<p>I was wondering how much a low GPA will negatively impact my college application...
I know that the secondary school record is held of very high importance in the application process but will this weigh me down so much that I will not even be considered for most top schools?</p>
<p>GPA: 3.7 UW
ACT: 35
SAT: Retaking; around 2200+</p>
<p>Very involved in school, leadership positions in 2 clubs, huge activities resume.
Musician; winner of large local/state/regional/international competitions, huge music resume.</p>
<p>GPA was affected because I took mainly as many AP courses as possible and tested out to take APs sophomore year and such that usually are offered junior year. 7 APs total by the end of junior year... but I probably shouldn't have done it since the workload was insane and I got a few too many B's. </p>
<p>Anyway, any advice is appreciated. I /was/ hoping for schools such as Cornell, UPenn, Columbia, Johns Hopkins (dual program for science and music) and such. </p>
<p>Will my low GPA affect my chances a lot - should I even think about applying to those schools anymore? Thanks.</p>
<p>A 3.7 isn’t low. If you’re taking all AP and your GPA isn’t below ~3.6 then it’s just about as good as a 4.0 anywhere else, since your scores show that you’re certainly intelligent enough.</p>
<p>Your GPA is fine to apply to the schools you have mentioned - many admitted students have GPAs below yours. Be sure the school is a good fit for you, visit, interview, express your interest to the ad com and you have a chance. Go for it.</p>
<p>^I think at some schools a 3.7 is better than a 4.0 at an easier school. Like I had about a 3.7, but got all 5s on AP Tests, whereas I’ve commonly seen other students from other HS get a 4.0 but get 3s and 4s on the AP Tests. So either those schools don’t prepare their students well or there is massive grade inflation. So yeah, I’d say my 3.7 at my very hard high school beats out many 4.0s from other schools. For all we know an A- at the OP’s school requires a ton of work, and As are very rare (which it was like at my HS for most of my classes). Also, a 3.7 taking all honors/APs is better than a 4.0 in non-honors classes.</p>
<p>^ Once again, you are assuming. I understand, but a person taking all IB or AP classes with a 4.0 at a very competative school is better than the same child with a 3.7. Once again, insulting a 4.0 does not make a 3.7 any better. </p>
<p>But yes, in the circumstances you are creating, that is very true.</p>
<p>I wasn’t insulting those with a 4.0 GPA. I was saying how a 4.0 doesn’t make you automatically more academically qualified than a 3.7. How can I insult someone with a 4.0 GPA that is in honors/AP/IB? They’ve done the best possible in their circumstances. I was just saying that a 3.7 isn’t necessarily < a 4.0, and I laid out clear scenarios (hence I wasn’t assuming anything) and I qualified all my statements. In fact, I am trying to get us to stop assuming by proposing possible scenarios (and leaving the OP to jump in at any point to clarify how difficult his school is).</p>
<p>“^ Not really. It is very good, but don’t insult the 4.0ers by saying that a 3.7 as good as a 4.0.”</p>
<p>You misinterpreted what I was saying…you left out the bit where I said “anywhere else”.</p>
<p>Of course a 3.7 isn’t as good as a 4.0 at the same school, but if you get a 3.7 at a top school, I would think more positively of that than a 4.0 at an average public.</p>
<p>^I disagree with your last point. A 4.0 is the pinnacle, so as far as you know the guy with the 4.0 at the average public is amazing, and would get a 4.0 at a top school, but couldn’t because you can’t get higher than a 4.0. This is where standardized tests scores and school profiling would come in handy.</p>
<p>Your 35 on the ACT will help you a ton. Some of your choices require SAT IIs, so you understand that you need to do well on those too, right? If you score like I think you will, you’ll be fine in that respect. You still need to have great essays and glowing recs, so if you have those too, you’ll probably be happy with your application results next spring.</p>
<p>Sorry, I tend to ignore ambigious terms like “anywhere else,” for that could mean some top-notch private school who send half its students to Ivies every year. Next time I will just assume you said something intelligent.</p>