<p>First two years of high school I had a 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Then I switched to a top prep school and my grades dropped significantly. My GPA started at a 3.4 there than ended the year with a 3.6. Right now I'm back to that 3.4, but I'm planning to really work my ass off the rest of the year and hopefully get it to a 3.7...I think it's doable. And then hopefully get it up a little bit more the beginning of senior year (If this is confusing to you, yes I will be completing 5 years of high school and by choice). We are on a three term system, so unfortunately my 3.4 this year is set in stone and will be reported...but I have two more official reports this year.</p>
<p>So the question is...do I have a chance at all at top 20 schools? Yes I know "everybody has a chance" but is my GPA just gotten too low to be realistically considered?</p>
<p>I realize I have given you no info on my ECs nor on additional stats, but does my GPA alone "disqualify" me? </p>
<p>Have no official SAT scores but practice tests have been 2300+ (I know this doesnt always completely transfer but I'm just trying to communicate that my scores will be decent) and my ECs are unique/focused in a particular direction. With that said, I don't have anything outstanding such as a national award. So basically I'm just curious as to how much a GPA that low can really hurt a non-URM non-hook applicant. Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, I don’t think you’re GPA will affect you too much (assuming you meant it was a 3.6 for the end of your JUNIOR year alone and not overall) since it will be averaged with your 4.0 and end up like a 3.87. The real problem might come when top colleges take a look and see once you transferred to a more difficult school, either you couldn’t adjust well or the work was too hard and your grades dropped significantly. Really, if you do get the 2300ish like you see and your ECs are good, I’m sure it won’t affect you too much.</p>
<p>Gotcha, thanks for the input. And nah, I meant my sophomore year. I’m a junior now; I got the 3.4 this past junior fall, but still have two official reports this year that I’m hoping to boost up.</p>
<p>If your school is really that hard, then your rank should be pretty high even with a lower GPA. Schools claim to take that into account, so you can take a bit of solace from that.</p>
<p>Statistically speaking, applying to every top 20 school should guarantee you an in, assuming each school’s admission decision is independent. Just ugh, don’t be like me. Submitting garbage supplements on January 1st, lol…</p>
<p>Unfortunately I dont think I’m ranked very high. Yes, it’s hard but there are also a lot of people that do pretty well. I certainly think I’m more well-rounded (as in I have test scores, ECs, etc.) than they are, but I worry that my grades wont give me the opportunity to really showcase this to schools.</p>
<p>Lol I don’t know about applying to every top 20. Would if I could, but my apps would probably turn out terrible.</p>
<p>If you are pretty well rounded except for your GPA you will be fine. It won’t hurt you that much. You can report the circumstances(the switching, school rigor, etc.) in your essays if given the chance(I heard that some colleges allow students to report interventions).</p>
<p>Just show your dedication towards your ECs and get a decent SAT score. We are all not perfect and AOs know that.</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply to my chance thread!!</p>
<p>There is no high school kid posting here that will know more than your GC. Your GC has inside information of how your school does placing students. And he knows your profile better.</p>
<p>And brownparent, I don’t have contact with my GC yet. Yes I know it’s pretty late. It’s frustrating. That’s exactly why I’ve resorted to these threads - I’m aware that my GC (and real life people) will probably offer the most accurate advice. But I wanted to get a general sense from the people on these forums. You mostly see a 3.8+ getting into schools here so I was just kinda feeling around to see if anyone had a similar situation that I have/is familiar with one.</p>
<p>I know it’s hard to judge with so little information, but I was just trying to get a sense of the general opinion about a GPA that low. By itself - no extra elaboration on my qualifications.</p>
<p>The GPA drop isn’t too good…I’d expect it to affect you a bit more than what others are saying. The best hope you have is to work it back up as you mentioned before. If you can get a positive upward trend in terms of GPA (since your entrance into the more difficult school), admissions will look on your situation far more favorably!</p>
Just ugh, don’t be like me. Submitting garbage supplements on January 1st, lol…</p>