Upward Trend Dilemma/Nerves

Colleges and Universities A-Z Mount Holyoke College
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<p>This isn't exactly a 'chance me' type of question (I fully realize that it's difficult to accurately do that without being MoHo themselves), but I'm going into my MoHo application process this year with an odd situation, and was wondering if I could get any opinions. </p>

<p>My cumulative GPA is low for Moho---a 3.3. Thing is, my upward trend was freakishly strong. Freshman and sophomore year, I ended up with rather low GPAs (3.0 and 3.1). Junior year, I am ending up with a 3.7 (after a very enlightening summer and some fresh self-esteem!), which is Moho's average accepted GPA (or so I repeatedly see online). Would admissions really take note of how strong my upward trend is, regardless of the last two years? I just don't know if I've already messed up too badly my first half of high school to be properly considered in the grades department.</p>

<p>I took two APs this year (my school offers very few that juniors are allowed to take, about 3), and I attend a very competitive and rigorous private school that barely weights APs. I don't know my unweighted GPA, because they don't tell us. I'm signed up for two APs and an Honors course next year.
(I also have infinitely more outside of the classroom to offer than in it. Lots of ECs in a few intense focuses, lots of awards for poetry, etc, and am not submitting SAT scores, besides two possible SAT II, which are a 650 in lit and 670 in history, so nothing special.)</p>

<p>Thank you to anybody who replies!</p>

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<p>I’m a current student here at Mount Holyoke, and I know that the Admission Office uses a very holistic approach to reading applications. They look at the number of APs that your high school offers, not just the number of AP classes that you took. They will also take note of your extracurriculars, as well as anything else you submit. As for my opinion, I think that what you’ve accomplished is great, but it’s not my place to give you a definitive answer on your chances of getting in. You’ll never know until you apply. I hope this helps!</p>

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<p>I think it would help your application if you include a paragraph or two that would explain your “very enlightening summer and some fresh self-esteem”, if that isn’t already part of an essay. This would help admissions put your first two years in perspective and judge you less harshly. Personal growth is a good thing!</p>