Hello, I am a senior in high school. My parents divorced the summer before my junior year and that year I got several B’s and one C in AP Calc AB. My GPA going into junior year was close to 4.6 but now it’s around 4.45.
How much will colleges consider my circumstances? If I significantly improve my grades senior year, will I still have a chance at schools such as Uchicago, Cornell, JHU, and the UCs?
Thank you all very much.
Just some additional info:
SAT 2240
UW GPA: 3.6
W GPA: 4.45
Sat2 chem 720
Sat2 math2 750
I would definitely include your information about the divorce and how it resulted in the B’s and C in your application’s “Additional Information” section. I think that the colleges would definitely appreciate seeing the reason why your grades were like that. I’m not exactly sure how accommodating colleges will be, but I think that they would understand. I have heard that people tend to put divorce in the “Additional Information” section to explain lower grades; just make sure that you don’t make what you write come off too much like an excuse. I think it would possibly help if you can have your guidance counselor write about the divorce and the impact it has on your grades in his/her letter of recommendation.
Sorry to hear about your family situation - divorce is often hardest on the children. There is never a good time for a student’s world to be turned upside down like that. I hope, for your sake, that the worst of your family difficulties are over, and all parties can remain amicable and work towards the best possible future for all involved - whatever that may be.
I agree wholeheartedly with @LionKing2398.
It seems to me that even with the “dip” in grades that year, you are still a very strong student, and if you have a strong first semester senior year you will be competitive for the schools you listed.
It is hard to compare GPA because high schools’ grade policies are so different. But your SAT scores show you deserve consideration. What ECs do you have?
Write a great essay for the schools you are considering. You are clearly smart enough to understand that if you don’t get accepted into the schools you listed, it won’t be because of the junior year dip in grades, but more likely due to the volume of other equally great students.
The UCs do not include senior grades when calculating GPA for admission. They are only likely to consider them for waitlisted students. The UCs also do not accept letters of recommendation. You should certainly ask your adviser to include some mention of your family situation in his or her letter to private colleges, nevertheless. Just remember that “extenuating circumstances” is a relative phrase. Divorce is difficult for everyone involved, but you were not a refugee. You are competitive for all the schools you mentioned, but they are all highly selective. What was your final grade for Calculus? What is your UC-weighted GPA? Will you need financial aid?
The UCs are changing their stance on letters of recommendation this year. http://admissions.berkeley.edu/freshmanpolicy