Junior Year GPA Drop-- Advice?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I've been really stressed because I'm realizing now that no matter what I do, my GPA is going to drop junior year from a 3.95 to around a 3.83. (Weighted at around a 5.4 on a 6.0 scale)</p>

<p>Background:
I started HS at a regular public school and got straight As in 9th and 10th grade.
This year, I was admitted into an "advanced studies" school only for juniors and seniors where students spend the first half of the day taking dual enrollment college classes, and the second half taking AP highschool classes.
I did okay in my college classes (5 As and 2 Bs), but, with taking so many extra classes, the rigor of the curriculum, being in virtually every club at our school, volunteering, SATs, and other family issues, I couldn't handle it all at once and am going to end the year with 2 As and 3 Bs.</p>

<p>How is this going to affect my college admissions? My top schools include: Northwestern (top), Georgetown, Harvard (reach, of course), and Stanford.</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 3.83 (drop from 3.95 in junior year)
SAT: 2160/1480 (am taking one more time in June)
Courses:
9th
Algebra 2 H, French 4 H, English 1 H, Biology H, World History H, Acting 2
10th
Chemistry 1 H, English 2 H, Pre-Calculus H, AP Art History, Humanities H, Acting 3, Comprehensive Theater
11th
Dual Enrollment: Introduction to Psychology, Theatre Appreciation, Principles of Business, Biology and Environment, Intermediate French 1, Criminal Law, International Relations
HS: AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP Government/AP Macroeconomics, Executive Internship</p>

<p>The school is one of the top in the nation and is known for its rigor, but, is the downward trend in GPA something that colleges will be understanding of?</p>

<p>I have very good ECs (in many, many clubs, hold leadership positions, competition clubs, head of children activities at local temple, volunteer with children with disabilities, taught drama at a middle school, community theatre, Summer law course at northwestern CTD summer 2011, and have an internship at a law firm this summer)</p>

<p>I'm also a National Merit Scholar (commended), Questbridge College Prep Scholar, and recipient of the Fein Fellow Award (through Questbridge).</p>

<p>This is worrying me so much that I can't sleep :/ (hence the fact that I'm writing this near 2 am :p)</p>

<p>Did I just lose my chance at getting into my dream school? What should I do?</p>

<p>Sorry for the long message, any input would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thank you!
Angelicak13</p>

2

<p>bumpittybump</p>

3

<p>Of course a drop in gpa jr year is undesirable. But can anyone tell you with any confidence if/how much it will affect your admission decisions at those schools? No.</p>

<p>As far as what to do? Ace the first half of sr year.</p>

<p>Please tell me your name isn’t Angelica K.</p>

4

<p>What do you suggest if I plan on applying ED/EA?</p>

<p>Hahah no, ‘K’ IS the first letter of my last name, but Angelica (Angie) is my dog’s name, so I used it instead of using my own.</p>

<p>How come?</p>

5

<p>“but, with taking so many extra classes, the rigor of the curriculum, being in virtually every club at our school, volunteering, SATs, and other family issues, I couldn’t handle it all at once”</p>

<p>Okay, here’s the lesson: When you move into a more competitive environment, you ramp DOWN your activities for the first semester, so you have some time to adjust. Remember this when you start your first semester of college and are tempted to sign up for too many classes and too many ECs. </p>

<p>And it’s all right to explain in your college application that you changed schools and underestimated the time commitment that was required. And you show, with your higher grades next semester, that you have made a successful recalibration of how you should be spending your time.</p>

<p>Next point: “many, many clubs” - by junior year, you should be focusing on depth in your ECs rather than breadth. There is no value in belonging to (even leading) lots of clubs if you haven’t accomplished anything significant in that capacity - and that’s hard to do if you have too many things going on at once. A laundry list of activities does not impress - it simply looks like resume padding. </p>

<p>Finally, you have listed 4 selective (2 very, very selective) schools to apply to. You should have an equal number of match schools and one or two safeties that you would be happy to attend.</p>