Gpa problems! Help!

College Search & Selection
1

Hey, I’m currently a high school junior and was not sure where my current gpa could get me. My freshman year, I had a 3.7 Gpa, all regular level classes. By sophomore year I took two Honors level classes, and maintained around a 3.4-3.5 gpa unweighted. Junior year I had less motivation due to my brother moving out and the loss of my girlfriend. The first marking period I got a 3.5, the second I barely scratched above a 3.0 with a 3.1, the third mp I got a 3.2, and I finished with a 3.7. Throughout each marking period I had almost all A’s but was always brought down by a c, d, or even f in algebra or my anatomy class. Luckily, I want to major in communications and my school only factors in the final grade into our transcript. However, did i completely screw over my chances into getting into a college? I want to get straight A’s the first semester of my senior year, I’m taking an AP course and 2 honors courses. But overall I’ve been really depressed since I feel like I failed a lot and ruined my chances of being something. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Any college suggestions would be great.
I was thinking of applying to Montclair state university since I want to stay close to my hometown of Nj. That’s really the only school I’ve checked out though.

2

Relax. You’ll get into a college. Montclair shouldn’t be a problem. Does your school use Naviance? That will help you compare stats.

3

They do use Naviance. And yeah I don’t think Montclair should be a problem but do you think it’s possible to get into higher level schools as well with these grades? Such as Seton Hall, UDell, Virginia Tech, or Rutgers in New Jersey?

4

To start your college search first talk to your parents about what they can/will contribute towards your college education. You may also want to get your hands on some good college guide books (ex. Fiske, Princeton Review) which can often be found in a HS guidance office and/or library and read up on colleges that appear to be geographic and academic fits for you. Then since you aren’t going too far from home, try to visit – preferably when the school is in session so you can get a feel for the choices. As noted above naviance is a great tool as well.

Another idea offhand is St. Peters.

5

Seton hall should be in reach. A lot of kids at my son’s NJ school got into Virginia tech this year with stats like yours. What are you thinking as a major? That could play a roll too.

6

what is your unweighted gpa now, with all three years put together. Even if it’s a lower than the average for a school, above average SATs/ACTs will make up for it. If you want public in-state for affordability, you can do College of NJ in addition to Rutgers. If you’re willing to consider private schools or out of state public, Syracuse as a good comms program and could be a target school. Most colleges in this country are not selective, so the focus on 4.0s gpa is really not productive.

7

It’s about a 3.45. And yeah I haven’t got back my scores yet, but I will be taking two more SAT’s along with prep classes. My weighted gpa is closer to a 3.6. You’re also right that Syracuse has a great school of communications, my brother went there for journalism. But the average gpa for Syracuse is a 3.6 and Newhouse is the hardest school to get into at Cuse. So I’m not so sure what my chances are of getting it. I am going to see TCNJ and Rutgers over the summer, do you think these are schools I could possibly get into?

8

Thanks for the help

9

I’m thinking of either majoring in journalism or computer science. So I may even look at quinnipiac, or NJIT.

10

I also looked at ramapo and liked it. I think that school shouldn’t be a problem to get into

11

It would be tough to gauge any school until you receive a test score, sat or act. If you’re in 75% for your target schools, that would make up for the lower gpa.

12

Thanks… if I pair my gpa with a really good sat score I think I’ll be in pretty good shape. Given my gpa alone do you reccomend any schools in or around NJ (PA, NY, VA, Delaware??)

13

Maybe Penn State, a couple of the SUNY’s - Binghamton, Albany, Northeastern, Qunnipiac, UMass-Amherst.

14

SUNY may get very competitive, since the new program making tuition free at SUNY for NY residents.

But I’ve got to tell you: Montclair is also on my daughter’s list, though for Fashion Merchandising. And, like you, she wants to stay in the tri-state area. There are so many schools between Boston and Baltimore for kids with any interest and any range of test scores.

