I go to a pretty competitive public high school in Silicon Valley. I have a GPA of 3.38. This will increase as my teachers implement something they call the “AP bump” (a one letter-grade bump for receiving a high score on the AP exam). I’m hoping that my GPA will rise even more after the first semester of my senior year, however I know that colleges mainly focus on Sophomore and Junior year grades. I did not do so well, hence my low GPA.
I’ve taken 2 AP tests so far and received a 4 on Bio and a 5 on Calculus AB. I took the ACT and got a 33 my second time around. I scored in the upper 1900s on the old SAT (not as high as i would have liked). I’ve taken a couple subject tests as well but received rather mediocre scores on all three (700 on bio, 690 on chemistry, and 750 on math 2). I plan on redoing some of these tests, hoping to score higher and up my chances as admission.
My extra curriculars are kind of diverse, and I am hoping they will help strengthen my application. I’ve been learning a classical Indian dance form for over 11 years and have completed the final solo performance similar to a “graduation” as well. I volunteer at my local hospital, and I have a couple leadership roles in a few different clubs on my high school campus.
My question is, is my GPA too low to get in to my dream school? I’ve been working really hard on my ECs and my standardized tests, trying to compensate for my low grades. But as application season nears, I’m starting to get really nervous.
My dream school is UCSC for financial and practical reasons. I want to major in biology, a major that I’ve heard UCSC is pretty well know for (along with the internship/research opportunities). It’s also a really pretty school and I could see myself at home there. I aspire to become a doctor and I think UCSC will be a nice, comfortable place for me to further my education and achieve my goals.
Could you please help me out? Do I still have a chance at getting in even though my GPA is so low?
Thanks in advance!