<p>My school currently uses a 5.0 weighted GPA scale. Assuming all A's, 4.0 are assigned to normal regular classes (non-honors) including orchestra and PE, etc. So recently I heard that some of my peers were deciding to postpone taking the required PE credits (3 semesters) until the very end of senior year, after they had already applied for college. That way, their GPA (and rank) by the time they apply will be inflated. </p>
<p>As I believed in honest working when I entered high school, I decided that I would not place too much emphasis on GPA. I still got high A's (96+), but I planned on taking orchestra (4.0 class) for four years. Right now (as an incoming junior) it's too late for me to make a significant boost in my GPA (I'm talking from a projected 4.69 by end of senior first semester weighted to a 4.8 or so which is what my parents would want), but if I quit orchestra right now and delay what PE credits I have left until end of senior year, I can probably bump up my GPA to around 4.727. Considering how Harvard and MIT (I'm probably going to apply there) are not recalculating GPA's, do you think that the loss of 2 years of orchestra experience (and the corresponding "dedication" 4 years of orchestra would show) is worth the increase in GPA? Lastly, as my school doesn't release rankings until end of juinor year, I have no way to know where I am, but I would predict that I would be somewhere in top 20 of 850 currently, but with that 0.03 boost I might make it to top 10. </p>
<p>Suggestions on what I should do plz!! Should I quit orchestra and take the PE courses at the end of senior year (thus losing course slots for AP classes) and bump my GPA/rank a little, or should I keep on doing what I had originally planned?</p>
<p>If you need any more info, just ask; I really need help here within a week to be able to cancel summer school PE.</p>
<p>Don't do it. The small "bump" in GPA isn't worth giving up orchestra for - colleges want (please excuse the cliche) passion. Besides, do you want to have a life for the next two years? It's necessary to do things other than straight academics. </p>
<p>(And besides, do you really want to go to a school that holds orchestra against you?)</p>
<p>Take PE when it fits into your schedule, not when it might affect a .1 change in your GPA.</p>
<p>Sorry, I failed to mention that by quitting orchestra, I'd replace them with 5.0 AP courses. In the end, by quitting orchestra, I'd gain 1 AP course (because the PE courses would get rid of the one in senior year), and around 0.036 GPA boost. Do you still think that I should stay in orchestra? (My parents are adverse to keeping my projected GPA at 4.69, thinking that that would be too low for a decent chance at Harvard/MIT/Stanford)</p>
<p>The question should have nothing to do with your GPA, but with your interests. Would you rather spend your time in orchestra or in another AP class? If it's a class you're more passionate about than orchestra, go for it. Otherwise, absolutely not!</p>
<p>A 0.036 boost in your GPA isn't going to matter for Harvard/MIT/Stanford. Once you're in the ballpark, factors other than GPA come into play, like extracurriculars and interests outside the classroom. Orchestra fits the bill; another AP doesn't.</p>
<p>It is crazy to give up orchestra simply to pump your GPA. Live your life by what is right and good for you and others -- not because it might somehow slightly increase your odds at Harvard and MIT.</p>
<p>i'm not trying to be mean or anything by saying it, but i guarantee you that the difference between being #10 and #20 will not make or break your app at harvard or MIT especially if you're passionate in orchestra.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice, but one more thing; I'm not really good at the violin (I'm around 5th chair, but I haven't yet made even Region orchestra). And I haven't taken up a leadership position in orchestra either (the earliest that I could take up a leadership position would be for senior year, which may be too late). Basically, to colleges they would think that I took orchestra just for fun, and not for something serious. Does this affect how I should plan my future courseload?</p>
<p>If you like to play violin, IMO it would show utterly poor judgment to give it up so that you could boost your GPA by .037.</p>
<p>Don't play the "How does it look to colleges?" game when you make a decision! Just make the decision that is best for you, without speculating about college chances. Forget about how it looks to the AdComs. </p>
<p>(Watch, I can play that game too. Colleges will see that you dropped orchestra after two years. Maybe they will think you are a slacker, that you lack commitment). (and don't even think about wasting your precious essay opportunities to explain why you dropped orchestra)</p>
<p>If you are asking what colleges want, here is what they want: the real you. Your genuine, unique voice in your essays. The real you in your ECs. </p>
<p>Just follow your heart and forget about microscopic, immaterial changes in your GPA. </p>
<p>(For MIT, at least, with which I have some experience, being an interesting, passionate, creative, resilient, intense, self-directed person is far more relevant and important for your chances than .037 in your GPA. Everyone connected with MIT knows of people with 1600s, valedictorians, ultra high GPA people, etc. who did not get in).</p>
<p>You should stay with orchestra. It's a worthwhile extracurricular and the GPA difference is not going to be that huge. get over it. Colleges unweight your GPA anyways so it won't matter.</p>