REALLY low GPA, will my test scores offset it?

<p>Stats
GPA (Unweighted-Weighted):
10th grade: 3.0 (3.167), 3.333 (3.5)
11th grade: 2.833 (3.667), 3.200 (4.0)
Overall (10th -12th): 3.092 (3.584)
UC GPA (capped): 3.375

  • focusing on weighted GPA trend (3.167 to 3.5 to 3.667 to 4.0</p>

<p>SAT: 2250 (780 CR, 730 M, 740 W)
SAT II: Chem (750), Math II (800)
AP: Chem (4), Stats (5), Psych (5)</p>

<p>Other

  • placed 8th in Statewide DECA competition
  • placed 7th in regional (NorCal) DECA competition
  • participated in Pilot Program in 10th grade, work displayed in Smithsonian museum exhibit
  • track & field JV 2 years
  • football V senior year only
  • 200hrs of service, recycling, etc
  • Boy Scout member (not Eagle)
  • go to 36th best high school in nation, 1st in math & sci
  • attended a Comp Sci class over 11th grade summer at private university (Grade: A)</p>

<p>your major is another important factor</p>

<p>How do you know that your school is 36th in the nation? Just curious</p>

<p>I was accepted into the graduate program at Cal Poly so the admissions process is somewhat different, but I feel in many ways it is probably similar. The minimum GPA in order to be considered for admission into my program was a 3.0, and I did not even have that. I did not take the grad school standardized tests like GREs, so I did not have any tests to “offset” my low GPA with. And yet, I was still accepted. It’s about more than just numbers.</p>

<p>Cal Poly’s graduate program admission requirements is so different from undergraduate’s, such that no comparable comparison can be made. </p>

<p>Also, since Cal Poly is primarily an undergraduate focused institution, its admission standards are more stringent at the undergrad level.</p>

<p>It also really depends on your major of choice as well. Requirements vary greatly between majors. </p>

<p>A good balance between strong GPA and test scores are obviously preferred by admissions, especially for college of engineering, architecture, and business.</p>

<p>^Agreed. Specially in engineering, graduate schools are more lenient on a sub-3.0 GPA since (depending on the school) the undergraduate coursework is quite challenging. Cal Poly’s own average undergraduate GPA for graduating engineers is in the 2.7 range (according to my CP friends), but to get admitted tho the program itself you need a very high GPA. You can always go to Community College and transfer if needed, good luck =D</p>

<p>It is very dependent on your major. They also look at your 9th grade grades, your coursework, leadership, etc. The only take the math and english portion of the ACT or the math and reading portion of the SAT. Just apply and good luck to you!</p>