<p>I've taken 3 AP's and four honors math courses.</p>
<p>My unweighted GPA in my difficult classes is nearly identical to my unweighted GPA in my easy classes. </p>
<p>My overall weighted GPA is about 3.20.</p>
<p>Although the truth is that I gave very little effort in all of my classes, including my AP and honor courses, I think my transcript makes it clear that I gave significantly less effort in my easy classes -- how else would my grades be identical in classes that ten times easier? I mean, the AP class I had the worst grades in (one 'C' and a 'D'), was the one I had the best AP exam score in (4). How strange is that? </p>
<p>So should colleges conclude that my overall GPA is only as low as it is because I didn't care about my easy classes, but did care about my challenging courses (although, the truth is that I really didn't)? </p>
<p>Also, on a side note of this thread, since it is clear I gave no effort in high school, shouldn't they consider my test scores (2030 SAT) as even better, given my application? Since I gave no effort in high school, it follows that I likely gave no effort preparing for the SAT -- and that is, as one would expect, the truth. I spent zero time prepping and didn't even concentrate fully when taking the exam. So shouldn't they consider my 2030 SAT as, I don't know, the equivalent of a 2100 SAT from an applicant who is clearly a 'plugger'?</p>
<p>So is this thread just full of my wishful thinking, or will colleges have a similar way of thinking when looking at my application?</p>
<p>Anyway: I think you need to stop worrying how colleges will interpret your transcript and start worrying about improving your grades. The truth is, if you have Cs and Ds you’re not going to get into top schools, sorry. Your grades are your grades, your SATs are your SATs, stop thinking about what they’re going to think of them and start asking yourself why you’re settling for being mediocre if you really could be achieving better.</p>
<p>"So should colleges conclude that my overall GPA is only as low as it is because I didn’t care about my easy classes, but did care about my challenging courses (although, the truth is that I really didn’t)? "</p>
<p>Many colleges colleges will look at your gpa and assume that you lack the work ethic they require. They know that the best predictor of college grades is high school gpa.</p>
<p>You might want to consider taking a gap year before going to college because it looks like you could benefit from taking time off before spending lots of money on an education that you may not be ready to take advantage of.</p>
<p>Saying this as the mom of two sons with high SATs, mediocre h.s. grades (worse than yours). Older S didn’t take a gap year, and flunked out of a college where he was one of the top academic admits (due to high SAT). Younger S took a gap year, and is now doing very well academically in college away from home.</p>
<p>The gap year – working as an Americorps volunteer – taught him a lot about himself, the work world (including the fact that one has to make deadlines in the work world), and helped him develop the focus and maturity to do well in school while still having a good time socially in college.</p>
<p>Colleges don’t take the time to parse your application in the way you suggest. They’ll look at how challenging your overall coursework was, your GPA and your scores and rank you on each.</p>
<p>Yes. wishful thinking going on! Good colleges have more applicants that meet what they’re looking for than they can accept, they’re not looking for unfulfilled potential.</p>
<p>Oh, well…but I don’t need to take a ‘gap year’ to mature.</p>
<p>All of you may find this strange, but I can literally just flip the ‘try’ switch to ‘on’ whenever I want to. For instance, I am concurrently enrolled at the University of Arkansas and taking a Philosophy course at the honors college and Advanced Calculus.</p>
<p>I’ve given full effort so far and will continue to do so.</p>
<p>…I guess I’m just strange?</p>
<p>Anyways, I wasn’t shooting for amazing (that is, typical here on CC) colleges as most of you might have assumed. I’m applying to Hendrix, Illinois Wesleyan, DePauw, Lafayette College (early decision), and St. Olaf to name a few.</p>
<p>Also, my GPA might not be as bad as it looks when you consider that I’m actually in the top 25% of my class out of 600. Most high schools have more inflated GPA’s…</p>
<p>If you had actually tried in classes and kept the switch “on” like you say you can, then you wouldn’t have to be worrying about this now in your senior year. Though you can’t change the past, it is something to think about when considering your future and how you apply yourself once in college.</p>