<p>Hi, I'm wondering how my chances can be affected by a very high upward grade trend. I'm not talking about getting two B's freshman year and then straight A's afterward, but a really drastic one. I'm currently a high school junior.</p>
<p>Let's say my semester weighted GPA rose steadily from a 3.0 to, say, a 4.05 within five semesters. My grades in the first three semesters definitely needed improving (I got a D in each semester :-/ ). Making the transition to high school was difficult for me, but I anticipate doing even better next semester, possibly even a 4.3, and I've been working hard to improve every term. I haven't taken the SAT's yet, but my practice scores have been around 1280-1370. </p>
<p>I would really like to go to USC, NYU, Georgetown, or UCLA. Do I still stand a reasonable chance at these places, given my situation and grade trend? You can probably figure that my class rank isn't very good, given my first couple of semesters in high school. But I'm hoping that they take things like upward progressions into consideration, and that not all the schools I'm thinking about applying to are just numbers hogs. Maybe I can mention this in an essay or optional essay?</p>
<p>All input is helpful, but it would be especiallygreat if people who were in my shoes this time last year, or who are currently applying, can give their feedback. </p>
<p>Of those schools, your best chance would be NYU GSP. Would good recs and a good app I could see it. The only problem would be if you need aid, because NYU only gives it to the top of their pool.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help. So I guess that these colleges aren't really that forgiving of a less-than-stellar early high school career? The NYU website says that the average high school GPA is 3.62, which I'm pretty close to right now. But the GPA on the website might be an unweighted one.</p>
<p>that's not necessarily true, i know someone from cali with <1150 on the SAT and out of the top 10% of her graduating class, and she's currently a UCLA student.</p>
<p>Thanks... but what about the other places? Any other suggestions would be helpful. I know these schools are tough to get into, but I'm just wondering if there were people out in CC who've gone through the same thing.</p>
<p>The UCs ignore freshman year--and add up to 8 grade points for honors courses taken during the sophomore and junior years. (one for each semester of honors courses taken).</p>
<p>Figure your UC GPA based upon this. You need about a 4.13 for UCLA and then a 2000 SAT (all three parts). They only count a "single sitting" meaning you can't pick and choose from the separate sections if you take the test over. You also need to take two SAT subject tests. If you prefer the ACT, you can take this in place of the SAT basic test, but you still have to take the subject tests.</p>
<p>UCLA is a reach as flopsy said--but UCSB, UCI, and UCD are look like possibilities--although OOS makes it toughter for you.</p>
<p>As far as the other schools, you need about a 3.6 for NYU, a 3.7 for USC, and a 3.8 for Georgetown (these are UW GPA levels).</p>