<p>Okay heres my question, I have an low GPA to a point where it is lower than some of the ranges for the schools I am applying to. However, I have a low GPA because I have taken 9 AP's which has caused my GPA to drop somewhat. Colleges will take the difficultly of my course load when considering my whether I should be admitted or not correct?</p>
<p>Ex. Is it better to have a 3.7 GPA with 1 AP or a 3.4 with 7 APs?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure your school has weighted grades. Colleges will then take your weighted class rank into consideration. It's always better to challenge yourself with harder classes.</p>
<p>What schools are you considering specifically? Usually, schools will look at class rank to see how you compare and if your class rank is top 10%, that probably will compensate for a low GPA. Just remember that when you sign up for AP classes, you're actually expected to do reasonably well. If your GPA falls too much, then drop.</p>
<p>This has to be one of the most common, and frustrating, questions that high school students face. The answer is usually, "Get the A's in the hard classes" and, for the top tier schools, that certainly is true. What I find when asking my friends (yes, anecdotal evidence is weak and unproven at best) where their kids got in and what they did, I think that A's with some AP's and a few regular classes get admitted more than B's in all AP classes. You really need a 3.8 or 3.9 uw gpa for better schools. And, all of it depends on how your high school is viewed by colleges. That info is very hard to come by if you go to a public school that isn't nationally known. Everyone here thinks every kid has to take every subject to the highest level offered at your HS. I know kids who got in to the top UCLA and Berkeley who had only three years of Spanish (no AP), three years of science (one Ap) and not ALL AP classes. What did they have in common? Mostly A's and AP classes in the areas they excel at: the humanities kid taking those classes as AP's & the math crowd loading up on math & science AP's. My highly paid college consultant would disagree, she advises all kids to take the most rigorous schedule NO MATTER WHAT. I just advised my son to drop an AP class that he will struggle to get an A (and maybe a B) in and move to an easier one.He also chose not to take a fifth year of language- too much work for a kid who wants to have enjoy his senior year. I'll let you know in April how that works out. I think for most schools in America outside of the top 40 or so, that you can take either route because you will not need a 4.0 unweighted gpa to get into about 90% of colleges in America. Good luck. The whole process is a gamble for those who want to challenge themselves yet feel pressured to get A's. I truly wish kids could do what college admissions people say they want: follow their interests and challenge themselves accordingly, focusing on learning instead of gpa points. But, as we all know from the admitted freshman profiles, it is GPA & SAT (to a much lesser extent) that gets your foot in the door.</p>
<p>Well right now my top schools are Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Miami. My GPA is about 3.4 uw and 3.7 w, however my school weights HORRIBLY because if you take one regular non- slow class your weighted is .3 higher. I have taken 4 AP's so far and will being taking 5-6 my senior year. I do reasonably well in them (B+'s).</p>
<p>What about if your school doesn't weight AP classes? I took AP Physics C last year, and got an A- first semester. Now I have a 3.98ish gpa =.</p>
<p>3.98 is nothing to complain about mad props haha.</p>
<p>The unarguable truth: get a 100 in every AP class</p>
<p>you just need to try to get the A's in APs because the fact of the matter is for the top colleges you need these classes and a high 3.8+ gpa. its both aspects, just not one or the other. of course if you cannot maintain both, then i suppose the colleges will take into consideration your lower gpa was with hard classes.</p>
<p>MG- At this point figure out a darn good reason you got mostly B's and make yourself very compelling in your essay. Talk about all of the other reasons you would be a great addition to their campus. You may get into one of those schools. However, you HAVE done well in HS so apply to some other "safer" schools that will welcome you with open arms. As my son's (a senior like you) hs counselor said recently, "What's done is done. Now you just have to wait and see how the admissions game plays out this cycle." Best of luck to you. There are a zillion colleges out there.</p>
<p>Thanks bessie your the best. I have no regrets about school I did what I had to do and better yet I had a great HS experience and nobody can take that away from me. I have no idea how to tell them I got B's and for what reason but I'll hopefully write something good.</p>
<p>the tough thing is....in my school an A in regular chemistry is a 4.00 while an A in chemistry honors is a 4.33- i recieved an A- in chemistry honors but if i was in chemistry A i would have easily obtained an A+ (according to my teacher who teaches both courses)...so it is simply a bad way of weighting grades</p>
<p>but what if grades were to suffer too much in many AP classes, while you could easily maintain a 4.0 in regular classes. it's a hard decision</p>
<p>What APs did you take? You might be able to write a personal statement about your situation to the UCs, if you're applying there. Colleges take family events as a factor into your admission.</p>
<p>Freshman here. Same predicament. To continue with Math Studies SL and risk a B or switch to Accelerated Geometry for an easy(ier) A?</p>
<p>Dont Worry About Your Gpa! Worry About Your Rigor. Rigor >gpa. Even If U Take All Ap's And Get Straight B's, You Know Exactly What College Work Entails... Max Your Ap Courseload Now!</p>
<p>Nope. Its better to have 3 APs... get A's in them and your regular classes than getting low B's in your 6 APs. WHY?</p>
<p>Some classes YOU HAVE to study for hours on end to get an A in them. For AP US History, World History, Art History, and maybe even Gov. you got to study. ALSO, enjoy your HS years. I had a friend who took 5 APs senior year, and had a GPA of 4.0+. He only got accepted at UC irvine over the other schools. Everything is unpredictable.</p>
<p>Basically... get a strong GPA.. with balanced APs and regulars. I took 2 a year since sophomore year. I feel great! (Not interested in UC or ivies... at all)</p>