<p>Hey guys,
I just found out I ended up with a 3.5 GPA for my freshman year. I have to admit I am really upset with that and know I should have tried better. The classes were easy I just had a rough time this year medically and blah-blah-blah. :/
I understand chancing someone is quite laughable since we have NO CLUE what BS look for necessarily but do you think I still have a chance anywhere I'm interested in? I'd be a junior or repeat soph since I started late. I'm sure I can score in the upper 90's on my SSAT- we have standardized testing up until this year and I was always way above exceeding average (which was hard to get into) and I'm studying A LOT. I had been really interested in Exeter, andover, Blair Academy, New Hampton school, Westminster School, Cate school, & thatcher-emphasis on andover. I'd be applying for FA too which I understand limits things. I'm in Key club and in a little community service but not much else- so besides my passion for film I was already a somewhat-blah candidate.
Is it worth applying still? I kind of knew this was coming but my grades dropped a lot with the year I've had. If I kept a 4.0 next year and was involved would it help balance things even though it'll only be a semester of great grades they'll see?
THANKS.</p>
<p>Bump please? (:</p>
<p>3.5 isn’t that bad… just do a lot of EC’s and score well on your ssat, do well in your interview and you’ll be fine</p>
<p>first off, it depends on what schools you are applying to. Though a 3.5 is not amazing, I doubt a school wouldn’t accept you because of it. Also (in my opinion) next year’s grades are weighted a lot more than your previous year’s grades.</p>
<p>Thanks, Thats a good thing to know. I’ll be doing EC next year and I’m already active in a community service I really love. My GPA just shocked and upset me. :/</p>
<p>I think your 3.5 GPA is perfectly fine. Don’t be too upset by your GPA. And, I would take off maybe one of the insanely selective schools (Andover, Exeter, Thatcher) and add another school that’s about as selective as Westminster or New Hampton. Aside from that, you’re good to go. Good luck next year.</p>
<p>I think I might have gotten lower than a 3.5 GPA and I got into Andover… So there’s hope yet! However I’m not too sure how to compare the grades since I’m in the IB. If your grades are low, make sure you score high in the SSAT to prove that you are capable of handling the work.</p>
<p>@ifac108- actually westminister is on my list! Its very high up actually but the schools I listed on here I didn’t put in order.
@craysian- thats my plan for right now, thanks!</p>
<p>Dont feel down I had a 3.5 and was admitted to Exeter chosrr and Andover</p>
<p>an AO told me that what they look for is a CHANGE between a period of time. If you get very good grades the next semester/school year, then the AO’s will see that you have potential for learning and growth. That’s why it’s good to send in multiple SSAT scores so 1) you can show a better score, and 2) so AO’s can see how much you’ve studied and grown from the previous experience and so they can see your capacity for learning. As long as you have better GPA next year, you’ll probably have an as equal chance at BS as others.</p>
<p>I also forgot to mention that it depends on what school you currently go to. If you go to some inner city school with massive grade inflation, then your GPA is a little low. But if you go to Trinity school in new york, then your GPA is not too shabby.</p>
<p>Sorry to reply late!
@Prepschooler- I go to the best Central-downstate HS in my state and Its one a lot of people move into district just to attend.
@swimdude006- Thanks! That makes me hopeful considering I know I can do better and I do my best work on tests like the SSAT. (:</p>
<p>Thanks Everyone!</p>
<p>I think Choate’s average GPA for entering students was 3.7. So, no a 3.5 isn’t that bad at all.</p>