I just ran a college search for you. Here are the ones that came up at 100% match: (I’m not sure where in NJ you are, or what your other preferences are, so you’re going to have to take a look at the location and other factors. Some of these schools are ones I’ve never heard of, but that doesn’t eliminate them; it just means you need to do your homework.) Here goes:

Hobart and William Smith
Quinnipiac
Wheaton
Morovian
Miseriacordia
Monmouth
Pace
Rutgers
Wagner
URI
Sacred Heart
Univ of Buffalo
SUNY Plattsburgh
Hampton
Marist
Mary Baldwin
Old Dominion
St. Peters

15

TCNJ might be a little of a reach.

16

Also check out Rowan in south Jersey. If cost is a consideration, Rowan seems to be fairly generous with aid.

17

No, you didn’t screw up your life. Everybody loves comeback stories. Quite different majors there.

For admission, your SATs are far more important than your GPA. In NJ, from what I’ve seen, SAT is valued more than ACT. GPA/Class rank in the past has been a big factor in merit aid, but that is waning. Keep trying to improve it while maintaining quality of coursework, but don’t stress about it.

I’ll bore you with some background: I went to college in the 1970s (Glassboro State, now Rowan), majored in Communications when it was hot. Communications isn’t as rigorous as some majors and, as a nerd, I wanted a real College experience, so the powers-that-be let me design my own major which incorporated the Radio/TV/Journalism/PR/Advertising stuff with the more highbrow philosophy stuff (no PCs then). I’ve got to say, it’s paid off. Had a nice career in all phases of communications (still freelancing a bit as a paid hobby) and, for the last 25+ years, I’ve worked as a recruiter. When companies automated in the late '80s, I was there recruiting & placing programmer/analysts. I have a son who is a Civil Engineer (graduated 2013) and a daughter now in grad school. I’m old, but my experience is current.

Now, to you: Communications have really changed, and so have colleges. I graduated with zero debt, having stayed in-state (could’ve gone to Syracuse and worked with those who did) paying as I went with some merit aid and a retail job, which I gave up for my first minimum wage local radio job junior year. Can’t do that now, No matter what route you choose, your life after college will be influenced by debt. Having debt will severely limit your options to develop a marketable portfolio/audition tape in communications. If you manage that, the degree will certainly pay off long term in money and fun and stories.

Not sure what branch of communications you’ll drift to, but my one of my college colleagues designed the first AT&T website. Others have written for newspapers all over the country; one guy last week was inducted to the Boxing Hall of Fame as a journalist. Another has been a writer/producer/exec producer for Cosby, ER, and Criminal Minds. Another runs Philadelphia’s Big 5 and is the Phillies/Eagles longtime PA announcer. Another got into financial services and just left a huge endowment to Rowan. I worked with the longtime NJ correspondent for 6-ABC & ABC-7 in NY (she went to Ramapo) and two buddies who’ve been with CBS (most recently Letterman & now Colbert) as a technical director (he went to William Paterson) and camera operator (the best jib camera man in the business; he went to Stockton). Another became GM of the NY Jets.

There are success stories all over the place. It comes down to you learning, using what you’ve learned, and seizing opportunities regardless of where you go. Minimizing debt maximizes your options after college.

I’ve also seen in the past few years that communications has been integrated with computer visual arts, so some of your interests will intersect. Not many coders can write well. There are positions such as Technical Writer that can combine your interests.

Computer Science, depending on your specific course of study, is a different animal. Some schools have a more set curriculum from the get-go. Others will be more general education freshman & sophomore years, with the major concentration starting after that. Depending on how your interests and your SAT scores evolve, there’s no harm in applying “undecided/undeclared”. In fact, it could be beneficial. For example, if you apply as a CS major, you’ll be scrutinized with other CS applicants. If you apply u/u, you’ll be grouped with the general populous. That could increase your odds, and it won’t hold you back from either major.

If I were you, I’d stay in-state public and choose the school which has both a reputed CS and Comm program. I see Rowan as excellent for both. Stockton has a very underrated CS program (lots of Stockton grads at the FAA Tech Center across the street from campus), but not as good for communications. Ramapo and William Paterson might be a couple good realistic choices, more for comm. I’m not sure (that’s not doubt, that’s “I don’t know”) how Montclair excels in either one of your choices. The main thing is to choose the school where you can be involved, get opportunities to build a portfolio/audition tape/project list, minimize debt, and be successful.

Good luck! And chill…