<p>This isn't a chances thread per se, but I have a question. On some of the chances threads, people say they have a mediocre GPA but "an upward trend." Everyone commenting seems to give a lot of weight to that. I have very good grades (my rank is either one or two at a fairly competitive public school) and I feel like admissions people will overlook my grades, and focus on someone who does have an upward trend instead of me, or someone else, with near perfect grades. I haven't overcome any "obstacles," and I don't want to come off as just a machine that does the work and gets good grades. </p>
<p>So my question is: Whats better, a 4.0 or a 3.5 (or around that) with an Upward Trend?</p>
<p>It's definitely better to have a 4.0 than a 3.5 with upward trend!</p>
<p>What people REALLY mean is that a 3.5 with an upward trend is better than a 3.5 with a FLAT trend (3.5-->3.5) or a 3.5 with a DOWNWARD trend (4.0-->3.0). But there's no question that straight A's all through high school is ideal, better than a record with B's. Don't worry! You're in a great situation if you are the valedictorian or salutatorian in a competitive HS. I think you are overstressing :)</p>