<p>So my GPA is 3.8 which seems pretty good but considering the fact that im only taking 2 ap's this year and probably only 4 next year its not that impressive. i have 2240 sat and am applying to top 10-20 schools. </p>
<p>Here are my EC's:
State Vice President, DECA 2 years
Chapter President, DECA 2 years
2 School Newspapers, Editor (but not editor in chief) 3 years
Lit Mag staff 2 years
Varsity Baseball 1 year
Internship, economic research, UCONN 1 summer
Job, kumon tutor 2 years
cash register job 1 year
1000 revenue amazon.com company
5000 revenue another entreprenurial endeavor
national/regional journalism awards</p>
<p>do you think this can make up for not so impressive transcript?</p>
<p>Lots of people applying to top 10-20 schools have EC's just as impressive as yours AND even better GPAs, so having solid EC's certainly will help, but an average GPA (for top schools) is an average GPA. Colleges probably won't think, oh, this guy has very solid EC's that'll compensate for his GPA.</p>
<p>Kid, you have to really do well on your SAT II's. That can overcome a bit of GPA underperformance. If you can sit down and show mastery of the subjects, that will impress the adcoms. Oh and the AP exam scores are important.</p>
<p>How else can a high school student in Maryland be compared to one in New Mexico? GPA is too school dependant.</p>
<p>i agree with asian man, hafl the problem is not having a 3.9 or something better but more importantly my course load is just honors + 2 ap's
and obv al lhonors fresh + soph year</p>
<p>i do go to the number 1 public school in Conn. so colleges know we're an excellent school</p>
<p>im donig USH, world history, and Literature all of which i should get 750 or above
because im awful at math and science</p>
<p>I took 4 very rigorous (Bio, Eng, Econ, and Calc AB) AP courses junior year and my GPA suffered for it. Now I have a 3.6 UW...</p>
<p>I definitely would not recommend taking more APs than you can handle. Thankfully, this year my GPA has done a complete 180 degree turn, and I have basically straight A's. </p>
<p>A 3.8 UW is very good. Most kids take 2-3 APs junior year and then take all APs senior year. You should be fine. If you ED to a school (seems like you want to ED to Brown), the school will most likely defer you so that they can see your senior year grades with a much harder course of rigor... if you show them that you can succeed, they may accept you.</p>
<p>I have very solid ECs. I go to a pretty low-income school, African-American, and even though most kids at my school take 2 APs and do pretty good (As and Bs), I took three and got straight Bs in them. Next semester I'm shooting for all As in them, and I got a college class to boot. If I get them up, will they see that upward trend? I'm looking to ED too. Next year I'm taking two college classes and three APs. </p>
<p>Oh, and also I want to take Journalism and be a peer counselor. Those take up two periods. Would they wonder why I'm not taking six? I could just take one of those AP and have four APs.</p>
<p>Strong EC's can't compensate for a <3.5 GPA. At that point you just don't have the abilities.,</p>
<p>However, over 3.7 I'd say there's not really much differentiation. Colleges don't get caught up in the difference between a 3.8 and 3.9: you obviously still have strong academics. It's in that area where EC's differentiate you.</p>
<p>I am going to have to disagree with most posters. I do not believe that strong ECs can compensate for a low GPA (unless the ECs are off the charts where they would be considered hooks by then). Most schools prioritize academics. The rest is just icing.</p>
<p>im afraid of this
brown for ex. is like transcript is number 1
but kids get rejected from there with 2400/4.0
why? b/c of other things
do u think i can shine tho my grades arent top notch</p>
<p>You need the grades AND the "other stuff." That other stuff can be: a hook (URM, etc), excellent EC's, or amazing awards/honors. Of course, you also need to highlight these in the essay, etc.</p>
<p>The rejected 4.0's had the grades, but not the "other stuff."</p>
<p>Honestly, I wouldn't be too worried. A 3.8 GPA is FINE. In fact, it's very good. (I'm assuming it's unweighted. Otherwise, whole different story.) They don't care too much about the minute differences between a 3.8 and a 3.9, etc.</p>
<p>Just concentrate on beefing up your EC's: have something you really shine at.</p>
<p>thanks kameronsmith,,i think that was the first positive comment
i definitely dont have a hook so i guess ill try to stay optimistic because i think i have solid EC's and leadership</p>