Hello. I am a high school junior and I am 16. I started high school during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It started online. During that time, I had failed 3 classes. This has obviously tanked my GPA. I am currently doing well in school, but I have a 2.987 gpa. (when it updates for first semester it’ll be slightly higher but not enough at all) That sucks.
Some things about me right now: I am taking (and passing) AP and AICE classes, and am on my way to achieving my AICE diploma (similar to honors if you don’t know what that is.) I get honor roll regularly now.
I volunteer at the hospital and a doctor’s office and gathered 200 hours from that, in Chemistry Club, Speech and Debate, Key Club and I am the treasurer of National English Honor Society Club, and I have played piano for 9 years.
I am asian (if that matters when applying to college, i have no idea)
I will soon be taking the SAT and I am positive I will get a good score as I have been preparing for it for a while.
I’m very disappointed in myself. There are no excuses for my gpa. It is just a straight up disappointment and it makes me want to cry everytime I look at it.
I hate how I was not as determined in the beginning of HS as I am now. I feel like a mess.
I get mail to my house from colleges such as UofChicago and Auburn but I don’t think it truly means anything. I would like to go to UF, maybe apply to some colleges in California, etc…
(ps. i hear some cali colleges don’t check freshman grades, true?)
What will happen to me when applying to college? How can I make myself an even better candidate before it is too late? I am so disappointed.
The California UC’s and Cal states (exception Cal Poly SLO) do not use Freshman grades in their GPA calculations but Freshman grades are reviewed to make sure the UC/CSU A-G course requirements are fulfilled (passing grade of C or higher). Also, if you are not a California resident, these schools offer no need based financial aid and little competitive merit aid to out of state students. You should expect to pay full fees between $40K to $67K per year to attend depending upon campus.
There are many schools with your upward grade trend that would accept you. You need to define what you are looking for in location, school size, major and budget so posters can help with suggestions.
UCs and CSUs (except CPSLO) recalculate HS GPA without grades from 9th grade. Recalculate using GPA Calculator for the University of California – RogerHub . Minimum recalculated HS GPA for non-California residents is 3.4 at UC and 3.0 at CSU. UCs and CSUs do not use SAT or ACT scores for admission.
However, they do not offer financial aid for non-California residents. They obviously have much higher prices for non-California residents (UCs being more expensive than CSUs), and large merit scholarships are rare.
Some colleges have a 3.0 HS GPA threshold for admission or merit scholarships (possibly in combination with SAT or ACT scores). So a 3.1 may be much better than 2.9 for those colleges. However, be sure to check if they recalculate HS GPA in a way different from how your high school calculates it.
For location, the United States. States of consideration are FL, CA, NY, IL, MO, MA, etc. School size would preferably be mid sized to large. Major would be biochemistry, also considering english. I am unsure of budget but I don’t think money is a problem (unless it is outrageously expensive)
Better ask your parents what “outrageously expensive” is. Private college can be up to around $80k per year, and out-of-state public can be nearly that much.
On this website, the top 50 schools get talked about the most. The truth is there are hundreds of colleges and most of them are happy to accept a 3.0 student, especially one with your upward trajectory. Although it may be disappointing that it’s unlikely you’ll get into a top 20 school with your gpa, you sound like you’ve grown a lot throughout high school and are prepared to do really well in college. The top students at every college are competitive for graduate school and top jobs. Continue your momentum and you’ll do great!
True. I will be sure to ask them. One more thing, I just checked my class rank and it is 346 out of 738 juniors. Do you think that matters? Like, do some schools perform differently with students?
It depends on whether and how each college considers class rank. For example, in Texas public universities, class rank is a big deal, so a rank around top 47% may only get you into the less selective ones. But many other colleges do not consider class rank, or consider it much less.
I see. Yes. I live in Florida. I would really like to go to UF and have read several threads about people with GPAs on the lower end who got in but had strong SAT scores, ECs and essays. Honestly I am in tears I cannot believe I let myself do this.
Do not cry! You are obviously a super conscientious person and asking the right questions - your initiative alone will get you far! You are destined for a great college experience - maybe at UF and maybe somewhere that’s an even better fit for you! Just keep working hard but also let yourself enjoy this time and trust that you have what it takes to make it wherever you go!
Please do not be so hard on yourself. At the end of the day, you have to move forward. The pandemic had an impact on so many students in so many ways, and colleges are well-versed in parsing through what that means at this point. Your upward trend, rigor, and solid ECs will help so much. If you score well on the SAT, that will only help to confirm that your freshman year was an anomaly. And, as many have pointed out, different colleges have different ways of recalculating gpa. This could work in your favor.
What I would do for sure when it’s time to apply is to save explaining why your freshman year was hard for the Covid question on the common app. Don’t make your essay about it as well. Also make sure to go to AO visits at your hs and college fairs in order to make a personal connection with AOs. Demonstrate interest wherever possible, and have a solid list of schools that includes genuine likely and safety possibilities in addition to reaches.
