<p>Hi CC, I'm a sophomore in NY and I need some advice. My grades this year have reallty been bad, the worst they ever have been I even had Ds at one point. Now, theyre starting to get better (bs and as) but im worried its too late. My average last year was an 89 but this year, i'd be lucky for it to be an 87. Test taking is my biggest strength, i got a 189 on my PSAT, highest in my grade. What can I do to get into the schools im interested in? I take all honors, and id be willing to do anything that would help me. I'm looking at Vanderbilt, USC, U of Miami, U of Georgia and Tulane. I know theyre great schools, but I also have tons of unique EC's. Do i have a shot?</p>
<p>Way too early to fret about chances. Just keep working hard on your school work/grades and enjoying life through your “tons of unique EC’s”. This way you don’t stress and you actually improve your chances along the way.</p>
<p>I would suggest to you that those that gain admission to the elite schools are often more interested in the actual school work, their EC’s, and life in general then how they look on a resume or which college will take them.</p>
<p>thanks but I’m not one of those grade hoarders or anything, i was just looking for something positive because my grades havent been the best. i actually dont research college THAT much, only when im in school because it looks like im doing something important. but youre right maybe i should focus on what goes into a resume instead of a peice of paper in the future</p>
<p>I really think you have a shot at those schools despite your grade average. Hopefully you can get that PSAT and, subsequently, SAT up, because doing such will make you much more competitive. It’s also rather hard to gage your chances without seeing your essays and EC’s…but I think those schools are ‘matches’ for you, so to speak.</p>
<p>thanks dude, and i know the PSAT isnt impressive but i was instructed not to study for it, and tried to do every problem. ill try to get those grades up and such. if its not too much, would a 3.6 GPA be too low for those schools? thats as low as i can imagine me getting</p>
<p>I don’t understand how the lowest it could be is a 3.6. You said last year you had an 89 and this year you would be lucky to have an 87. At my school 85-89 is a 3.0 and 90-94 is a 3.5. It sounds like an 88 average would be about a 3.3, not a 3.6. Please explain, maybe I just don’t know your school’s system.</p>
<p>well my guidance counselor told me that 95=4.0 and 80=3.0 so i just made an estimate.also im considering the fact that next year im going to try to work extremely hard</p>
<p>At most schools an 80 is a 2.5 and an 85 is a 3.0. Double check with your guidance counselor.</p>
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im pretty sure this is the right one, so were both kind of wrong. but im only a sophomore, so i have time to get that number up. think about it, if i were to get a great average next year, it would come out to about a 3.7</p>