Recommendations and Tips for a 2.9 Unweighted G.P.A.?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello All,

I am a student studying in a high school around the Bay Area (a pretty rigorous high school), and I am currently a junior with a 2.9 Unweighted G.P.A… I slipped up doing my sophomore year, when I got D’s in AP Biology, AP World History, and Honors Algebra II. I am a mixture of lazy and not very bright (even when someone helps me, it can take a long time for me to grasp a concept—thus, I feel less compelled to actually put the effort). However, I did enjoy some of my other classes and I did my best in them (my transcript will mostly consist of B’s). So I do work hard, just not to my full potential.

However during the summer, I realized that I really wanted to do well in high school so that I could do well in college (I really do want to go). So I have formulated a game plan, my hope would be you could help and share your recommendations and tips about my plan (whether it will work or not) and which colleges I should be looking towards (I have no criteria, but I would like it to be flagships or well known).

Plan:

  1. I have already taken the PSAT’s (scored a 1520/2400), so I am deciding to do it Senior year for potential scholarships (the deadline this year is over, and I have my hands full currently).

  2. I want to take the SAT once in the spring of my Junior Year and the fall of my Senior Year, and I am planning on taking the ACT once as a back-up (in case I do better on the ACT).

  3. I would like to redo the classes I messed up (Algebra II and Regular World History in the summer redo program), and take Intro into College Biology in Community College for the summer (And maybe another class?)

  4. I want to join a club at school, I am still looking, plan is to be in one before October ends.

  5. I am, and have been, attending a cultural preservation/language learning basically like Sunday school (California Tamil Academy) since 2012 and am set to graduate next year (with top scores and attendance to all classes), while also participating in Cultural Events (Such as annual day—basically a day where you can showcase your talents).

  6. I am honing my Tamil skills by taking a Virtual University class online (TVU): I have my certifications for the past two years with high scores and am graduating by the end of Junior year (This would count for my foreign language along with French—spent two years on it, didn’t like it, French I mean, :).

  7. I am also learning martial arts from an accredited teacher, and have been doing so since 2011 as well. This form of martial arts is very old and rare (Silambam is the name), and I have good reputation with the teacher (whom I have known personally).

  8. During sophomore year, during Spring Break, I have tutored kids for STAR testing for 2-2.5 hours for 5 days (you do the math) and I actually enjoyed and plan to the same this year and senior year (I also am in touch with the coordinator and she appreciated my effort—me actually wanting to be there and help the kids out).

  9. I think learning a new language on my own (either German or Japanese) and learning a subject on my own and taking the AP test on it would impress the admission officers of the schools I apply to (I plan on Physics)—I really want to learn a new language though, have already started looking at them.

  10. What do you guys recommend? I know I won’t make it to the Ivies, but I think if I work hard, I could get into a pretty selective college.

Colleges I would love to attend:

  1. University of Washington, Seattle.
  2. Any UC that I could make it to.
  3. Loyola Marymount University.
  4. Pepperdine University.
  5. University of the Pacific.
  6. CU Boulder (Inside information about this school would be greatly appreciated.)
  7. University of Texas, Austin.
  8. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
  9. University of Wisconsin, Madison.
  10. University of Michigan, Ann Harbor.
  11. Indiana University, Bloomington.
  12. Purdue University.
  13. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne.
  14. University of Connecticut
  15. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  16. University of Maryland, College Park.
  17. Georgia Tech. University.
  18. University of Florida, Gainesville.

These are some of the colleges that I have heard of and would like to attend, although I have yet to do investigative research. I realize most of these are reach or impossible to reach, and I do have safeties and back-ups, but could you chance me and give me more information about this?

By the way, I am doing way better Junior year and I am starting to pick up the study habits I neglected to sophomore year and my G.P.A. currently is a 3.0 (not a lot, but still).

I realize this is a very comprehensive and long to read, so if you did, thank you for doing so!

2

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I really enjoyed my Biotechnology classes and am looking to major in that.

3

1520/2400 is no where near scholarships. Georgia tech, Purdue, UT Austin, and UMichigan are all schools in familiar with. If your SAT comes out to. 1520/2400 equivalent and a 2.9 UW GPA, all the schools I just listed are high high reaches.

UT in specific doesn’t look at GPA but class rank. What is yours? Also what about your budget? Any hooks?

Not familiar with the other schools so I’ll let someone else give insight on those.

4

What does this mean? The only thing PSATs matter for is National Merit, and National Merit only looks at junior-year scores.

5

Sorry, I worded it wrong, I took the PSAT (scored 1520/2400) during sophomore year, and am planning to do it again either this or next year (most probably next year), I haven’t taken the SAT yet.

6

Okay, so you understand that senior-year PSAT is too late for National Merit scholarship eligibility, right? And otherwise PSATs don’t really matter?

