Hi, I’m a junior in HS and I’m almost finished with my first semester. For some background information, my HS is ranked amongst the top five high schools in my state. We have been on the news and in the New York Times for the unreasonably competitive nature of our school, and stress that our school places on the students. That being said, I take an extremely challenging course load (5 APs currently, 5 APs in senior year- total projected number of APs: 10). Currently, I have a 3.69 UW, and a 4.31 W GPA. I consider all other parts of my admission being impressive–I have a long list of extracurriculars, internships, and an impressive ACT score. I am aiming for a top-tier school, so JUST in terms of GPA, am I adequate, or do I need to get it up a little more? Thank you.
It’s not as much about gpa as the transcript, actual classes and top grades in cores and those related to your possible major.
3.69 is a pretty good GPA. If your school has Naviance, check to see how you compare to your peers.
Not knowing what state you’re from, I am guessing your school is akin to Stuyvesant or TJ in NoVa. Or if it’s a California school any one of Gunn, Lynbrook, or Monta Vista.
I have checked Naviance, but they only show the weighted GPAs of the applicants. I wanted to know if my unweighted was sufficient
How would we know if your GPA is adequate without knowing the actual colleges you are considering?
If you are considering HYPSM and the like…keep in mind that these are reaches for everyone who applies. With acceptance rates less than 10%…that means 90% do NOT get accepted despite having excellent applications.
3.69 UW is fine. If you can get it closer to 3.75/3.8 UW, that would be better.
Of course if your high school is one of the pressure cookers, then most people will have roughly the same weighted GPA or higher. And the app isn’t just about GPA/test scores. Your ECs and how you present yourself in your essays are important as well.
Some colleges:
-Barnard College
-NYU
-Cornell
-UPenn
Are finances a consideration? I’m only asking because NYU really only gives tippy top aid to tippy top applicants.
thank you
Your best bet is to go talk to your GC and ask them what sorts of colleges kids with your GPA get accepted at. It’s a good enough GPA for lots of great colleges. FWIW, my younger son had a lower GPA at a middling suburban NYC school and got into Tufts, Vassar and U of Chicago. He had about 7 APs, was in two orchestras and had some unusual ECs. He had lopsided SAT scores - almost perfect for verbal, 100 points lower in math.
Is a 3.69 an A- at your school, or a B+ ? Are most of your grades some kind of A with a few B+s? Vice versa? Are lower grades in non-academic requirements bringing it down? Many aspects to this.
Does your school rank? What does the GPA distribution look like on your school’s online information pages?
In answer to your question, a higher GPA ALWAYS helps. If you can bring it up, why not?
Just how “impressive” is your ACT score?
The numbers look good. But admission doesn’t just depend on numbers. Or on counting an “impressive long list of extracurriculars.” The most competitive colleges are going to ask what you did, what you contributed, what you learned about yourself and others from those extracurriculars. They will want to see a person, an individual, not a summary score of achievements.
So focus on your STORY, who you are, what you want to become, and how what you have learned so far has prepared you to do important or special things after age 18, 21, etc. Where have you shown initiative and leadership, or helped others to do valuable things? What are those things, and how did you help bring them about? Create a narrative based on concrete evidence.
Schools like yours tend to have very knowledgeable guidance counselors. Talk to yours and see what he/she says about your application and the likelihood of being accepted to your top choices.
3.69 is near the average at NYU, and below the average at the others. However, more selective colleges take a holistic approach that considers the GPA in the context of the full transcript, as well as numerous criteria beyond just UW GPA. For example, it’s relevant in what subjects you got the B’s in, as well as in what years. It’s also relevant how harshly/leniently your HS grades At some HSs, as much as 15% of the class gets a UW 4.0. At others UW 4.0 is very rare. It’s also relevant how rigorous your course schedule is. If you want a simple generic answer, higher GPA is better, but it does not sound like GPA is too low to bother applying at any of the schools you listed.
We don’t have the concept of “B+,” just A, B, C, etc. You’re correct, I have gotten mostly As with Bs here and there. My school does not rank. I’m just worried my GPA will fall this year, since I’m taking APs, and everything is much more challenging.
As an anecdote, my D was admitted to northwestern and NYU, and denied at Brown with am UW GPA close to yours, and strong test scores . She would have been full pay at northwestern (we do not qualify for merit) got “decent” aide at NYU (had stronger aide at other schools). She chose NYU, and has loved every minute
It would appear that a 3.69 is usually considered an A minus. That’s good. If you can keep it at that level, or better yet edge up to a 3.7+, so much the better.
Let’s face it: there are kids who can load up on the most challenging APs without breaking a sweat, and those who can’t. Just do the best you can. It will all work out in the end.
First, it depends on how tough is the grading scale in the HS. Is it deflated or inflated? Second, it depends on the college. Check out their CDS and see how they value the GPA comparing to other factors. Last, many schools do re-calculate GPA.