<p>Hello, I figured I would ask for advice from other students who might know an answer.</p>
<p>I go to a selective private boarding school, my freshman cumulative GPA was a 3.2, my sophomore cumulative GPA was a 2.6, my junior year so far has been a 3.6, and hopefully i can keep that going.</p>
<p>I have taken the SAT once and received a score within the 1600s range, although I will take another SAT and an ACT(which I think will do much better on)</p>
<p>Although sophomore year GPA was terrible, as long as I keep my upward trend in GPA through my senior year, what are the chances of me getting into universities such as Lehigh, Syracuse, Boulder, Pepperdine, NYU?</p>
<p>I am really working hard and as far as I can see, my current and future drive for academic success will deliver a consistent upward trend in my transcript.</p>
<p>Thanks and I hope someone who has been in a similar situation can help me get a general idea, as another perspective can be very helpful.</p>
<p>As of right now, you aren’t being realistic. An upward trend is going to have to be accompanied by a bangup test score, around a 30 or more on the ACT, to have a real shot at those schools.</p>
<p>Take a look at those schools mid-50 test score ranges. If you aren’t hitting at least the bottom of that range (and probably closer to the middle with your grades), you really need to look elsewhere.</p>
<p>“I go to a selective private boarding school” Then the tuition your parents are paying goes to fantastically qualified counselors. They are MUCH more prepared to guide and answer you than random internet strangers.</p>
<p>However, my guess is that it’s easier to hear a few tips here than to sit in front of someone and really confront the reality of your situation (good, bad or ugly). There’s no easy answer. You’ve GOT to sit down with your GC and talk about your plans, to start assembling a list of realistic target colleges – and get the accountability you seem to be lacking in order to better your academic performance. No shortcuts unfortunately, my friend. Make that appt with the GC. Today. Best of luck to you.</p>
Nice job on your grades so far this year. Your GC will help you figure out the metrics you need to be aiming for to have a decent chance at admission. Before you go in, have a look at the Common Data Set for each school so you can begin to understand what the competition will be to get in.
Unfortunately, all of those are high reaches for you. Even if you keep up that GPA next year, you’re still looking at a GPA hovering above a 3. And your SATs are low. If you can study for the SAT and bring that score up, it may buoy your GPA with some schools, so it is worth focusing on that. If you think you may excel on some SAT subject tests, those are worth taking, as well. Definitely keep focusing on your grades–good job this year!–because keeping that GPA in the 3 range is very important–you don’t want to drop!
Now, if you think you can write some killer essays and you have a healthy EC list, you can use those to help you along as some less selective (than the above) but still good schools–I would look at schools that accept 40% or higher of their applicants (and I’d say institutions that accept 75%+ will be your safeties), and of course look at their average GPA/score ranges for applicants to make sure you fall within range.
What are you interested in majoring in? I’m sure some people on here can help you find some mid-range schools that might be a good fit. Talking with your counselor is a good idea, too. They may have a better idea than we do what is realistic for graduates of your school. There may be some schools that have a relationship with/awareness of your elite private school and they may be more understandable about your GPA.