<p>Okay my stats are</p>
<p>Sophomore in high school
UW gpa: 3.1
PSAT score(first time): m:59 cr:56 w:42
AP classes: 1, AP world history
Honors classes: 1, English
Clubs: art club
Sports: tennis first year(soph)</p>
<p>I havent taken the SATs or ACT yet, so we'll see how I do, although I have a book I have been studying by.</p>
<p>My main question is, what is the most efficient way to bring up my GPA as high as I can? </p>
<p>Taking harder classes online over the summer and easier over the year? </p>
<p>Also, are classes like Algebra 2, AP US history, and English Honors good to take online over the summer? I'm afraid that the lack of a real teacher may really influence my understanding of the course.</p>
<p>By the way, I go to a pretty decent school in FL, and I haven't had the easiest life for a 16 year old girl, with parents divorcing, my dad being in the hospital a lot almost dying, etc. If I write an essay stating those things, could these factors amplify my chances to get into a decent school?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Definitely take as many honors/AP classes as you can, but I don’t know if they are worth taking over the summer, especially if you might not understand the material as well. But it’s up to you. </p>
<p>To boost your GPA, you might try taking as many weighted classes as you can handle effectively, and then take a class that is graded Pass/Fail. At my school, these classes count as some credit, but not towards your GPA. May not be the same at your school. This way, if you have 5 classes, a weighted class, and then a Pass/Fail, with straight As, you would have a 4.2 rather than a 4.1. I’m doing this right now to bump my 3.66 to a 4.0 by next semester(graduation).</p>
<p>And as for the stuff you have been through, it sounds like a pretty good hook-especially if you can write well about them!</p>
<p>Take rigorous, weighted classes in subjects that you not only enjoy but also excel in - for instance, if you’re very math oriented, go for classes like AP Calculus or DE Linear Algebra, rather than AP English Literature or Comparative Gov’t. Classes at a local community college or classes over the summer may also work to bring up your GPA while also supplementing your transcript with additional course rigor.</p>
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<p>Whatever way best allows you to get As in a lot of classes.
The way weighted GPA is calculated varies more by school than unweighted GPA, and your weighted GPA really only matters for class rank. Colleges want to see that you got high grades in difficult classes, though…taking a bunch of filler classes just to make your numerical GPA higher probably isn’t going to help you much in terms of admission to selective colleges, but you might want to do it if you’re looking at scholarships with GPA requirements or something like that. </p>
<p>Colleges with holistic admissions will take upward trends into account. </p>
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<p>You can, but colleges primarily want to see that you can contribute positively to their school, so don’t write any sob stories.
Special circumstances can also be addressed in a guidance counselor recommendation or in the Additional Information section of the Common App.</p>