Question about my sophomore-junior GPA

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi. I am a junior at ***** high school, and i’ve been starting to worry about my dreams and future in college.
I have seriously screwed up Sophomore year, and i wish i could go back and do better, but lets face it. Its reality.
But since the beginning of my junior year, i have relentlessly worked to improve my academics and my extra-curricular as well.
I was a transfer student from South Korea and came during the Sophomore year. I ended with a 2.6 GPA.
Our 3rd term just ended in junior year, and my GPA has ranged from a 3.5 - 3.8. I certainly know that this is NOT enough to get me into a decent school, because most academically successful students have a strong EC as well. I’ve joined the diversity club and also joined the school swim team(made varsity after 1 year), and tried other clubs and school-sponsered activities.</p>

<p>Despite all this, I feel as if I am getting nowhere. I studied my butt off for the SAT and ACTs, and got a 1800 on the SAT(out of 2400), and a 26 on the ACT. My dream school is University of Chicago (this is pretty embarrassing, regarding my present status right now), and most students who apply there have a strong GPA and a high test score.
I feel as if doing well in the standardized tests is my final chance. I also signed up to volunteer at a local health care center. </p>

<p>Now for the questions (sorry i took so long to explain this ._.): </p>

<p>1.Will a strong test score (like a 32+ on the ACT and a 2100+ on SAT) greatly enhance my chances for a prestigious school like U of C or any other colleges?</p>

<li><p>I took 5 AP Classes senior year (i know this is an extremely huge workload, and i don’t want to look cocky), but i heard that colleges do NOT look at ur senior grades, only if u get waitlisted. But if i do well 1st semester senior year, will it also increase my chances?</p></li>
<li><p>I am planning on doing swimming next year as well, and continue to show up to diversity club. Can anyone recommend any other clubs or leadership programs i can look into?</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, how IMPORTANT are trends in the GPA? My GPA shot up a lot, but it still seems hopeless.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you so much for reading all this… i really feel that this is my only hope. Please answer sincerely and specifically. Thanks again!</p>

2

<p>I’m in the same situation as you, except my GPA freshman year was a 3.2 both semesters, and then first semester of sophomore year is went down to a 3.0. After that, I got a 3.57 second semester of sophomore year, and a 3.71 first semester of junior year.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It’ll certainly make them consider you more, but I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to get you in. I only say this because high test scores only tell the admissions people that you can do good on standardized tests - your overall gpa shows what you do over a long period of time, if you get my drift.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes.</p></li>
<li><p>Try to start an organization or a club of some sort at your school. One that in some way helps the community would be ideal.</p></li>
<li><p>More important than you think, from what I hear. Admissions people understand that people aren’t perfect - no one is, and they don’t expect anyone to be. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Just don’t give up. Worst comes to worst, just learn from your mistakes. There’s plenty of other schools that you can apply to as well.</p>