As of late, my GPA hasn’t been exactly what I’d hoped it to be. The college I’m looking to apply to has averages of a 3.8 GPA and 29 ACT. It’s my junior year, and because of some mistakes I take full credit for, my GPA is really only about a 3.6, and could only approximately be 3.7 by the time I graduate. I have, however, gotten a 29 on the ACT without studying and would hopefully be able to raise it a few points over the summer. I’m keeping in mind that an average accepted GPA of 3.8 means that those both above, and of course in my case on the lower end of the spectrum, have been accepted. How much of a reach will this college be for me, and how can I bolster my application? I’d like to add that I recently earned a C in an AP class, and think this will almost definitely hurt my chances.
It depends on a lot of things. If this is your state school, you seem like a really good candidate. Remember that everything reported is an average and that you can really make yourself stand out in your essays. I recommend finding something with meaning in your life and writing about it. A C will not automatically remove you from consideration, though it may hurt your chances slightly. I wouldn’t worry too much, you seem like a strong applicant at this school and have a good chance of getting in.