<p>Hello, right now I have about a 3.4 UW GPA. However, my SAT score is a 2200. I'm not looking to apply to ivies, but mostly the public ivies and the step below such as Northwestern, UChicago, NYU Stern, and emory amongst others. Please tell me does my gpa and SAT stand a chance against those with higher gpa's but lower standardized tests. Also in general, if anybody can elaborate as to how colleges perceive high standardized tests scores and low gpa's please post and if you have experience with applying with similar scores, please post your outcome.</p>
<p>You need an upward trend to display that you are capable of getting very good grades. Further, you need to try extra hard to convey why you are right for this school.</p>
<p>I got into Notre Dame with a 3.65 GPA and a 2280 SAT. I was rejected at Georgetown, however, so it’s hit/miss. More on my story: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1099647-billymc-s-advice-future-applicants.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1099647-billymc-s-advice-future-applicants.html</a></p>
<p>I went from a 3.2 freshman to a 3.5 soph to a 3.7 jr. so thats relatively upward.</p>
<p>Generally, high test scores and a low GPA indicate a student who is intelligent and capable but didn’t put the effort in throughout high school. This is only a generalization of course. </p>
<p>What year specifically hurt your GPA? Was it a bad 9th grade performance, or just bad grades throughout all 3 years? Also what was your course rigor like?
Lot of factors to consider, but I’ve often heard that admissions officers are willing to forgive a bad 9th grade year performance, because the 14 year old inside you doesn’t exactly reflect who you are today.</p>
<p>Look into some schools that don’t calculate freshman year into GPA (but they still look at class rank) such as Stanford and Princeton. </p>
<p>I’m actually in the same situation as you, but it was just a bad 9th grade year. I finished with a 2.8…impossible to recover from.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to evaluate your chances without putting your GPA in context. At some schools a 3.4 uw might still be in the top 10% at other it would put you in the bottom 1/2 of the class. Even if your high school does not rank you should get a hold of your high school profile to see where you stand vis a vie your classmates. I would say that you will probably have a tough time getting into Northwestern or UChicago if you are not near the top 10% of your class, unless you have a hook.</p>
<p>I am in a similar boat as the OP, how much would being a recruited athlete be as a hook? Would the SAT + athletics combo make up for the low gpa. This is because while my friends were studying I was practicing for my sport, running my own business, and doing SAT prep.</p>
<p>I have a very similar situation and I’m planning applying to similar schools. I think if you have really great extracurricular activities (your test scores are already great) then it can mask your GPA =] Good Luck!</p>
<p>I’m also interested in the high sat/low gpa…I have a 2300/3.85…</p>
<p>^^ by no means is a 3.85 low unless that is your weighted GPA.</p>
<p>what do you guys think about a 3.6 (i’m guessing around here, my school inflates GPAs so my official one is around a 3.8) with a 2350? i’m probably in the top 10% of my class (school doesn’t report rank but has a graph so i can pretty much tell) but not in the top 2% or anything…i’m kind of a slacker :(</p>
<p>if it helps, here are my grades, all in advanced classes:
9- B, B+, B+, B+, A-
10- B+, B+, A-, A-, A
11(projected)- B+, A-, A-, A, A</p>
<p>since i have an upward trend, will Bs and a 2350 be ok, or will i be labeled as a slacker? i mean, i know i am (it’s not like i never work, but i really could be trying harder), but i’m wondering if colleges will be able to tell…</p>
<p>class does not rank. 3.2 9th grade 3.5 soph and 3.7 jr year. Bad freshman year and I guess sophomore. Tough schedule, 5 AP’s (not allowed to take AP’S 9th grade) and honors science.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat. Except I will probably end with a 3.57 junior year 
My projected SAT is 2250, from a 225 PSAT. Bad freshman year, and a D in sophomore year.
I pulled straight A’s since 2nd semester soph. year. </p>
<p>What’s counts as a valid excuse to explains bad GPA?</p>
<p>Barely scraping top 10%</p>
<p>meant to say 2300 sat*</p>
<p>Is there a way to figure out from your GC where your rank is roughly?</p>
<p>A search of this subject. At many publics, at least in California, GPA rules.</p>
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