Chance Me: 35 ACT, Low GPA, CC Transfer

Hi all.

35 ACT, 3.73 community college GPA projected, but I may be able to pull a 3.83 if I bust my ass. I’m also taking the SAT II Math test in December and SAT Spanish in November, but are transfer prospects expected to attempt either? I can confidently score 780+ on Math, and 740+ on Spanish.

At 16, I graduated from HS at an extremely competitive HS because I wanted to study a year in Europe. I returned from my year abroad in Sep, and have resumed studies at my local CC. I have a relatively low GPA for the schools to which I’d like to apply (namely T20s / T10s), but my standardized testing scores are high. My teacher recs should be glowing, my ECs are very strong, and course load is rigorous for my position.

Assuming that I even have a decent shot at these schools, would my GPA really be the downfall of any chance at a tier-1 school? I was concurrently enrolled in 3 CC classes back in high school, and paid the price for taking two of them straight after practice twice every week 'til 10 pm. I pulled two Bs and an A, which is why my current GPA is so low. I just want to know whether my low GPA is going to deter any consideration from the schools I mentioned. Please note that the discrepancy between a 3.73 and 3.83 exists because my Calculus teacher has proven to be a challenge, and I don’t know that I can come out with an A. Thanks.

I would start by checking with the colleges to see if they will consider SAT IIs taken in community college. Many won’t accept scores from HS tests taken after HS graduation.

Your GPA is a smidge low, but if everything else is there and you can show why you’re a match to the college, you’ll be given due consideration.

I can’t chance you, but if you have only been out of high school for one year, and just starting CC now, your HS GPA (not just your CC GPA) will be a significant part of the admission decision. I probably would not stake the subject tests either, unless you are sure your target schools will consider them. Good luck.

At issue also is the small numbers of transfers the T20 take. You may want to dip lower on your list for safeties. The T30-40 are about as good, frankly – little or no discernible difference.

sorry I couldn’t get a chance to thank you for the reply! CC banned me for some reason.