Behold: high test scores and an ACTUALLY low GPA (chance request in disguise)

Applying to College
1

<p>First of all, I would just like to say that that one guy who thinks his unweighted 3.83 is "low" has got a bigger case of perfectionism than Axl Rose. </p>

<p>Cumulative (freshman, sophomore, junior) GPA: 3.2 (explained below)</p>

<p>SAT scores: 800 reading, 760 math, 740 writing (2300 overall)</p>

<p>ECs: Track, guitar, piano, volunteered at a hospital over the summer.</p>

<p>AP: APUSH and AP English in junior year, scored 5 on both exams.
AP AmeriGov, AP Literature, AP Calculus AB, and AP Physics B this year (senior).</p>

<p>During freshman year and the first half of sophomore year, I was a huge slacker. Upon realizing I want to go to a state university, I got my act together. I had a 4.0 throughout the second half of sophomore year and all of junior year, but when averaged it still comes out pitifully low. Curse my idiotic 14-15 year old self.</p>

<p>Obviously this rules out Ivy League schools and all other schools considered on-par with them. I was hoping if anyone could tell me if I should give up the idea of going to a state school and just do the 2 year CC transfer route, or if I actually do have a chance at a state uni. The universities I'm most interested in are the University of Washington (I live in Washington, fyi), University of Wisconsin - Madison, and University of Maryland - College Park.</p>

2

<p>a 3.2 isnt that low.. your amazing sat score will compensate, someone got into tufts with a 2200 and a 3.0.</p>

3

<p>There's nothing wrong with trying for the Ivies if you really want to go. Write amazing essays and explain the grade trend (or have your counselor explain).</p>

4

<p>Apply where you want to attend, and see what happens. Of course line up a sure-bet safety college first of all.</p>

5

<p>Uw-Madison Freshman Admission Expectations</p>

<p>Your stats give you a 'guideline' admissions rate of about 50%. You can use the second essay to explain your GPA improvement.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.admissions.wisc.edu/images/UW_FreshmanExpectations.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.wisc.edu/images/UW_FreshmanExpectations.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

6

<p>There are some really good schools (Ivies and that caliber) that drop your freshman year when looking at your GPA...I'm not sure which ones (I'm pretty sure about Stanford), but other people should know and you can look it up.
Anyway, that should help your GPA a lot because then you'd only have the first half of your sophomore year bringing it down. </p>

<p>Just another option to think about.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for all the help so far.</p>

<p>Do colleges (or at least among the ones I listed) look at senior year too? First semester GPA perhaps? At least what classes you're taking?</p>

8

<p>UW-Madison's application has a section where you list all of the classes you are taking senior year by semester.</p>

9

<p>Sorry for the semi-necromancy, but <em>bump</em>.</p>

<p>Can someone tell me what I should consider these schools? Reach? Match?</p>