How much can a low gpa be overshadowed?

Applying to College
1

<p>3.55 UW gpa. This is after a major freshman and sophomore year screw up. If I maintain a very high average next year, junior year (which I am preparing to do with extra summer prep work that I'm assigning myself), how significant can a junior year gpa improvement be? Basically, I plan to earn A+s consistently next year to raise my gpa. </p>

<p>Now I am aware that gpa is definitely the most significant factor on an application, but what if every single other factor on my application is great? Target school would be Cornell CALS, and target major would be "Natural Resources". I'll list how the factors would stack up:</p>

<h2>-BAD (3.55) overall UW GPA </h2>

<h2>Versus:</h2>

<p>-Good overall upward trend in grades
-Exceptional grades junior year in harder classes than the other years of high school (For ex. an A+ in AP Biology junior year would possibly/ somewhat "overshadow" a B+ earned in regular Biology sophomore year)
-Great ECs, including a clear passion for something exemplified in volunteering and internships, and a published book
-Great SAT/ ACT score (2250+/ 33+)/ Great AP test scores
-A great essay to follow up on the "passion" that was exemplified in the ECs
-Really good rec letters
-Applying early decision
-Hispanic/ White
-Target major is less competitive than most other majors offered at CALS</p>

<p>I am aware that many if not most of applicants applying to schools like Cornell will have a lot of these factors plus a good gpa, but they wouldn't be stacked up like this.</p>

<p>Do you think I meet the qualifications to possibly be one of the 3.5 green dots on this graph?
<a href="http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/cornell-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/cornell-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>Honestly, you already know the answer.</p>

<p>You will be at a competitive disadvantage compared to other applicants who have a great junior year grades and great grades from freshman and sophomore years. You have many things going for you, and you should apply if you want to. But other applicants will have a lot going for them, too, and there’s no way to know whether you will or won’t get in. </p>

<p>No matter how many threads you post with variations on this one theme.</p>

3

<p>With very good SATs, it’ll help a great amount. If you haven’t started senior year yet, then take as many AP classes as possible</p>

4

<p>Well best case scenario you end up with a 3.7-8, which should be competitive enough for Cornell, assuming you ace the ACT/SAT tests like you plan. Any school tougher than Cornell, however, would be pretty unlikely unless you’re at an ultra-competitive school known for grade deflation or anything like that. The CALS school is one of the lesser competitive schools at Cornell though, so you should be fine. Just be sure to 4.0 (or damn close) the next years!</p>

5

<p>For me it’s more like the next 2 years, as I am a rising junior. However, I am really going to have yearly gpas of very high A’s from now on (junior and senior years). Thank you all for commenting, your input is greatly appreciated!</p>