How much will a crappy GPA hurt me?

<p>I want to apply to MIT, Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton (among other more "safe" schools). </p>

<p>My UW GPA is 3.7-3.75 while my W GPA is 4.4-4.5 and I landed within the top 5% of my class.<br>
I have Lots of leadership (4 organizations I served as president in).<br>
My SAT scores were 2220/2400 or 1520/1600 (whichever you find more helpful to use).<br>
I also took 3 SAT IIs (math II, physics, and US history) and recieved 800s on them all.<br>
14 AP or university dual enrollment classes (5s on all the AP exams).<br>
I have many school level awards (and a couple higher, more respectable awards including my eagle scout rank).<br>
I have a great passion in physics and music (which will be evident from my supplemental materials and essays).<br>
Finally, I am not international (thank god). </p>

<p>So, at the risk of sounding like everyone else here, how much do you think this will hurt me? Will I not be considered? Or will it merely be a low point in my application, but not hurt me that much?</p>

<p>If you can come up with a decent explanation for that GPA you’ll have a shot. I also see that you’re from the Southeast, so I imagine you’re from an underrepresented state, which helps.</p>

<p>North Carolina? Yeah, I don’t really have an explanation other than that I was lazy and didn’t feel like doing anything. I could argue that I was depressed and had no motivation (partly to blame), but I imagine that wouldn’t look too great to any of these colleges.</p>

<p>NC is going to be a little rough. Are your grades consistantly low, or is there an upward trend? That will make a big difference.</p>

<p>There’s an upward trend for the most part. I had a 3.1 in freshamn year, a 4.0 in sophomore year, a 3.75 junior year (my AP env. sci. teacher couldn’t find one of my tests because I accidently put it in the wrong pile so I got a B, and my English teacher likes to play favorites, so I got a B), and Senior year is shaping up to be a 4.0.</p>

<p>O_O your GPA is fine. Especially with your AP scores, it’s still very high as is your class rank. I really wouldn’t worry about it, I think you’ll definitely be competitive at those schools.</p>

<p>Seriously? Because I’ve looked at their statistics which indicate that I’d (if nothing else) be toward the low level of their admissions. Thank you agc0319 and nyc2013 both.</p>