7

No, I didn’t know that, I’ll do it this year then.

8

You need to prep seriously for both SAT (using Khan Academy) and ACT.

Another key factor will be your parents’ budget for your college. Have you discussed it yet? If not, do so ASAP.

If you live in California, you must first aim for California public universities. Plan to apply to several likelies.

Unfortunately, UC’s and U Wash Seattle are out of reach (UC’s won’t even consider your application due to your GPA, and UWash expects GPA’s around 3.7).
UMichigan, UIllinois, UMaryland, Georgia Tech, UWisconsin, UMinnesota, UFlorida, are all impossible.
UT Austin fills its class with top 7% students.
Pretty much the only universities where you have a shot are UMass and UofPacific.
LMU LA is Catholic (you’ll have to write a philosophical essay on one of the Pope’s quotes).
Pepperdine is evangelical (you’ll have to sign a statement of faith including abstaining from specific behaviors).
If you’re fine with either one, or both, they’re reaches but you may have a shot at LMU.
If you wanted to graduate from a flagship, you could do the 2+2 system for Penn State, but you’d pay top dollar for something similar to the CC->UC system.
UIowa and Iowa State, Temple, UPortland, USeattle may be possible.
Flagships in the WUE system may work: you could try for Montana State (a match) or UWyoming or USouthDakota or Colorado State University (a reach).

9

sorry, with your gpa and sat, i would aim for more realistic options, maybe easier CSUs
otherwise do CC and then transfer to a uni

10

You don’t need to worry or focus on ECs. Those are for higher end schools that you won’t get in to. Just focus on your grades and tests.

11

Your grades and test scores are most important Even if EC’s are considered, yours are not the best. Even with really hard work this year, it will basically be impossible to significantly raise your gpa. Your PSAT score is a predicition of future standardized test scores, and it could definitely be better. Frankly, none of those are realistic options. I would look at schools that better match your stats and maybe even consider community college. If you do really well at community college, you can possibly transfer into one of these schools. I know a lot of people frown upon community college, but it would be a good option for you I think. If you’re “lazy and not very bright,” succeeding at these schools will be nearly impossible. You seem to have lots of ambition and ideas, but do not have the work ethic to match. If you REALLY want to go to a top school, you’ll have to transfer and start working hard.

12

Your GPA can still rise significantly if you can get As for the next three semesters. Many of the schools you list are schools for A students, so you would need to step up your game to be competitive with them.

13
  1. I have already taken the PSAT’s (scored a 1520/2400), so I am deciding to do it Senior year for potential scholarships (the deadline this year is over, and I have my hands full currently).

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Old PSAT score was out of 240, not 2400, so you mean 152/240. 1520/2400 is too low not just for scholarships, but for most of the schools are you aiming for. MYOS1634 pointed everything right. Also, you are semi-qualified (semi-finalist) for scholarship only if you are taking it in junior year AND if your score passes the state cut-off scores. I’m not sure which state you live in, but, either way, based on your previous PSAT score (152/240), you won’t be qualified, as typical cut-offs are 220/240 (old PSAT) or 1450/1520 (new PSAT).

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  1. I want to take the SAT once in the spring of my Junior Year and the fall of my Senior Year, and I am planning on taking the ACT once as a back-up (in case I do better on the ACT).

[QUOTE=""]

You better take it. Fortunately, many schools superscore, so you will not have to worry about the past scores if your next score stands out. Try to study hard for SAT.

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  1. I want to join a club at school, I am still looking, plan is to be in one before October ends.

[QUOTE=""]

Colleges will know that you are purposely joining many clubs to expand/develop your extracurricular activity background if you start joining a lot starting junior. Although it doesn’t hurt to join many, I recommend that you try to focus more on academic stuff like raising GPA or SAT scores, as they will count more than ECs. Also, joining many clubs never helps, as most colleges want students with leaderships in a few clubs better than students with just membership in tons of clubs. Try to be the head of a mouse than a tail of a tiger and start developing your clubs.

[/QUOTE]

  1. I am honing my Tamil skills by taking a Virtual University class online (TVU): I have my certifications for the past two years with high scores and am graduating by the end of Junior year (This would count for my foreign language along with French—spent two years on it, didn’t like it, French I mean, .

[QUOTE=""]

While it never hurts to do it, try to spend more time on school works than outside-of-school works. Those should be done only when you have spare times, which you won’t really have as you enter junior year.

[/QUOTE]

  1. I am also learning martial arts from an accredited teacher, and have been doing so since 2011 as well. This form of martial arts is very old and rare (Silambam is the name), and I have good reputation with the teacher (whom I have known personally).

[QUOTE=""]

Try to get a recommendation letter from that person with whom you have a strong relationship, if colleges accept any community letters.

