Hi! I’m new to this website so I don’t know if this has been asked before but just hear me out. I had a bad freshman/early sophomore year. As a result, my GPA was a 2.5. And to be honest, I didn’t even care that much at the time. I messed up. But junior year I really tried and was able to get it up to a 3.0. I got an 1800 on my first SAT and a 28 on my first ACT and I’m planning to re-take both to see if I can do even better. I won a Connecticut Young Writer’s award freshman year, I got an honorable mention in the UConn Young Writer’s magazine, I’ve volunteered at my local children’s library and a nursing home, I’m a library intern at my school, I worked at a perfume store and I’m now a file clerk at a law firm. So my question, if you stuck with me this long, is that while I know GPA is a very telling factor, will good SAT/ACT scores, extracurriculars, a good essay/recommendations “save” me?
GPA is the most important factor in admissions. Extracurriculars generally are not even looked at by most colleges.
Strong test scores may help, but your GPA is a little too low for test scores to help. Standardized testing is only for 3 hours while GPA is for 4 years. GPA is more accurate in measuring ones ability to succeed academically.
3.0 GPA is really going to limit your chances at selective colleges. A lot of schools base their admissions purely off of stats.
Sorry to break it to you, but nothing really makes up for a poor GPA.
There are plenty of colleges that accept B students. You do not need to panic. As you can see in post#1 many people on this cite are focusing only on elite and selective schools. People can and do receive good educations at less than selective schools and have productive and satisfying careers.
Although GPA is an important factor in your application I would not say it’s THE most important factor. You clearly have been active in your community and you look like you are trying new things with your extra curriculars, which is also VERY important. You have many opportunities in your application to talk about you and I would take these opportunities to really shine. For example in your interview talk about why your grades may not be to the standards of the school f you are applying to a reach school. Talk about why you’re grades weren’t stellar but how you have changed as a student and how you’re ready to take on college because of your high school experience. And really highlight the work you’ve done in your school and outside. Do the same in your essays too and that will prove that you are a student worth accepting! Also if you have good test grades that’s a plus, which it seems like you are on your way too. Don’t focus about changing the past or stressing about what’s already done and work with what you have! It sounds like you have done some awesome stuff! Hope this helped! Good luck!
Grades are the most important factor at most schools. However, an upward trend matters, as do extenuating circumstances that might explain a weak initial performance, or an outstanding letter of recommendation that says you are the kind of student they want - and good test scores that show that you have at least some of the academic skills it takes to succeed. It doesn’t erase the grades - but if your grades have improved, a place that does holistic review will take it into account. Take a look at Colleges That Change Lives for some ideas.
GPA and what courses you took are the most important factors for most colleges. The other things can help, but be sure to apply to some schools which typically accept students with your GPA.
Colleges especially look at your junior year from grades, so if you showed an upward trend, that should help you a lot. You also have a good ACT/SAT score. However, that combined with poor grades can show a lack of work ethic or caring. It’s a tough situation.