If my GPA..

Applying to College
1

<p>Is below the average accepted GPA for a college at my school, could that be seriously impairing? Like let's say University X's average accepted GPA for my high school is a 98.89% but my average is a 95.63%, could that really hurt, even if other parts of my application are solid and test scores are above the average test scores for the school?</p>

2

<p>Your GPA being below the average accepted GPA does not bode well, especially if you lack a hook (sports recruitment, URM, legacy, etc). The average accepted GPA is always dragged down by the hooked applicants, so it’s not really representative of what a “normal” person needs to have a good shot at getting in. </p>

<p>edit: I didn’t mean to imply that hooked applicants uniformly have lower GPAs… but they are more likely to get in with lower GPAs than unhooked applicants. </p>

3

<p>@wchuck‌ What do you think about this scattergram? It’s from my school’s Naviance website. Name and school name blacked out. Circle represents me, red x’s are denied, green squares are accepted, blue diamonds are waitlisted/deferred, green diamonds are waitlisted/deferred and accepted, red diamonds are waitlisted/deferred and denied.</p>

<p><a href=“http://i.imgur”>http://i.imgur</a>. com/gWtsDgg.png</p>

<p>This university’s average accepted GPA is 99.63% and averaged accepted SAT score is 2135, for my school. I have a 95.76% and a 2270.</p>

<p>Also, what if I have shown an upward trend? My grades in freshman year are whats bringing down my average. Eliminate my freshman year grades and early sophomore year and I would have a 99% average or around there.</p>

4

<p>Bump </p>

5

<p>I don’t think that you are that far off. If you put together a really strong application, with stellar recommendations and really good essays, I don’t see why you wouldn’t have a great chance.</p>

6

<p>Its not always about GPA. Of course there has to be a standard, but of course SATs, ecs, etc. are accounted for. So while your GPA may be a bit lower, as long as your essay and other parts of your application are strong it shouldn be that big of a deal. </p>