Very low gpa but higher test scores - any chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a junior in high school. I’m projecting that by the end of the year, these will be my stats:

GPA (9-12): 4.36 (W) 3.80 (UW)
GPA (10-12): 4.59 (W) 3.80 (UW)
UC GPA: 4.07 (weighted and capped)

I didn’t do too well in freshman year, but fortunately I know that many colleges don’t place too much weight on this year, and my 10-12 GPA is significantly higher.

My school doesn’t rank, but for this year’s graduating class, 16% had weighted GPAs above 4.25…so do you think I would fall in the top 10% or not?

ACT: 35 C
SAT Math II - 770
SAT Chemistry - 720
AP test scores: chemistry 4, world history 4, calc 5, psych 5

I will have taken the most rigorous course load my school offered (11 APs by end of junior year.)

I will most likely be a National Merit semifinalist and a National AP Scholar.

However, due to my very low GPA (especially unweighted) I’m in a state of perpetual stress that I won’t be able to get into any of the colleges on my list. These colleges include:

UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCLA
UC Berkeley
UCSD
UCSB
Cal Poly SLO
Scripps College
Claremont McKenna College
University of Michigan (possible EA)
Cornell University (possible ED)
Duke University
John Hopkins University
Carnegie Mellon University

I’ll apply for a biological sciences major in most/all of these schools.

(I know the last three or so are huge reaches.) However, do you think I could get into any of those colleges, particularly any of the UCs? I’m really really nervous and anxious that I won’t get in anywhere.

Disclaimer: I’m not trying to brag or fish for compliments. As I mentioned, my school is extremely competitive and 16% of the class have 4.25+ GPAs.

2

Those GPAs are excellent. The discrepancy b/w UW and W GPA only show that you opted for rigor over ease. The high test scores serve to highlight your strengths.
I believe that you are probably at the tail end of/very close to top 10%.
You have as good a chance at those last few schools as anyone else – you are above the 75% line in all respects – and I can almost guarantee admission into some UCs.
Best of luck :slight_smile:

3

@meepmoop thank you very much! I hope I can get into at least a few of those schools

4

bump

5

I’ll chance back if you’d like :slight_smile:

6

Only on CC is 3.8 a “very low” GPA.

Actually maybe not even on CC.

7

@usualhopeful It’s pretty low :stuck_out_tongue:

8

BUMP

9

No but like it’s really 100% not. At UMich, for example, the average GPA is 3.85.

10

@usualhopeful I guess you’re right. But I’m still super anxious that I wont get into any college

11

Please. You’re fooling no one by saying you believe a 3.8 is low. If you want someone to praise you for your GPA, this isn’t the way to go.

“I’m in a state of perpetual stress” Just stop being overly dramatic.

You’re a competitive applicant at all schools.

12

@anxiousenior1 lol the disclaimer at the bottom was meant exactly for people like you. I said that I’m not trying to brag/fish for compliments and I’m sorry if you don’t believe me. I don’t need anyone to praise me for anything.

I’m not being dramatic either. Thanks.

13

@Wormholes If I were you, I would retake your Subject Tests and/or take more and try to score 800s or close to it; aside from maintaining your upward-trending GPA (which shouldn’t be much of a liability since it still appears quite high), the 770 on Math II and especially the 720 on Chemistry leave a bit (though not excessively much) to be desired. Have you considered the Molecular Biology Subject Test?

14

@aBitOfLuck Thank you, I am definitely planning to retake some SAT IIs. Yep, after taking ap bio I’m considering bio M subject test, as well as maybe the physics subj. test.

15

I’m confused as to how you “didn’t do well” freshman year, but when you take it out of the equation you have the same unweighted GPA.

16

@bodangles I basically got around a 3.8 UW every year (probably this year too) so it balances out. I said I didn’t do well in freshman year because my weighted was pretty low that year as well, since I only took 1 AP.

17

Well that’s…a disingenuous way of putting it.

18

@bodangles :stuck_out_tongue:

19

You could get into any given school on your list honestly, even the “crapshoot” ones. Decent chances for all of them, you’ll probably get into at least 60-70% of your schools. At least try to come off as likeable and you’ll be fine.

20

@Alundari Ok. Thanks :slight_smile: