e.g. Alabama), and even a few very good Privates (e.g. Baylor).</p>