<p>Okay, I am an avid CC reader so I am, to the best of my knowledge, informed of college dynamics- how college admissions is a comprehensive and at times, arbitrary, process. However, I have a very specific GPA related question.</p>
<p>Just suppose I have excellent teacher recs, essays, and ECs- if my second semester GPA included all b's except for two a's, how much would this completely ruin my chances for columbia, georgetown, uc berkeley, and other upper tier schools, considering I have been an otherwise straight A student?</p>
<p>This would make my matriculated GPA about a 3.6-3.75= which is VERY low! I am so nervous. I've worked hard my entire academic career but I have been blighted by this!
Would my legitimate medical excuse in any way help me? Would a high SAT score offset perhaps this irregularity?</p>
<p>DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS?</p>
<p>It's okay. Calm down. Take a deep breath.</p>
<p>Yes, these schools are very competitve, but your GPA won't ruin you. If you have a medical excuse (and I know how hard getting A's and dealing with health problems can be), have your guidance councelor mention it in his/her recommendation/letter to the college. You might also mention it yourself. It will be taken under consideration. Also, getting B's is not bad--if you start getting a lot of C's and D's you're in a lot more trouble. Getting into a top school is difficult no matter how well you do, but I certainly don't think your chances are ruined in any way. Getting B's does not ruin your academic career. You should be proud of yourself and how well you've done. Don't work yourself into the ground because you got a few B's. Trust me, it's not worth it.</p>
<p>A piece of advice: remember not to limit yourself in terms of dream schools. Not getting into HYPS or Berkeley/Georgetown/Columbia/etc. is not the end of the world. There are SO many schools out there that are incredibly wonderful. Reputation isn't everything and doesn't mean much if you end up not liking the school (for example, I know at least five people who found that Harvard wasn't nearly what it's cracked up to be). There are schools whose academics are as good as those you mentioned, but whose admission is a little less competitive. Please give a moment to think about what I'm saying--don't just brush it aside. You have done well and worked hard for a reason. Whatever college you end up at will be a good one and they will be lucky to have you. Don't let yourself be defined by your grades of the colleges that accept you.</p>
<p>Thank you for your considerate reply. I completely understand what you mean about college- the idea of prestige and reputation does tend to become overinflated, and blown out of proportion. It's a feeling that if you have been academically ambitious, there is some sort of 'entitlement' to 'dream schools' like HYPS and others. I confess, I sympathize with that sentiment. It's not that I am in ANY WAY entitled to a school like that but just that I would like to be recognized for my hard work, struggles and achievements. I've often heard that the hardest thing about Ivy's and top schools is getting in- not to discredit the wonderful academics, stimulating environment and breadth of opportunities. My dream school is Columbia or Georgetown; I most likely will not end up applying to HYP but put it there to indicate the selectivity of the schools I do wish to attend. I am still so worried that my grades will ruin my chances- CAN ANYONE OFFER MORE ADVICE AND OVERVIEW OF HOW THEY THINK IT WILL affect my chances?</p>
<p>3.6-3.75: that's unweighted?</p>
<p>I agree, if you have a legit medical excuse colleges would probably accept that and overlook your "low" GPA. So have your GC write a bit about that problem, and if you want to you can mention your problem in essays and such as talk about how you had such a difficulty and "overcame" these difficulties and how it didn't affect your love to learn, etc.</p>
<p>Yea Narcissa, it's unweighted. Thanks, I was thinking of approaching it from that perspective in essays. But, honestly, do you think I'm pretty much going to get rejected from G-town and Columbia for Int.Relations?</p>
<p>You may want to apply ED for Columbia or EA for Georgetown to improve your odds. If you don't get in ED/or EA, then do really well the first semester of your senior year and adcoms will be able to overlook your junior year grades(especially when you have a good explanation). But the main thing is to try and don't give up any hopes. You'll never know until you apply.</p>