Chance with low GPA but good test scores?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
1

GPA (UW): 3.2
GPA (W): 3.5

SAT (First Time): 1300 Composite (650 / 650)
SAT Essay (First Time): 6 / 4 / 6
ACT (First Time): 30 Composite (33 / 33 / 27 / 26)

I’m currently a senior and these are the classes I’m taking this year:

AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP US Government & Politics (1/2)
AP Macroeconomics (1/2)
AP Microeconomics (1/2)
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Music Theory
Jazz Band
Dividend (Assistant for teacher)

I get that it’s a lot of AP after only taking one last year, but I’m genuinely interested in all these classes and I’m not just taking them for social status. It’s been over a month so far and I’m handling them pretty well. I’m a very organized person and so far I have all A’s and only two B’s which are in Calc AB and Chem, but that’s mostly because the pace was a bit difficult to handle at first. I’m very used to it now and the information is interesting and fun. I love all of my classes and I love taking AP.

Maybe worth noting (probably not) but I will also be taking the AP Spanish Language and Composition exam as well without the course since I write and speak Spanish as it is my native language and the teacher I am a dividend for gifted me a Princeton Review book for it.

I have very little EC because my parents never let me (they wanted me to focus on religion, which kind of applies to why I have a low GPA) and their religion has really held me back. I wrote my essays on this, so hopefully that will help me:

English Honors Society
Volunteer at Pet Rescue by Judy
Jazz Band (after school performances and practices)
Adobe Certification in InDesign

Prior to this year I have taken all honors and 1 AP which was English Lang (4). Anything that isn’t honors or AP is an elective.

I’m very anxious because of my low GPA and UF is one of my dream colleges. Can a high SAT and ACT score compensate? My grades suffered freshman and sophomore year because of my family and discouragement from them, but my grades this year and last year are much better. Do I still have a good chance?

I am also applying to UCF, USF, FSU, FAU, Stetson, Ohio State, U Wash, and probably some other other school because I have application fee waivers from the SAT and ACT.

2

Your test scores are good, but they are below the average of the class admitted last year (1349 SAT). You state that your scores are for the first time. Are you planning to take SAT/ACT again? I think that you would need to improve those scores by 50-100 and have a compelling essay to be very competitive.

3

@fl1234 I just retook the SAT and received a score of 1370 with a 7/7/8 on the essay.

4

I would say your chances are very slim overall. Those SATs are certainly good, but not extraordinary for UF (one of the most selective public schools in the country). In fact, they are only slightly above UF’s average of 1349. Your course rigor is also excellent senior year, but I don’t think that justifies having a GPA about 1 full point below the average admitted GPA last year (4.3-4.6 or something similar). I think you do have great chances at UCF and USF, while FSU is also a reach.