How much does GPA matter?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, here's my issue. I'm doing fine in all of my "incredibly hard" classes (except APUSH - I have an A- in that), but, kind of messing up on the easy ones. Right now (as a sophomore, first semester), my UW GPA works out around a 3.85 (with 3.6 for A-, 4.0 for A).</p>

<p>If I hold out a 4.0 for the rest of high school, and work this up to about a 3.9 by junior year, can I still shoot for top colleges?</p>

<p>Here are my ECs (where I am hoping to excel):</p>

<p>I lead an open source project with a team of about 30 people that's been covered in TED talks</p>

<p>I'm a paid technical blogger for a group with about 1.5 million subscribers</p>

<p>I run a software consulting company</p>

<p>I am a paid blogger for a programming-related blog</p>

<p>I run a software startup (called NimbleNotes)</p>

<p>I made ISEF freshman year - will do it again this year (with a lot more effort)</p>

<p>AIME qualifier (working on taking this to the next step)</p>

<p>Several regional wins at debate, going to state this year (first year doing it)</p>

<p>President of Robotics Club</p>

<p>I handle investments in stock, bond and options </p>

<p>I do fundraising for a nonprofit working to handle preventable blindness in developing nations</p>

<p>I run a pretty popular technical blog, with 1000's of pageviews a day</p>

2

<p>You have amazing amazing ECs so this may not apply to you specifically but in general, your GPA matters a lot. For most schools your transcript is the number one thing they look at. Even over standardized testing.</p>

3

<p>Bump. Would like more opinions.</p>

4

<p>You, my friend, have been on CC too long.</p>

<p>GPA does matter, especially for state schools and the Ivy Leagues, where they get so many applicants they need a system to cut them down (unless it’s a special case or whatever.) So does the rigor of both your courses and of your HS and your SAT/ACT scores</p>

<p>That said, it isn’t all about the GPA. Your ECs, your recommendations, and your essay will make you stand out in the sea of over-achievers. You really have to highlight what makes you unique, interesting, and a better fit for the school than over everyone else. </p>

<p>I doubt you will have much trouble finding and getting into an excellent college. Good luck!</p>