Hi, I’m currently a junior who’s looking to apply for college next year. My ap scores are four and fives, and my SAT score is above a 2200. I also have an IB diploma and i’ve participated in some school clubs like Science Olympiad. However, my gpa is a 2.7 partially on my own fault but also because of some family issues. I want to apply to University of Washington, however, most of the applicants who’ve been accepted have a gpa of 3.5. Do I still have a chance? Is there anything I can still do in my senior year that would help? If not, what school would I have a chance in getting in? I really don’t want to go to a community college.
I think it is worth applying. Take some time with your essays.
Some colleges just look at gpa and test scores. But many of the more selectives look holistically so they consider more, like your ECs, recommendations, essays and will consider your explanation for dips in grades due to family and other problems. IB is a rigorous program and schools will recognize that and some colleges may weight those courses, so you have a reasonable chance to get into a 4 year, you will just have to apply to see. You have more state options than UW so put those on the list too. If you can afford or get aid you have some quality schools there to look at too in Willamette, Whitman, Puget Sound who will be open to understanding why your grades were affected and giving you a chance.
What do your grades look like by semester? It is easier to explain and understand temporary dips than consistently underperforming.
I don’t think AP scores are usually used for admission but you definitely want to report those because it will help. Also take 2 or 3 SAT II.
Finally, if you have to do CC and transfer, it is a way to prove your grades and get into the U that you want. I know many people who had to go the CC route for one reason or another and wound up very successful. Keep the long game in mind.
Frankly unless you are a recruited football player you have no chance with that GPA. http://opb.washington.edu/content/common-data-set Look at Section C of the latest Common Data Set. It is in the bottom 1% of accepted students. You best bet is to start at a CC, do well, and transfer. Your resume will only list the college from which you graduated.
I’d just try for WWU, kill your basics for a year and transfer to the Udub.
There is nothing wrong to attend a lower ranked college whether it is a CC or a 4 year college and do well in that. college. If you are the big fish in a small pond, you will go some where. Success is what you do, not where you go to school.
“Very difficult to get into”?
From what kind of perspective?
WWU has an 85% accept rate. Half the students have SAT scores below 600.
10% of the admits have GPAs in the range of this applicant and the difference might be that they have the test scores to match.