Also, while your GPA may be top 10 percent for your school, on an absolute scale, it’s still on the low side. Colleges may be more willing to overlook this if you come from a super-rigorous school. From an average school, I wouldn’t count on it. Did you get 5’s on those APs? Were your lower grades in math?
@mathyone My school is above average when you compare public schools in my city, maybe state. A 4 on APUSH, 4 on AP GOV, 5 on AP LANG. No, my grades in math were my some of my highest. That is because I actually had to study.