With all the language about “grit” and overcoming adversity and learning from mistakes on college admissions sites, it seems that an upward trend says something about a student that colleges like. On the other hand, I fully understand why someone with a consistent record of success would be favored in the admissions process. My own GPA trend looks like this:
GPA from 9th: 3.1 UW
GPA from 10th: 3.6 UW
GPA from 11th 3.9 UW
Overall GPA: 3.52 UW // 4.85 Weighted
Took 10 APs and 6 Dual enrollment
Ranked in the top 7% of class (people who have followed me will see that I fell slightly from 6%)
An admissions consultant made an off-the-cuff statement that being in the top 7% with such an upward trend would look as attractive as if I was within the top 5% and had a steadier trend. Is this the case? Or does having roughly as many B’s as A’s automatically disqaulify me from admission to the top 20 most selecive schools?
Other stats: 34 ACT // 750ish SAT II’s
URM
Extracurriculars focused in child devleopment (Child Development Associate Certification // Child Development Lab summer research // President of Future Educators of America (2 years) + county-level position in same club // Babysitting)
Other extracurriculars (Competetive Scrabble Player // VP of Chemistry Club // Church Junior Leader)
Thanks