I’m currently studying in a Portugal high school in 12º grade (2016–2017). I’ve started off bad in my first year in high school (10º grade) and i made a big recovery in the 11º grade. Currently, i have a 3.5 gpa. I believe, because of the way teaching works in Portugal, that in my senior year (next year) i can improve my gpa to 3.78.
With that being said there’s a big question around my mind: if i apply by january of 2017 my gpa will be a lot lower than by the time i finish my senior year; so when should i apply? Should i wait for 2018 and apply to colleges with a more competitive gpa?
Another advange of applying in 2018 is that it gives me more time to do extracurricular stuff to improve my application, things that i’ve not done yet because i didn’t realize how much important they were. It also gives me time to take Advancement Placement Tests in May 2017 (to use in January 2018), to study more for SAT and SAT Subject Tests and to improve my essay and overall application.
If i’m going to apply to colleges in january 2017 i would have to rush things and i would have less time to study for SAT and SAT Subjects Tests. Also i don’t have time to take AP exams by the time of the application and i don’t have time to improve my extracurricular profile. Also, my gpa will be less competitive.
I think applying in January 2018 gives me a lot of advantages. My only fear with applying in January 2018 is that the year stop may be negative somehow. Also, i don’t know if this affects my chances with admissions in colleges.
It’s important to refer that i’m looking to apply to top colleges, not average, so all the details matter in my aplication.
What do you guys think? What is my best option/choice?
A 3.5 GPA is by all means below the 25th percentile at most colleges. And especially as an international, your chances are low. Unless you have a truly amazing story and a personality that will significantly impact a campus, or if you’re a top-notch athlete, admission will be difficult.
Take the SAT and two subject tests as soon as possible. If the scores are 1500+ and 700+, then try. But do not waste a year.
Maybe you are not familiar with US college application timelines. In fall 2016, students will be applying to schools to start college in Fall 2017. Most admissions decisions will arrive between Dec 2016- March 2017. May 1 is the recognized due date to decide on which college a student is attending.
If you want to start college in fall 2018, applications open in fall 2017.
The question is that if i wait to finish my senior year and then apply to college my gpa would be 3.78. At least that’s what i think i can achieve with my senior year. I would apply to college after that instead off applying in january 2017.
Note: i’m talking about 3.78 in 4.0 scale.
And i’m planning to do that because by january 2017 my gpa will only be 3.5; but in january 2018, in regular application time, my gpa will be 3.78, becausa by that time i’ve already finished high school and had the opportunity to improve grades in my senior year.
From what i’ve seen in most colleges the application deadlines for beggining college in August/Early September 2017 were like January/February 2017 for regular applications.
With that being sad, what i was explaining is that by the time of January 2017 my gpa will be low because i didn’t finished my senior year yet. But, by the time i’ve finished 12º grade, and that will be July 2017, my gpa can and will be 3.78 because i’m planning to improve my grades in my senior year. That makes my possible January/February 2018 application for beggining college in August/Early September most likely to be accepted than if i apply in January/February 2017.
So, you are basically asking if taking a Gap year before you apply to the colleges will help? Yes, having a more competitive GPA will definitely help your chances since you are an International applicant along allowing you to perfect the rest of your application.
Yes, it’s exactly that. If i take a gap year my senior grades will, by the time i apply, already count to my gpa. That means that by the time i apply, during my gap year, my gpa will be higher than if i apply during my 12º grade.
My only question with this is that i’m afraid of being wasting a year when doing that…
Not only could you work on prepping for the SAT/ACT/TOEFL etc… you could look for an internship that is major related or just work and save some money towards your education. Neither of these options would be considered a waste.
Thank for your help. I’m going to try to make the most out of that year.
It depends on what colleges you are looking at.
You are focused on only grades now, but for “top” colleges, SAT scores will count as much.
Have you taken any SAT practice tests? They are free ones available on the College Board’s website. Are your practice tests scores competive at all? Take a practice test now to see whether you are nursing an unrealistic dream.
AP scores are not used for college admission.
Ivy league schools want more than just high GPA & test scores.
I took a look at SAT Practice Tests and a high score in the actual SAT Test seems achievable based on what i’ve seen. I just needed to clarify what i’m going to do (when i’m going to apply) before starting to study for that specific exam.
About the rest, i’m also looking for opportunities in extracurricular activies (volunteering, school academics competitions, etc etc) to enrich my application and i will be looking for that in the next year as well.
I talked about AP exams because i’ve seen many colleges that encourage students (especially international students) to do this exams and send their scores to them, so i thought that AP exams could be a differenciator.
I’m looking for top colleges that also offer need-blind financial aid for international students, or at least usually give huge amounts in financial aid to this students, like: Harvard, Yale, University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Stanford…
For the top schools other than grades/GPA and test scores, the extracurricular activities are usually the big differentiator when it comes to admissions.
Although this has been debated in regards to elite schools, AP scores are not considered in the admission’s review. They are used mainly to receive college credit. If you have taken a rigorous course load as defined by your HS and AP courses/exams are not the norm, you will not be penalized.
I would put my efforts in studying for the SAT/ACT and SAT subject tests and look for EC’s that make you stand out.
Ivy League schools are not impressed by students who suddenly add a bunch of ECs to pad their resume. They want to see years’ long solid commitment and passion. They can smell “fake” a thousand miles away.
I will be honest with you. If you don’t already have a competitive profile by now, doing a gap year to add fake ECs, study for the SAT, and wait for year-end senior grades probably isn’t enough.
Why are you looking at Ivy schools anyway? Aren’t there affordable universities in Portugal?
Interesting, i thought that i would get penalized if i didn’t take those exams. Even to show effort, aren’t they worthwhile?
About the ECs to pad my resume, i’ve assumed that those universities can smell “fake”, but i’m also aware that they value progression trought high school, either in grades or in general commitment to academics, and i still have about a year and a half to enrich my application, and the most important, enrich my knowlege and have new experiences. Also, i believe that top universities know that opportunities in ECs may not be the same in Portugal as the large number of opportunities in USA. Here, universities only care about grades, and it doen’t exist many outside school opportunities for students to stand out.
I’m looking for Ivy Schools because i want to have the best education possible and i want to have the kind of education that opens a lot of doors anywhere in the world. In the field i’m interested in study - Economics - i could apply and enter in the best university in Portugal with my grades here, but i want more and that’s way i’m going to everything that i can to enter in a top university, like those i mentioned before, there in the United States.
Consider doing graduate school in the US, instead of undergraduate.
But why? Even though it would take me one more year, i think that i can nail the requirements to enter in a top university at an undergraduate level.
Don’t underestimate the difficulty of getting admitted into schools with single digit admit rates. Just having “high enough” stats does not guarantee admission.
I’m not underestimating the difficulty of getting admited. I just think that a 3.8 gpa (even thought those universities don’t try to convert student’s grades from countries like mine) get’s me closer to a successful application. I mean, if i were a student with a 3.0 gpa i wouldn’t have the chances that i have right now, that’s what i’m trying to point out.
This just brings me closer i guess. But just because i have “high enough” gpa, doesn’t mean i can’t have an above average (top schools average) SAT score and that’s what i’m going to try to achieve (1550/1600).
The rest as well (letters of recomendation, essay, EC’s, TOEFL); i’m not neglecting anything believe me.