Hi all.
As it stands, my unweighted GPA is a 3.4 while my weighted is a 3.9. I had one really bad semester junior year, but I rebounded second semester and got all As with a B in AP Physics. I took 3 APs my junior year. My ACT is a 33. The other parts of my application (ECs, recs, essays) are very strong, in my opinion.
I was thinking of applying to 5 schools at the November 1 deadline (Priority for Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin/ Early Action for U Miami) but I am beginning to think it would be more advantageous for me to apply regular decision for all of these so that my first semester of senior year grades are taken into account. I expect to have a very strong semester, I have straight As thus far (3 AP classes).
Yes, it would be better if you applied regular decision with better grades, considering the difference it could have on your GPA. It shows a strong and continuing upward trend which is what colleges like to see.
6 semesters of 3.4 plus 1 semester of 4.0 will give you a GPA of (3.4 * 6 + 4.0 * 1) / 7 = 3.49.
Do you think a 3.49 is significantly better than a 3.4?
I think while 3.49 is not much better, it shows that the OP is currently excelling in college-level rigor.
If he applied now, he would have 1 semester of good grades in AP classes and colleges might think that is a fluke. If he applies regular, it shows 2 semesters of strong academic performance, which shows some consistency.
Just my opinion. I’m not an admissions officer so I don’t know how far that extra semester of performance will take you.