You can’t change the past, but you can present yourself in the best possible light and try to give yourself some grace at the same time! Deep breaths. It’s going to be ok!
Florida has great public schools. Maybe it won’t be UF but there’s nothing wrong with an FAU, etc. or there are paths to transfer into UF. With $$, great schools like Stetson could be in your future. Why UF other than it’s the top ranked school in Florida? That doesn’t make a future - you do - so I hope it happens for you - but if not, you’ll have the ability to do just as well in life.
For Illinois, you can look at Southern Illinois and Bradley for private. Why Illinois? Is there a part of the state you are interested in?
NY - many private schools would love you and your money - check Hofstra, for example, but even some SUNY. Again, it’s a big state - what’s appealing about NY?
Missouri - Mizzou and others. Massachussets - will be some as well - Suffolk in Boston.
As for UCs, they are hefty price wise - do you want to spend upwards of $70K a year for UCs?
I guess I’d ask - why UF - because you say medium to large. Because if you’re seeking a big flagship, then Mizzou - but also Bama, Ms. State, Ole Miss, Arkansas might be others to look at. Closer to home a Coastal Carolina, etc.
Control what you can - keep forth on your path of great grades and other accomplishments - and you’ll have lots of options.
They may or may not be what you want on paper but what is the reason on paper you want UF - because you might be able to find the same thing at so many other places.
You will be fine. Although you may need to do a little bit of a mental restart, there are many excellent schools that will be available to you notwithstanding your freshman-year grades. You will be able to show a very positive trend, good LACs and, according to your expectations, some strong SAT/ACT scores. Rather than dwelling on a couple of bad grades, you should focus on the future and the possibilities that are open to you. Find a college search site or tool that you like. There are lots, but the one we started with was College Board’s Big Future site, which allows you to check your own interests, possible careers, etc. and search for safety, match and reach schools that may be a good match. At first, try to think broadly and challenge your own assumptions about yourself and your preferences. Don’t limit your search to just your “states of consideration,” for example. That way, things may come up that you haven’t even thought about yet. And in the end, there’s no harm in trying for UF, if that is still your preference. I’ve always felt it’s kind of the luck of the draw - if your application is well-presented and whoever reads your application sees the positive story, you never know what may happen. You should also be talking with your guidance counselor,who would be in the right position to address the bad grades and COVID issues in the GC reference. You yourself should try to put all that behind you and just move forward.
There are many great colleges that you will be qualified for. Check out the class of 20xx 3.0-3.4 threads to see how successful these applicants are and the schools that they really like. The plus side of looking beyond T50s is that it is much easier to base your opinions on the fit of the school rather than its reputation.
First take a deep breath and relax! You can’t turn back the clock, don’t worry about the past, focus on the things you can control. You can focus on your current grades, standardized tests and your essays. It’s my understanding that colleges like to see and upward progression in your grades. If you can show that, it may offset a slow start. I would also work with your guidance counselor to put together a realistic set of schools to apply. Finally try to cultivate teachers from this year who will write stellar letters of recommendation.
Finally, outside of the HYPMS of this world, it doesn’t really matter where you go. After your first job, nobody cares where you went to college. Don’t beat yourself up, it won’t change anything, your progress has shown you’ve matured.
I had a higher stats D18 and a D23 whose gpa was affected by covid. My kids never applied to highly selective schools because we had a limited budget and were chasing merit. But I have been pleasantly surprised at how well D23 is doing so far with acceptances and merit. It’s not very different from her high stats sister.
You might have to adjust your expectations but you will have good options to get an excellent education that won’t hold you back from your future goals.
My advice as the parent of a senior son who felt like you:
Breathe. It is ok. There is a school for you.
Upward trajectory is super positive. My S23 did ok freshman year, tanked a bit sophomore year (b/c covid), did well junior year and is totally excelling in senior year. After he sent in his college applications, we added his mid semester senior GPA report to all schools showing his terrific senior year work. He applied to schools that were appropriate for his GPA and has gotten acceptances and even merit money. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of schools in the US that will be happy to have you. S23 found a school that is right for him and is thrilled with his choice.
Head over the the 3.0-3.5 forums. You will be happily surprised that even kids who don’t have a 4.0 GPA, a 1550 SAT and cure cancer in their spare time actually get accepted to nice colleges, are happy, and do well in life. Check out the website collegesimply . com. You can enter a GPA and it will spit out colleges for you to explore. I just went there and put in a 3.3 (assuming your GPA will go up and compensating for an explainable freshman year) it shows 747 results to explore for students in that range. Thousands of students are in colleges that you’ve never heard of and are doing great things. Keep moving forward. Settle on a firm yearly budget with your parents. Is it 20K, 40K, 60K? If graduate school is in your future, is there a budget for that? Once the money is settled, start looking for an affordable school where you have a great chance of acceptance and would be happy. Really look for that “fit” of GPA, money and your personal happiness. Maybe you will stay in your first school for 4 years, or maybe you’ll get straight A’s freshman year and decide to transfer “up”. It will be ok!