Low GPAs, Upward Trends, and Excellent ACT Scores

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi,
I'm a current high school senior and I had a few questions about my resume and how it would be perceived by colleges. </p>

<p>My freshman year was plagued by two immediate family members' ending up in the hospital for two different reasons. I spent many of my days at the hospital with both family members, and this severely limited the time that I had to focus on work. I ended the first semester with a 3.32 GPA, and the second with a 3.52, taking mostly honors classes (no APs are offered freshman year).</p>

<p>My sophomore year was much better. First semester, I had a 3.64 GPA, and second semester, I had a 3.83 GPA, taking mostly honors courses and one AP (only two offered).</p>

<p>My junior year was even better. First semester, my GPA was 3.84 and second semester, it wa 3.87, taking mostly honors courses, 2 APs, and self-studying for an additional AP (4,4,5).</p>

<p>First semester senior year was slightly worse than Junior Year, but not significantly. I managed a 3.81 GPA while taking 3 APs and some honors courses.</p>

<p>I scored a 35 Composite on my ACT (36E/33M/36R/35S/11W) in just one attempt.</p>

<p>My question: how will I be perceived by college admissions people? Will they think that I'm lazy? Will they just look at my GPA and assume that I'm not right for their respective schools? Will they understand?</p>

<p>I attend a top New York private school, and I have good to very good (but not incredible) ECs, work experience, and a lot of meaningful volunteer work. For my school, my schedule was one of the more rigorous, and my school tends to have pretty good college admissions. We also have little grade inflation, and almost no one gets above a 3.9 because of the difficulty of the courses. I'd say I'm at about the 20th-22nd percentile GPA-wise and much higher in terms of test scores and ECs. (Our Ivy/MIT pipeline is 14.8%).</p>

<p>If I'm shooting for upper echelon non-Ivies and lower-echelon Ivies, do I have a shot? I'm talking about schools like Georgetown, Wash U, Cornell, Emory, etc.</p>

<p>Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>

If that’s the case, I’d be astonished if you can’t get better college-placement advice there, from people who know you, your school, and your school’s college-placement history, than you can get from strangers on the Internet.</p>

3

<p>@Sikorsky- I have gotten advice from my guidance counselor… I just wanted some other opinions.</p>

4

<p>I understand. I’m saying you may get other opinions, but I doubt you’ll get better informed opinions.</p>

<p>If you want ill-informed opinions, that’s your business.</p>

5

<p>I see lots of GPAs, but not your cumulative. I assume this is unweighted? </p>

<p>Look at the C7 section of the CDS for each school and focus on their most important factors. GPA will probably be there, but its only one factor. </p>

<p>You have a lot of rigor in your record and thats a big plus. Colleges are going to look closely at how you did on your more rigorous courses which will paint a better picture for you. Your ACT score is awesome. </p>

<p>I like your chances at emory. I think the others are a reach, which isnt to say you shouldnt apply, just that admission isnt likely. You should add some safer schools to your list. </p>

<p>Thats my opinion based on what I see here. GL.</p>

6

<p>Your guidance counselor is going to have much better answers for this scenario because the colleges you are talking about will have a history with your school; they will undoubtedly rely upon what your guidance counselor says about you (e.g., if your GC talks about how much you have improved, worked hard, etc. - then yes the upward trend will mean that your 9th grade grades may be a moot point)</p>