How important is your GPA compared to other factors?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am an all-honors student, 3 AP classes so far in my Junior year, I'm planning on taking at least 2 if not three more next year.</p>

<p>It's pretty much guaranteed that I'm going to be a National Merit Scholar, as I scored in the 98th percentile in my Sophomore year, and breezed through this year's test.</p>

<p>I scored 700 on all three portions of the SAT my first try, and am planning on taking it at least two more times to see if I can push that a little.</p>

<p>I haven't taken the SAT yet, so we'll see what happens there.</p>

<p>I'm very active, volunteering, Science Bowl, Marching Band and leader in it ---lots of random stuff.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I am not the most studious kid on the planet, and have somewhere around a 3.0 Unweighted, probably 3.6ish weighted.</p>

<p>I'm really quite worried about my GPA costing me when it comes time to apply next year. How important is it, compared to those other factors?</p>

<p>Also, I'm not really looking for Ivy League. Just a strong, relatively small college.</p>

2

<p>GPA is the most important factor on your transcript.</p>

3

<p>but it doesn't always mean you're automatically out
other factors can help, but that depends on the school.</p>

<p>UC's for example may rule you out but those are big schools
Small liberal arts schools tend to look more holistically from what i have observed</p>

<p>i guess just make sure you shine in everything else to show that you're capable of being great despite what the transcript may say</p>

<p>do an interview for sure if the schools you want to apply to offer it!</p>

4

<p>for most of schools..gpa is the most important factor along with sat and essay...</p>

5

<p>I agree with everyone else on the forum, but I think it helps you that you're not applying to the most selective schools in the country. If your ECs and SATs are fantastic, your grades may not kill you. </p>

<p>The best advice I can give you is to a) work your strengths (in this case, I think that means getting the best SATs you can) b) seek out true EC leadership instead of focusing on being "active," and c) most important, get your grades up, way up, and keep them there for the next 12 months. When you apply, come up with a plausible, compelling message explaining why you underperformed a little in 9-10th grade but will rock out in college. (Don't make excuses: focus on what changed for the better in 11th grade.) Reinforce this message in your essay, and choose teachers who will reinforce the message to write your recommendations. I guess--as a corollary--try to impress at least a couple of teachers this year so they can write about your improvement and hard work next year.</p>

<p>But yeah, better get those grades up, 'cause they matter. . .</p>

6

<p>Agreed with menloparkmom, but remember that every factor is considered in the context of the rest of the app (SAT, ECs, essays, etc.).</p>

7

<p>Lotf - Thanks, that was quite helpful. </p>

<p>LOTS of thanks for the essay tips. I am the leader of my section in marching band and I started a group of friends that volunteer at a local Nature Preserve - Those are my leadership ECs. Anything I could do to improve them?</p>

<p>Also, I am on the varsity Science Bowl team that has been first at regionals for the past two years. Would this outweigh the others?</p>

8

<p>I think your science bowl participation looks very good.</p>

<p>I don't know what others would say, but I always think of the EC hierarchy like this:</p>

<p>Top: Showing initiative and execution in leadership positions
Second: Holding selective leadership positions
Third: Holding easy-to-get leadership positions
Fourth: Participating </p>

<p>To give you an example, the most impressive EC I've seen belonged to a girl who started a sign language club and grew it to 80 members. Her senior year, the club produced a children's book designed to improve awareness of people with disabilities among young children (wrote it, illustrated it, and held fundraisers to pay for it) and then mailed a copy to every elementary school library in several cities. She got into BC with so-so numbers, largely because of her ECs (I expect). This is an example of leadership PLUS initiative and execution.</p>

<p>Second-tier things are usually positions for which you have to win a pretty competitive vote: captains and presidents of classes, teams, etc. On second thought I think that being school president can look so good that it really belongs in the category above this one; but all other elected offices belong here.</p>

<p>Third-tier things are, like, class secretary. </p>

<p>All these groupings are based my own observations, and I am only a lowly SAT tutor (albeit the director of the tutoring program), not a highly paid college consultant or an adcom. </p>

<p>I'd say your ECs are largely in the 2nd/3rd range. That's pretty good. To strengthen them, you want to wield your power wisely. :) See if you can think of a goal or project for your volunteer group. If you can execute it, it will look awesome. It would also be sweeet if you could do well at state for Science Bowl. </p>

<p>If not, I think you have good stuff on your resume. It really helps that you're willing to look beyond the Ivy league: I think that's smart. </p>

<p>At this point you should focus on making the most of your existing ECs and getting your grades up; don't be tempted to sign up for lots of other stuff. And if you have to choose between your grades and some major EC involvement, choose grades. </p>

<p>That's my two cents anyway.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
To give you an example, the most impressive EC I've seen belonged to a girl who started a sign language club and grew it to 80 members. Her senior year, the club produced a children's book designed to improve awareness of people with disabilities among young children (wrote it, illustrated it, and held fundraisers to pay for it) and then mailed a copy to every elementary school library in several cities.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The book was produced by... THE CLUB. I assume someone had to do the lion's share of writing, graphics design, etc. Were those creative members merely following the leader's directions or were they contributing something unique? Think of a successful company run by a successful CEO. Then ask yourself a question: would this corporation be as successful without the team who works closely with the CEO? I bet the colleges are not only looking for the CEO types. I bet the creative kind is also a sought-after commodity. :)</p>

10

<p>Actually, believe it or not, in this case the club president had to step in and do most of the writing and drawing after most of the club members flaked out on her. I guess that's what I mean about the ability to initiate and execute: in this case, she really made it happen. (The club did do the fundraising more collectively.)</p>

<p>But I think your point is an excellent one. If someone in the club had been a wonderful artist, and someone else a wonderful writer, and they had all worked together under the leadership of the president to make this thing happen beautifully, they would all have had something fantastic to put on their resumes.</p>

<p>For anyone else reading this thread, I will say that the same rule about execution and initiation applies, though. If you are expecting your creative talents to contribute to your college app, you better a) contact the relevant department of the school with a recording or portfolio, b) list significant, concrete accomplishments on your activities list, or c) both.</p>

<p>I guess this discussion doesn't help you much, ScaldingHot: sorry to get sidetracked.</p>

11

<p>You have a great opportunity to bring your grades up this year. Make sure you take advantage of it. If you can bring your average up significantly and keep it up through senior year (mid-year reports do matter) that can really help you.</p>

12

<p>No problem at all, lotf, that helps a lot for one of my friends, who is the editor of the school literary magazine.</p>

<p>That was very helpful, but I think that probably the EC with the most potential is the volunteering. What sort of organization would I have to have in order to maximize it's potential? It is mainly a spring - summer thing, as that is when we have the most time.</p>

<p>Also, the Science Bowl is Regionals, then Nationals. If the team does poorly at nationals (assuming we make it), would it still be wise to say that I was on it? Would it still outweigh the others?</p>