<p>I'm currently finishing up my junior year of high school with a dismal 3.1 GPA for 3 quarters, or 81% at the lower end of the top half of my class. I know that these grades aren't substantially low, but I'm worried because of my poor performances in certain classes, such as my 67% in pre-calc, 78% in trigonometry, and 65% in physics. For the most part, my other classes are in the upper 80's to 90's, but they aren't as challenging as the classes I'm performing poorly in. </p>
<p>My overall GPA for three years in high school so far is a 3.4, or 86.7%. I received a 94 freshman year and an 85 sophomore year. I took AP US History in sophomore year so my GPA has been scaled accordingly for that. </p>
<p>I've taken the SATs twice and scored a 1590 and 1580 so I'm worried that the combination of my poor grades and average SAT scores won't allow me to attend the colleges I want.
Fortunately, I do participate in a lot of meaningful extracurricular activities. I'm involved in three school clubs, including the newspaper club, in which I am managing editor and the diversity club where I am president. I've been playing tennis for the school for two years so far, but I am not JV. I have also performed violin in several credible events in my local community as well as a recital at Carnegie Hall in NYC. I have also involved in an orchestra outside of school for 4 years so far. </p>
<p>Most of these extracurricular activities are long term commitments. I have been doing them since freshman year. </p>
<p>For senior year, I have AP English Lit and AP gov planned out as well as other challenging classes and I hope to increase my GPA to at least a 90%. </p>
<p>Will I be able to get into a good college with these credentials? I'm working hard on improving my SAT to hopefully a 1650 or 1700 and I'm also taking the ACT in June as a backup. My colleges of choice include Drexel U, Temple U, St, Joseph's, U of Maryland, and Boston U, but I will gladly attend any 4 year university in a large metropolitan area. </p>
<p>I know that I don't have a full resume yet, but I just want a synopsis of my chances. </p>
<p>I heard that a low GPA and a high SAT score is actually a negative thing because it shows that you don’t care for school in the long run. Is that true?</p>
<p>Alright. So if I aim high for my SAT scores, will my current grades and extracurriculars be good enough for a well known, large 4 year university?</p>
<p>You need to go to the websites of the colleges you are interesting in, and looking at where their 25-75th range is – do you fall within that 25-75th average range? If your parents did not attend college, you may be able to fall within the lower end of the range – if your parents both attended college, you ideally should fall within the upper part of that range (unless you have some other draw – being recruited for music or a sport or something like that). If your school uses Naviance, look at those schools and who from your school has been accepted at those schools in the past. Maybe your GPA is OK but your test scores need boosting? Then work really hard. There are over 3,500 schools in the country – with grades in your most challenging classes being in the C and sometimes D range??? I might suggest that you reconsider the colleges that are on your list – or your parents should have you reconsider. for them to pay a crapload of money for college and have you end up with Cs or Ds is probably not a wise use of their money. You need to be at a college where you can be academically successful.</p>
<p>Google the Common Data Set for each school and look at sections C-7 to C-10. That will show what’s used in admission and average grades and scores.</p>
<p>I assume you’re a PA resident.
You would need 1650-1700 for Temple and I would include West Chester and Pitt on your list, plus perhaps a branch campus or two. Prepare with prep books and with number2.com (it’s free and it tracks your errors to help you do better).
UMaryland will be unaffordable unless your parents have 150k in a college fund for you.
Are you a boy or a girl? If a girl, check out Chatham University, Simmons, and Trinity Washington.
Include: Juniata, UScranton, Susquehanna, Goucher, McDaniel, Arcadia, Duquesne, Wittenberg, Otterbein, Muskingum, Gannon.
if you’re willing to venture further in the hopes of better education and scholarships, I recommend Gustavus Adolphus, Southwestern University, Transylvania, UPuget Sound, Millsaps, St Michael’s, Luther, Albion, Hanover, Siena, Nebraska Wesleyan, Hartwick, Caroll of Montana.
All of these are in/near a city and would admit a B+ student with 1650-1700 SAT.
What’s your schedule next year? Since the sciences aren’t your forte, double up in humanities, preferably with 2 AP’s if your school offers them. </p>
<p>I’m doing AP courses in classes I am strong on next year as a last ditch effort. My parents make $375k a year so finances aren’t a big problem. I am also mixed race & male</p>
<p>Since you’ll be full pay, DO NOT apply for financial aid. Apply early to all rolling admissions schools. Being mixed race and male will help you get into upper-level LACs from the list, such as Transylvania, UPuget Sound, Goucher, St Michael’s, etc. </p>