Hi everyone. I’m in 11th grade and I have a weighted GPA of 3.3. Now before you look at me and go omg just hear me out. The school that I go to is a school which requires an entrance test and it’s fairly hard to get into. The classes there are extremely difficult. It’s a school for people who are smart and wanting a challenge. But I have bad grades but people tell me our schools name will make up for the grades colleges see on our application. I even went to our counselor for some suggestion about college and talked to her about NYU she looked at me and said to not even try. She even suggested that if I’m that desperate to get a better GPA I should go an extra year at high school. I feel completely crushed. I’m working extremely hard this year and I have all As and Bs but I’m aiming for all As at the end of the semester. I hope to apply to Vanderbilt, NYU and Emory and Duke and some state colleges near me. So how could I increase my chances of these colleges maybe accepting me or should I just give up?
Thanks
NOTE: the classes I’m taking this year are AP Cal BC, APUSH, AP Biology, AP Stats, English 11, astronomy and a few others.
Test scores? Rank? Those could provide more insight into your chances, but for now, all the schools you have listed are out of reach. Sit down with your counselor, lay down the law and tell them you want to go to college after 4 years of HS, and build a realistic college list.
Agree that no one can evaluate your chances without test scores. I will say that we see a good number of students out here with low GPAs who insist that their school is the toughest… but then their test scores aren’t so great either, which belies that their school is really that tough.
I have a 31 on the ACT and I haven’t taken the SAT. I did however make a 1380 on the new PSAT but I don’t think those scores are really factored. Also we don’t really have ranks at our school. I also have another realistic college list for example I’d love to go to UAB or Rhodes or Auburn. I also do plan on taking the ACT again in April(it’s required by the school) so I hope to increase my score from there
I also do plan on taking the ACT again in April(it’s required by the school) so I hope to increase my score from there
Good luck to you!! Your current scores look solid, so bring your GPA up and you’ll stand a chance!
As much as I would like to be optimistic, a 3.3 w is going to break your application with many of these colleges. Colleges usually like to look at uw which means ur uw is lower than a 3.3 which is hard. On top of that, your ACT score is subpar (for emory,duke,vanderbilt).
As much as you say that your school is the toughest, your 31 ACT doesn’t really back that up. I don’t see you getting into any of your reach schools sorry.
That’s a solid ACT score and it will help. Also, colleges will recalculate the GPA based on your honors and AP classes so it will be higher if the 3.3 is unweighted.
@amy989 That 31 ACT is mediocre for his schools.
A 31 is still 97%. If everything else looks good I don’t think it will count against him except maybe at Duke where the average score is about a 32-34. NYU average ACT is 28-32. Vanderbilt 30-34. Emery average score is 30.
Vanderbilt -> 32-35
Emory -> 30-34
Duke -> 31-34
NYU -> 28-32
So, aside form NYU, OP is on the bottom end for all these colleges. + With a 3.3W, meaning that the UW grade will be around a 3-3.1 it will be pretty much impossible to be admitted.
If you cant get all A’s do something spectacular with your ECs. Easier said than done, but I think its the best option for you. Work on your essays and you have a chance. Albeit, not a good one. But then again, you ve done your best thus far.
Also, a 31 ACT isnt something you should stick with. For those schools, you need 33-35 or 1450+ to balance your gpa.
Sorry that your school’s hard. Your schedule is difficult and ik what you mean. I went to a hardschool and in sophomore year, i hated it so much. Just get over it and try to start fresh.
Keep in mind that Guidence Counselors may tend to be conservative in terms of their recommendations. After all, a student not getting into any of their colleges is a lot more damaging than a student getting into a reach school is beneficial. So your GC really wants you to choose schools that the GC is fairly sure you can get into. I’ve known plenty of students advised to add safeties who got into all their original “reaches”. It makes sense to consider the GC’s comments but not get all bent out of shape about them.
@thecoolboy1234 Duke’s ACT score ranges are 31-35 and 33-35 for Trinity and Pratt respectively.
http://admissions.duke.edu/images/uploads/process/DukeClass2019Profile.pdf
Okay? Ahha doesnt really change my comment though
When you look at the approx. ACT scores at colleges, make sure you look at scores of actual attending students. Many colleges post scores of admitted students which will be much higher than those who actually attend. Colleges want to make their numbers look as high as possible so they can seem more competitive - it’s marketing.
My daughter got merit scholarships at many of her early actions schools. My son is at an IVY. Neither of them scored in the top 1% on any of the tests. They didn’t have perfect GPA’s either. They had heavy course loads, lots of AP’s and honors, excellent recommendations and lots of EC’s.
I do recommend you take the ACT again and try to get your GPA up if you can. But I think your current score of 31 gives you a chance. Also, colleges will recalculate the GPA. Some colleges add an entire grade onto AP classes so a B will become a 4.0. The higher the college acceptance GPA, the more competitive the college looks to be.
@ikim16 I’m glad you understand! And i will be working towards getting a higher ACT score and I will be taking the redesigned SAT this summer as well. And I have a lot of ECs and volunteer hours.
@amy989 Okay thank you for your advice. It was very helpful and the colleges I listed earlier are not the only ones I want I also have backups and mid range schools I can attend. I also plan on taking the ACT again in April and I am going to be taking the SAT in July as well so I hope those can help build my application.