HELP! =( low gpa and high sat score?

Applying to College
1

<p>I have a low gpa and a high sat score…
I’m a junior right now and I’m thinking this will prob. be my gpa/sat score (roughly) by the time I apply to colleges:</p>

<p>3.8~3.9 weighted and 2300 on sat, 800 on math IIC.
I live in california and I’m definitely going to apply to the UC’s but I’m worried because I’ve heard that UC’s usually look at gpa more than other things…If I do decide to go to UC, I’m thinking about LA or Berkeley…
I’m also planning on applying to a few private univ. in the east coast… cornell, nyu, carnegie mellon and a couple more.</p>

<p>for my extra curriculars and recognitions, I am in orchestra, president of a club, yearbook/journalism staff, 2 awards for viola competition, 4 awards from art contests, and 3 awards from national spanish exam. I volunteered as a student teacher at a center for north korean refugee children and I participated in a summer program at johns hopkins university for two years. I am not sure whether I’ll make my state’s psat cutoff for semifinalist, but I’m certain that I’ll be commended (217). I work as a tutor.</p>

<p>by senior year, I’ll have taken about 8 ap classes and tests.
all my classes are honors or ap.</p>

<p>first generation to go to college in america, no legacy for any school…</p>

<p>To finish up… my questions are…

  1. my high school is public, but ranked one of the top in the state/country. will this compensate even a bit for my low gpa? in other words… do the national ranking of my school and the rigors of my courses matter?</p>

<li><p>If i Have a C+ on my first semester of an AP class, but raise it up to an A the second semester and do well on my AP exam, do they consider this improvement…I know it probably will hurt my admission decision, but how much?</p></li>
<li><p>I really want to apply to cornell as early decision plan. Should I go for it or try an easier school?</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>The UCs use a formula that does make a high SAT score compensate for a lower GPA. With a 3.9 UC GPA you would have a shot at the top 2 UCs and should be into all of the others easily.</p>

<p>For the private colleges, it will really matter where you stand in your class. NYU and CMU should be no problem as long as you're top 10%.</p>

<p>You're not first generation if your parent's went to college anywhere.</p>

3

<p>thanks, hmom5</p>

<p>by UC gpa, do you mean 10th and 11th combined?</p>

<p>that would be about 3.6~3.7 for me.. pretty darn low.
i meant 3.8~3.9 as a freshman all the way until I apply to college.</p>

4

<p>i applied to baylor in waco in early action i am in the 24% of my school and have an 1000 estimated on my sat do you think ill get admitted?? please answer</p>

5

<p>A 3.6 or 3.7 unweighted (is that what you're referring to above?) is not a bad GPA by any means. That is a strong A-/A average. Combined with stellar test scores, great essays and recommendations, strong ECs, etc. you certainly have a chance and will be well-qualified. Take the chance anywhere you really want to go! You cannot be accepted if you don't apply. =] </p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

6

<p>sorry for making this confusing
i meant 3.6~3.7 UNweighted
and 3.8~3.9 weighted..</p>

<p>my school does not rank students, but its roughly about top 15-20%</p>

7

<p>The formula for figuring out your UC GPA is on the UC Pathways website. The average GPA's for UCB and UCLA are about 4.2, but the average SAT score is only about 2050. So a 2300 is well above their average and strong SAT II's will put you well over score wise. So if the UC GPA approaches 3.9 and you have a great essay, you could be in.</p>

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<p>I could seriously pinch you, unless your gpa is out of like 8 it is not bad by any means. ANY means.</p>

9

<p>Yay my GPA isn't cruddy mitt either!</p>