[/QUOTE]

  1. During sophomore year, during Spring Break, I have tutored kids for STAR testing for 2-2.5 hours for 5 days (you do the math) and I actually enjoyed and plan to the same this year and senior year (I also am in touch with the coordinator and she appreciated my effort—me actually wanting to be there and help the kids out).

[QUOTE=""]

Again, try to spend more time on school.

[/QUOTE]

  1. I think learning a new language on my own (either German or Japanese) and learning a subject on my own and taking the AP test on it would impress the admission officers of the schools I apply to (I plan on Physics)—I really want to learn a new language though, have already started looking at them.

I do not recommend learning a new language by yourself because: you will struggle a lot; colleges won’t acknowledge much of it if you don’t get 4 or 5; really much of your time will be taken away. Again, do not focus on extra. Focus on what are mainly important to you. Try to prioritize your tasks.

  1. What do you guys recommend? I know I won’t make it to the Ivies, but I think if I work hard, I could get into a pretty selective college.

Suitability (0 being safety-est, 10 being reach-est)

  1. University of Washington, Seattle.|| 9
  2. Any UC that I could make it to || 9 except University of California - Merced (easiest UC school)
  3. Loyola Marymount University. || ?
  4. Pepperdine University. || ?
  5. University of the Pacific. || ?
  6. CU Boulder (Inside information about this school would be greatly appreciated.) || ?
  7. University of Texas, Austin. || 9
  8. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. || 8
  9. University of Wisconsin, Madison. || 8
  10. University of Michigan, Ann Harbor. || 10
  11. Indiana University, Bloomington. || ?
  12. Purdue University. || 8
  13. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne. || 9
  14. University of Connecticut ||
  15. University of Massachusetts, Amherst. || 7
  16. University of Maryland, College Park. || 10
  17. Georgia Tech. University. || 10
  18. University of Florida, Gainesville. || ?

Ones with “?” are the schools I do not know well of and therefore are unrate-able.
But, given that all the schools I could rate were reach schools for you, I doubt many of them are safety/match schools as of now.

Don’t be too discouraged, however. Study hard and you may stand chances at your dream school.

14

EC’s are on top of good grades, course rigor, and strong test scores. So for now you need to focus on your grades, see if you can take the SAT in the Spring, then 2 Subject tests in May, then SAT in June, plus the ACT once - start studying now.
(You can only take the PSAT once and it’s done. You now need to focus on the SAT).

15

Thank you for all the input! I’m really happy that you all took the time to reply!
I would like to do an update now so that I can shape myself towards the admission process.
I’m truly improving and giving more importance to academics this year, although I don’t have all A’s. I have joined clubs are just for timepass (Spanish Pen-pal Club, Project RISHI (Helping others with ideas and videos), Engineering Club (It’s just playing around with various programs), and VEX (all I really do in this club is update the google documents they have)).
Yes, I have come to realize that the colleges chosen above are not truly a fit for me. I have updated my list, and I will list them below.

BTW: My SAT/ACT preparation is going along slowly, will really start during Fall Break, when I have time; I still haven’t chosen a single test to prepare for yet, but I have read the practice book for both.

My updated college list:

  1. University of Washington (Just for the heck of it)

  2. Seattle University

  3. University of Puget Sound

  4. Reed College (I’m aware it’s a huge reach)

  5. Oregon State University

  6. UCSD (Just for the heck of it)

  7. San Diego State University

  8. University of San Diego

  9. Loyola Marymount University

  10. Pepperdine University

  11. St. Mary’s College of California, Moraga

  12. Sonoma State University

  13. University of Arizona

  14. University of Utah

  15. University of Nevada, Reno

  16. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

  17. Eckerd College

  18. Flagler College

I would like colleges from the EAST COAST because I would like a wider range (Canada is fine too).
Although Community College is another option, I would really like the experience of a 4-year University, so please focus on those.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

16

Look into Ole Miss and Alabama. You’re below their average GPA right now, but they are not much higher and if you work really hard that’ll help. Also, maybe look at Georgia Southern. What are you looking for in a college? Do you want the southeast, northeast, or are you not sure yet?

17

If you are junior now, I don’t see how you take the old PSAT last year…

18

Look into CU boulder, Ithaca college, SUNY Buffalo (east coast), SUNY Albany, University of Vermont–you have a good chance here. UVM IF YOU APPLY Early action has incredibly high acceptance rate. Sister got in 3.2 and 1520 on SATS. You just need to get that gpa to a 3 or a bit over 3.

19

Forgot to mention University of Delaware ( a bit of reach) apply EA, University of Hartford (would say almost a match), and Quinnipiac U (I think u may be able to do eA OR EA)–match if ed.

ithaca u must apply Early Action.

Hope this helps. Let me know if u have any questions about the schools I listed.

For you in some ways because of your low gpa and test scores I would find a school within match/reach and apply Early Decision. It will increase chances by a lot.

20

If you’re a junior now, a did you take the old PSAT?