hey,
I’m wondering how top schools look at upward trends. My upward trend is one of the better ones: Freshman 3.61 (I got mostly A- and 1 B) Soph: 3.9 Junior 4.0 (toughest course load) Overall 3.84…I can get it up to 3.88 this year. I have taken the most rigorous course load at my school.
I have good ACT scores: 35 (36 superscore), and good SAT IIs (800/790/770). I have solid ECs and I am trying my best to write a compelling essay. I know I’m behind applicants in terms of grades but I still feel like I’m on par in every other aspect? Will I be severely disadvantaged by this GPA? I’m Asian by the way…
Can someone please shed some light on how admissions at schools like Penn, Duke, rest of the Ivies, Georgetown, Vandy, JHU etc???
Colleges do like an upward GPA trend. SAT and ACT good enough not to retake. With the tip top schools you are looking at, getting in is a lottery. (HYPSM). Do you have one or two you have visited and preferred? Thought about applying ED? That would help with Penn, Duke, Vandy, WUStl, others, if you can pay for them.
Upward trends are generally good, even beneficial, if it occurs while increasing difficulty in course load or EC participation. If you feel equal in other aspects, it shouldn’t be detrimental. I agree with the above, HYPSM are seemingly random that it’s hard to say if that is the one thing that would cause rejection. At Georgetown, Vanderbilt, JHU and others I really don’t think you’ll be disadvantaged (again, it could be a good thing and set you apart, show growth and capability etc.)