<p>I posted this somewhere else. I am a current enlisted troop in the US military. I am a 23 year old African American male (if that means anything). I am interested in attending Cornell University and pursuing at Philosophy degree at the end of my enlistment. I am currently taking college courses right now and have a 3.8 GPA. The only thing I feel that will hold me back from being accepted is my high school GPA which is actually too embarrassing to mention. I made mistakes as a teenager have definitely matured since. I want to know how bad is my low high school GPA even though I will be eight years out of high school and have a pretty high college GPA when I apply to Cornell?</p>
<p>Not speaking about Cornell specifically, but in general, colleges do not hold weight to a HS GPA earned 8 years ago, especially if a respectable college-level GPA has been maintained since - veteran or not. Schools aren’t oblivious to how much an individual can mature given certain experiences (i.e. military service, or just gowin’ up). At this point, no matter which school you apply to, you shouldn’t worry about your HS GPA. Focus on maintaining a high college GPA to demonstrate you take your education more serious this time around. If schools ask for official HS transcripts, provide them, but really it’s probably more for them to confirm you actually graduated HS (obtained a diploma or GED).</p>
<p>Focus on some incredible respnses to essay prompts.</p>
<p>3.8 GPA is very good. How many credits do you have?</p>
<p>Anecdotal, but a Navy veteran from my school was just accepted to Cornell with a 3.7 (or so) GPA, but with some very tough math work done.</p>
<p>I had a 2.8 in HS…am in the AF reserves, not active, URM-hispanic… got into Penn, Cornell, G-town, Vandy, NW, Stanford…had I not applied for financial aid imagine I would’ve gotten into Brown as well…your post 9/11 will cover you so don’t be afraid to apply there. Also look into Columbia as post 9/11 will cover full costs w/the yellow ribbon program. 3.8 is plenty good enough for Cornell as a vet…look into their other colleges other than Arts & Sciences…Human Ecology has a higher admit rate as do some of the others</p>
<p>I currently have 38 credits.</p>
<p>With good essays and recs, I think you’ll have a very good shot.</p>