<p>my S has a very very poor GPA ina very highly competive Pub. school - W. 3.39
In his senior yr, w/5 AP courses and 1 regular course his gpa is w. 4.1
Do you think that we should ask the GC to write a note about his upward trend. Is it too late? what do I suggest him to write?</p>
<p>I only think it will help if the GC has a good explanation for the other three years, which is doubtful. One quarter or semester of good grades won't undo the damage of three years of "so, so" grades. GCs can usually explain away a "slip" of a quarter here or there....such as an A student who brings home a C on ONE semester or quarter. But, a three year run is pretty much what you have to work with, at this point. What's worse is that an upward swing in senior year, when loaded with APs might indicate that he was capable all along.....but isn't intellectually stimulated. IMHO, 3.39 isn't that bad in a really competitive school. But, if loads of other kids have higher GPAs, you should take the 3.39 for what it is and work with it....rather than try to explain it away. Trying to explain at this point might make it worse.</p>
<p>A lot of kids don't 'wake up and smell the coffee' until senior year. The adcoms will see the improvement, and the GC can mention it - but not dwell on it, unless there is some reason for it. My son's GPA is not what it should be either, and he is concentrating on schools that aren't so focused on grade. If a schools has 95% of its students in the top 10% of their hs class ... maybe look elsewhere. If you get the online copy of USNWR, you can sort by % in top 10% or 25%. It gives you at least a vague idea of how much wiggle room you have (although some of the numbers are not based on all applicants).</p>
<p>I can't see why it really should make any difference. There were kids with 4.1s for all four years, and certainly those couldn't be explained away.</p>
<p>I think it is sound advice to work with what is there. The reality is 95% of the schools in the country would love a student with a 3.39, 5 successful APs, who brings excitement to a classroom. All he needs to do is show them what he brings in an effective manner, and let the chips fall where they may.</p>
<p>3.39 is NOT a very, very poor HS GPA! Its been a while but I think my HS GPA was in the 2.5 range.</p>
<p>There's no way for us to know what the 3.39 represents to this student in HIS school. One would need to review the school's profile to see where 3.39 falls. It is, after all, an A...right? Also, what makes up the 3.39? Is it straight Bs and a few As? Is it mostly As and Cs blended? It could be, as was in my son's case with a similar GPA, a pretty even blend of As and Bs early in HS...which improved to mostly As...with a BIG FAT C thrown in at the end of Jr year (still rolling eyes at that one, but Cs are readily given at our school...and As are hard to come by)....and then an improvement to As. In his case (my son) only the C needed to be explained...and it was. It's amazing what one C can do to a GPA. But, if the OPs son was running Bs for three years....there's really nothing to explain. I would suggest ensuring that the improved first semester grades are sent to the colleges to maximize the chances.</p>
<p>It's always interesting to see the various perceptions of "poor academic achievement" held by different people.</p>
<p>This one made me chuckle; that GPA is far from poor, in my honest opinion! Your son has many possibilities open to him, even if said plans don't necessarily involve a "prestigious" college/university. My GPA was much worse than that; I wonder how you would respond if I had been your son! :)</p>
<p>Thanks to evryone! you guys are right! I am trying to get a perspective of my son's GPA now. He got rejected from one of his top choice schools - Cornell. We are re-assessing his application at this point. In my mind, GPA is the only thing that hurt him.n The competetion is fierce these days. Most of the ED applicants are top 3% of the class. It's a complete different college game out there. w/ a sigh.</p>
<p>Yes, there has been big-time grade inflation into this generation, just as there was from my father's generation to my generation. These days, there are colleges that can be in a position, if they so choose, of rejecting all applicants with even one C and still having plenty of applicants to choose from. </p>
<p>But as mini said, not quite in the same words, there are still lots and lots of colleges that aren't particularly selective on the basis of grades. There has been grade inflation, but there has also been admission inflation. Most Americans expect that their kids will go to college, and there are plenty of colleges for them to go to. Figure out what echelon of college fits your son (academically and in terms of what it offers to him) and apply around and see what happens. </p>
<p>Good luck to your son.</p>