My GPA is a 3.47, 3 points away from any chances of merit scholarships

<p>I'm applying to Coastal Carolina, East Carolina University and High Point as well as other schools this coming Fall. Due to financial concerns, I wanted to apply to many of these schools because of how generous they are with financial aid. However, all three of the schools mentioned above require 3.5 GPAs in order to receive these scholarships. So my question is:</p>

<p>Do schools ever give these merit scholarships to people like me who are a MERE 3 POINTS away from the cut off? I have a 30 ACT and my GPA rose greatly since freshman year. (My freshman GPA was a 3.0 meaning my soph and jr gpas were 3.6+)</p>

<p>I'm just extremely frustrated because of how badly I f***ed up freshman year. I was going through a deep depression and had absolutely no motivation but I worked my hardest sophomore and junior year despite my parents' marriage falling apart and working 25 hours a week at my job...</p>

<p>Has anyone ever been given merit with lower stats then what is posted on the school's website? Please help.</p>

<p>Is that your weighted GPA?</p>

<p>Is that the GPA that shows up on the transcript? If you’re not sure, ask for a copy of your transcript. (Seriously, my younger son’s GPA was actually higher on his transcript because the school only uses “year end” grades to figure GPA for college.</p>

<p>Do these schools allow for the first semester grades of senior year to be included?</p>

<p>Yes that is the GPA that shows on my transcript. At my school, I don’t have a weighted GPA because I don’t have any AP classes</p>

<p>and I think some of them ask for first marking period senior grades</p>

<p>You can ask. </p>

<p>My son has a 3.864 and a 33 ACT. His school has automatic scholarships, and to get full tuition, he needed a 31 ACT & a 3.9. The rules were set in stone - no rounding up. :(</p>

<p>*I think some of them ask for first marking period senior grades *</p>

<p>Do they ask to see them to include in GPA? Or do they ask to see them to see if you’re maintaining grades.</p>

<p>If they ask to see first semester grades to include in GPA and to determine scholarship eligibility, then if you get high grades first semester (for instance, a 3.75 GPA), it should push your cum GPA to at least a 3.5.</p>

<p>I don’t know about the schools you mentioned, by my S is going to Miami (Ohio) this fall. Miami required a 3.7 (W or UW), then the amount varies based upon your ACT/SAT score. Decisions are based upon your GPA at application (6 semester). However, they specifically indicate that they will take a look at the 7th semester grades, or new ACT/SAT taken since application, if it will improve your chances for an automatic merit scholarship. On the otherhand, the Indiana U requires a 3.8 (W or UW) and will not look at 7th semester grades - and they are very upfront about it on their website. </p>

<p>Just ask - or broaden your universe of potential schools. Good luck</p>

<p>I was selected as a semifinalist for the ECU one, went to scholarship weekend and received the early assurance that they award, but no big scholarship. The factors for ECU are NOT set in stone. For early assurance they say top 5% of class, I was just in the top 10%, definitely not 5%! So ECU is lenient. I believe they passed me to the next round because of my essays. They are CRUCIAL!</p>

<p>Feel free to PM me on here and I will be GLAD to help you in anyway possible with ECU. I got accepted into Chapel Hill and an Ivy-League school and chose ECU…so yea lol. ECU all the way!</p>

<p>thanks everyone. bump</p>

<p>Holy crap everyone, I actually have a 3.49! I miscalculated my GPA by 2 pts. Does being one point away affect this issue anymore?!
I’m sorry for the confusion
(my school does issue us our GPAs during the summer however they give us a student handbook in the beginning of every school year. Inside it, there’s instructions on how to calculate your GPA and I couldn’t wait hahaha. But I made a small miscalculation.</p>

<p>Does this help me anymore?!</p>

<p>It is going to depend on the college. Some won’t round up. You’ll need to check with the colleges to find out what their policies are.</p>

<p>Make sure what you gpa is on the official transcript and get to know your admissions representative; the admissions officer most likely has some ability to advocate for you even in a school that does things by the numbers.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>thank you :)</p>

<p>My D is a Coastal Carolina right now at Orientation and is having a great time. The GPA requirement is 3.5 OR top 20% of your class. So if your class rank is high that offsets the under 3.5 GPA. However, we found the scholarship and Honors program staff at CCU to be very helpful in working with you to get the highest scholarship possible. So ASK!! And good luck.</p>

<p>I was in a similar situation, I had a 3.3 and needed a 3.5. I talked to the fin aid people about it and they told be if I raised it to above a 3.5 in the fall, I could keep the money.
Just call them, you should be fine</p>

<p>If schools really, really want you, they will give you merit aid even if your gpa isn’t up to their standards. I’ve been on private scholarship committees that did this, and I have seen this happen with some highly desirable students whose grades were below the university’s stated standards for merit aid.</p>

<p>The student, though has to be highly desirable for this to happen, and it’s also to some extent a matter of luck, so make sure you apply, too, to safeties you know you can afford and will be accepted to.</p>

<p>Can you replace any of your low freshman grades by retaking an online class to raise your gpa? This would be entirely up to your high school and the availability of online classes but, if the school is willing and the class is available, replacing a D with an A in something like freshman English might make the difference.</p>

<p>An online class could be on a timetable all its own - allowing you to finish the class in time to submit a new (pre 7th semester)gpa if your high school will allow it.</p>

<p>*If schools really, really want you, they will give you merit aid even if your gpa isn’t up to their standards. *</p>

<p>This can be true, but of course, no one can count on that. </p>

<p>I would try to find out if one of your teachers would considering bumping a past grade. Not all teachers will do this, but perhaps there is one teacher that might knowing that it will make a big difference scholarship wise. Perhaps the “grade bump” can be done in exchange for some essay, extra credit work, etc.</p>

<p>Hey I am, going up for selection weekend at ECU next week and I was wondering if you could give me any advice. I am going out for both the ECU Scholars and the ECU Early Assurance</p>

<p>you will get more relevant advice if you start a new thread.</p>