<p>I went from a 3.2-3.4 weighted GPA in freshman and sophomore year to a 4.1-4.4 weighted GPA in junior and senior year. If I'm applying to elite institutions such as Ivies, top 20 schools, etc. what is the detriment of that and how will admissions officers view that? Because my overall GPA would only be about 3.7 weighted, factoring in all 4 years. </p>
<p>Additionally, if one had a valid excuse such as illness or whatever, what effect could that have? And what if a person has no valid excuse?</p>
<p>Colleges like to see an upward trend. </p>
<p>But also keep in mind that many students at my school who are accepted at these elite institutions have anywhere from 4.1 to 4.6 cumulative GPAs. I am really on the low end of the barrell with a 3.7 cumulative. (all these GPAs I’m mentioning are weighted btw, my school doesn’t do unweighted GPAs). My SAT is a 2270, but I’m an ORM.</p>
<p>Make sure to find some match and safety schools that you really like. Upward trend is good but you are right, an overall weighted 3.7 is low for ivies and top 20 schools. From what I’ve read, accepted 3.7’s at these schools are generally hooked and you haven’t mentioned if you are a national champion, recruited athlete or anything of that nature. Certainly apply to a couple reach schools that you love but then put them aside and really focus on quality matches who have more room for “upward trend” applicants.</p>
<p>FWIW, my D was an upward trend case. She had a difficult sophomore year that killed her GPA. She was applying with a 3.64 unweighted, 4.1 weighted gpa. High test scores. She applied to one Ivy and a couple LAC’s in the top 20. Didn’t get into any of those. However, come April, she had a really nice selection of top 50 schools along with some schools lower in rank but with intriguing programs and great merit offers. She is over-the-moon happy with her school and quite grateful with how things turned out.</p>
<p>Again, put your best foot forward for the reach schools you want but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Try to find some other schools to get excited about too.</p>
<p>@turtletime If you don’t mind me asking, what were her test scores and essays like?</p>
<p>@turtletime No hooks, no national champion, no nothing. Even with a higher GPA, I’m still in the turtle race. And I have a bunch of match schools that I’m applying to, but also some low reaches and higher matches that aren’t Ivy selective but selective nonetheless. How would I fare at those? </p>
<p>What was her upward trend timeline though? Did she go from a 4.4 to a 2.9 to a 3.9 etc etc </p>
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you the exact trajectory of her grades. I just know she had straight “A’s” 9th, 11th and 12th grades. B’s and mostly C’s in 10th (though some AP’s which weighted her.) She wrote her essay on what happened that year, what she learned and how she turned it around. There were honors and AP’s 9th and 10th. 11th and 12th were almost entirely community college classes and weighted as such. I can’t remember her exact scores either but she used the ACT which I remember being in like the 98th percentile. She was a young applicant at 16 though not sure anyone would have known that. She wasn’t a national champion either but working at professional levels among adults in her areas of passion. I assume great recommendations as they were from people who really knew and valued her but who doesn’t get good recs. Any school with acceptance rate 30 percent or higher, she was accepted with scholarship. Anything between 20-29 percent, she was wait-listed and chose not to pursue further. Anything under 20, she was rejected. She’s at a 30 percent acceptance school and incredibly happy already getting opportunities she wouldn’t likely have gotten at an Ivy as a freshman.
I’m not qualified to tell you where you will get in. You will be assessed based on who is applying with you and that changes each year. I just can see you getting worked up about these uber elite schools and wanted to make sure you are looking other places too. A weighted 3.7 is low for the under 30 percent acceptance schools… not impossible but not something to obsess about. Assume they are “no’s” and if you manage a “yes” then you’ll have another school to decide between.
@turtletime That sounds like a little different from my case though in that I had a consistent up trend instead of a single year downfall. Do you think I should write something in the Additional Informarion section about this?
And I should mention that these GPAs are conversions from an 100 point scale. A 98 is a 4.0, so I have a 96, which is actually a 3.8 not 3.7. I would have around a 99 or 101 when just considering senior and junior year. Doesn’t matter much, just wanted to mention I don’t get letter grades and the GPA on a 5 scale is not sent to colleges, just my grade on an 100-point scale.