I go to a public boarding school on a university campus that has students from across the state, in the same model as the North Carolina School of Science and Math. The grades are sophomore to senior, and Although it has its own faculty, the courses are all described as “College Level” on my transcript and the faculty all has Ph.Ds (with the exception of math teachers). Its primary focus is STEM, though I’m more of a humanities type.
I had a 4.0 freshman year, but since coming here my grades are quite a bit lower (3.5). My grades have improved a ton over time. I’m really wondering how colleges will evaluate my GPA compared to most public school kids. Will I be in the same boat as someone with a 3.5 at normal public schools? Will colleges consider the difficulty of transition and college level courses? Or is my GPA a serious drag?
Is there any way I can get an idea of how colkeges will view my school? I want to be realistic with my options but theresthere’s precious little info here on schools like mine
Talk to your guidance counselor and see if your HS has Naviance – it is a system where each HS plots students wgi got into and were rejected for each college by their GPA/Standardized test scores. And colleges will take into account the strength of your HS when they review your transcript.
Also talk to your Guidance Counselor and ask what colleges are appropriate given your GPA from this school. They will know what colleges other students have gotten into.
So according to naviance, getting into schools like Bowdoin, NYU, UChicago, UMich, etc., fell into the 3.68 - 3.80 range, while a 3.90+ was good for Smithy-P and Virginia, Columbia, Williams, etc.
So where do you think that puts me? My test scores match up or exceed a lot of the admissions. If I were comparing myself with a 3.50 to 3.60 to a normal public school, would I be, say, a 3.75-a solid GPA but not “up there”? I’m wondering if I can compensate for my grades.
Very interesting question. Is the 3.68 with your test scores or lower. What year are you in, can you work a little harder? Upward trends are important imporved Junior grades will help compensate. Standout ECs? Enter contests in your strengths, projects. Talk to your GC, let her know your goals and what she suggests
The 3.68 is right around my tests scores, maybe lower. I’m a junior, so I’ve got this semester and next for sure, and it’s been a huge upward trend. Thank you!