low gpa=denial at UVA?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I just found out this morning that UVA released their early admissions decisions last night (even though they had the date as the 29th). I was shocked to find out that I was rejected. A few weeks ago, I posted a thread that explained my predicament with my gpa.</p>

<p>Basically, during junior year, one of my close friends died and the emotional trauma basically ruined my first semester junior year. However, by "ruin" I mean I got a C in BC calculus and B's in AP chem and bio. I raised the BC calc grade to a B- with a B+ second semester, and got an A- for bio, B+ for chem during second semester. Although I ended up with 3 B's for the junior year final grades, my rank plummeted to sub-10%. This was with a 3.8 uw and a 4.14 w gpa.</p>

<p>My counselor wrote an AMAZING lor and I wrote a supplemental essay to explain the situation. Also, one of the reasons my gpa is low is because some high school classes taken in middle school brought down my grade. My counselor explained that I would be well within the top 10% if not for those grades. Compared to my friends who got in, my extracurriculars were WAY over the mark (not trying to be cocky or anything, but I have been told such things by friends/teachers). These include a state championship, and an international #1 ranking in a science olympiad, among other things.</p>

<p>I have a 2250 powerscored SAT with an 800 on the reading section, and a 710lit and 730bio sat2. The only plausible reason that I can think of for my rejection is my sub-par gpa. </p>

<p>I'm not bitter about being rejected from UVA per se, but I am shocked and worried. I was reassured countless times that colleges would "look over" my sub-par gpa. I am now scared that I have no chance a schools like Umich, Uchicago, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Brown if my gpa is too low even for my state school! The only reassurance I have is that my grades for senior year are very high, and I am even pulling an A+ in the multivariable class taught by the same teacher as my bc calc class. </p>

<p>Should I aim for lower colleges? It frustrates me to no end that my gpa is the Achilles heel to my application, and I am terrified of being forced to go to a school well below my credentials. </p>

<p>Help! :(</p>

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<p>are you OOS for UVa?</p>

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<p>

The OP is IS for UVA. The question is whether the OP is from an over-represented area. As teh staet flagship UVA must show it serves the ENTIRE state so great stats from schools like TJ may not be good enough. If the OP is from NOVA this should not have been unexpected.</p>

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<p>Uchicago- You asked whether you should “aim for lower colleges?”</p>

<p>The answer is two part: 1. Nope, don’t aim low, aim high. HOWEVER 2. Don’t ever take it for granted who more selective schools are going to accept (even in-state, when it is a nationally reputable school like UVA). There might just simply be way too many applicants and not nearly enough spaces, yes, even to accomodate someone as creditialed as you.</p>

<p>Don’t freak out–You will likely land somewhere great—but if you were my child, I would have advised that your colleges were a bit “top” heavy, meaning, you might think of applying to just one or two extra schools that are a notch below those you’ve listed. </p>

<p>Remember, this is a public forum and we all have our opinions. I’m just throwing mine out there, fwiw.</p>

5

<p>Sorry for your loss. However, no guidance counselor should ever mislead you to think that any highly competitive school will overlook reasons for a lower GPA, even though yours is not “low.” UVA is very competitive, and so are the other schools to which you are applying.</p>

<p>I would strongly suggest that you apply to a safety school ASAP. There are still some schools with Jan. 15 or later deadlines. Don’t be left out. You may get in any of the schools listed. But they are all very competitive and why leave so much up to uncertainty.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>