<p>I'm going to graduate from my high school 1 year early, and I am applying to college this fall, but my GPA is not great. Its around 3.2-3.3 UW (in all honors/AP courses) at a somewhat competitive public high school. My rank is 18-19%, which i know isn't good enough for most top schools. The good news is that I got perfect scores on my SAT1 (2400) and 4 different SAT2s (math2, chemistry, bio m, and physics). I have decent ECs (student gov, math team, rowing team), and my recommendations should be strong as well.</p>
<p>Do i have any chance at top schools or should i just apply to my local state school (UMass-Amherst) and try to transfer later?</p>
<p>I will be a junior next year, but i will graduate at the end of my junior year instead of the end of my senior year. It will take me a total of three years to get through high school, but i already did two of them.</p>
<p>But i see how you could read it the other way.</p>
<p>EDIT: of top schools, i mean Chicago, UC Berkley, UCLA, Columbia, and maybe Harvey Mudd</p>
<p>I think you have a pretty good chance. Write great essays! Your GPA isn’t that low considering you’re graduating early and everything. At least in my opinion.</p>
<p>“if you can’t get an A-average in HS, perhaps you should reconsider whether you are ready for college a year early”.</p>
<p>Not So - there are lots of reasons why smart kids may not have an A-average in a public HS… </p>
<p>You need to get to know some admin reps at the schools your considering. Call and make appointments now so you can get some valuable mentoring. You should be looking at top schools and letting them get to know you…</p>
<p>I am with IB on that one since college gpas are usually lower than hs gpa.</p>
<p>Also many schools look at the high SAT and low gpa as a negative, because they wonder if you are slacking. I don’t think that will be your case, but somehow in your essay explain why you have a low gpa. Without the explanation they will wonder if it was slacking or maybe not being mature enough for the classes. You need to explain in a positive manner.</p>
<p>Eh, I don’t think it is such a good idea to graduate a year early if your grades are not up to par. Sure, you can ace the SATs, but the SATs don’t test work ethic nor maturity, both of which you will seem to lack. I don’t think you are not mature enough or motivated enough, but colleges, which often give you money to attend their schools, don’t want to waste time, money, or a slot in their classes for slackers. </p>
<p>However, if you have a good reason, by all means enlighten them. Good luck sir.</p>
<p>Try considering colleges which treat Standardized testing highly. Despite your GPA is low, you have a great chance at many elegant schools. Good Luck!!!</p>
<p>Theyre not gonna think youre a slacker per say. Youre taking all honors and AP classes. Youre a special one because youre obviously very intelligent, and the low GPA is understandable because schools always been easy for you so you have bad study habits (correct me if i’m wrong). Now HYPSM may be out of reach for right now, but schools like Carnegie Mellon or Johns Hopkins certainly arent.</p>
<p>^there are none, at least in the US. US colleges make a point of not having test scores at the very top of the list in considering applicants.</p>
<p>Early college is a possibility for students who cannot get a challenging or useful education at their HS. Their school’s best just isn’t a challenge to them. this obviously is not the case at your school. If you haven’t the diligence to maintain at least an A average in your HS, especially given your great intelligence, what is to lead them to believe that you will be mature enough to enter college a year early and handle a workload much more difficult than that you have had in HS?</p>
<p>Bad study habits are not an excuse. To the contrary, they are a disqualifier. Admission to good colleges is about more than intelligence.</p>
<p>Try to do really well first semester next year and maybe add a couple community college classes this summer and in the fall to increase your GPA.</p>
<p>There are many colleges that will make your 2400 the most important factor, they are just not the very top private ones. Most state schools, for example, accept largely by formula and a 2400 would weigh heavily in your favor. </p>
<p>Private colleges just below the top who are in a contest to up their rank will also heavily count it. Really, it’s just the ivies and peer colleges that won’t do back flips for a 2400.</p>
<p>I think some of these people are being a little harsh. You’re obviously very smart if you’re capable of getting those perfect test scores, regardless of what you’re GPA is. That being said, the top top schools (ivies) get many perfect SATs, often accompanied by better grades than yours. However, I’m not sure how they look at the whole graduating early thing. Your high tests grades will get you into a very good school though, but the schools you listed may be a little tough.</p>
<p>I don’t know. From what I know, grades from advanced classes are mainly what colleges look for (unless you’re a recruited athlete).</p>
<p>But your tests are amazing. Perhaps you could explain why your grades slipped in your essay? Anyway, good luck, and definitely apply. After all, the worst they could say is no.</p>
Good luck sir.</p>