<p>I have an unweighted GPA of 3.60 but a class rank of 9/300 (top 3%). </p>
<p>I will also have taken 15 AP and IB (full IB Diploma program) classes as well as 9 honors courses by graduation. </p>
<p>How badly will that GPA despite the other factors hurt me during admissions at top schools?</p>
<p>For HPYMS, it could kill your chances unless you have some other great reason for the school to take you. Look at what it takes to get into the top schools from your high school by studying some of the Naviance data, or talking to a counselor. They’ll be able to tell you. If your are at a school where it’s rare kids go to top schools, then your chances are not good with that gpa and class rank. If you go to one known to the top colleges and where a lot of kids to get accepted, you counselors can tell you if a 3.6 is going to be an issue, that few if any have gotten in with that gpa and that they were legacies, athletes or have some other special flag on their apps.</p>
<p>Colleges look at your GPA in relation to your rank, so the fact that you are in the top 3% will mean more to them than the fact that you have a 3.6.
Hope I’ve helped!</p>
<p>I actually do disagree with cptofthehouse. I think your class rank is going to matter more. High schools grade differently. To be top 3% is a bigger deal than to have 3.8 and be ranked top 10%. On your common app, you will put down your GPA, weighted or unweighted and your class rank. One of the most important part of application is going to be how your GC is going to rank you relative to other students.</p>
<p>I also agree that class rank is more important than GPA. If you have high standardized test scores, this will also help colleges compare you to both peers from your high school and students across the nation. </p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind is that college like to see improvement, so if you received a lot of those lower grades freshmen year, and have improved since then, I don’t think it will hurt you as much.</p>
<p>Class rank supersedes GPA because it’s calibrated to your schools grading policies.</p>
<p>If its any consolation, A 3.6 UW GPA is still above average and a paired with a top 5% class rank is great for the vast majority of schools out there.</p>