What kind of colleges with my stats should I be looking at?

Applying to College
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<p>So in freshman year and into sophomore year (i am a junior now) i did not very well. At the beginning i failed 2 classes and one more my sophomore year. But, junior year rolled around and something clicked. I am getting all A's and B's now. My GPA because of freshman year is terrible, right now it is at a 2.6 after 3rd quarter, but before 1st quarter it was a 2.45, it has improved a lot. </p>

<p>I am great at the oboe in band, have done honor bands, orchestra on the side and will be first chair next year. I volunteer many places with my church (indian reservations, habitat for humanity, homeless shelters) , and I am also Youth service chair at church where i actually plan all the volunteer events. I have a job at a restaurant for the past year and this summer I am volunteering in Flint michigan and also at a hospital. I am in all AP/IB classes this year except for Band and Russian, and next year as a senior I will have a full AP/IB schedule with double science classes (except band). I go to an inner city school in the midwest.</p>

<p>I have improved a lot. I do a lot. But my GPA sucks. Can I look at colleges like U of Washington, or University of Iowa, or some better liberal art schools? I dont want to settle for some lower tier state school, I wanna go to the main state school. Not some never heard of college... Do I have hope?</p>

<p>(p.s. I am taking my ACT in april)</p>

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<p>Congratulations for making such an improvement in your grades. Keep up the good work. Be sure to start studying for the ACT right away if you haven’t already begun. If you score very well, that will improve your chances.</p>

<p>That said, you will need to look realistically at the best GPA you will be able to reach from where you are at now. Do not be discouraged about whether a school is “the main” state school. You can go to the one which will accept your grades, work really hard for a great GPA, and transfer. Or tackle the “reach” school for graduate school.</p>

<p>With a little online research, you can find the average GPAs of accepted students at your favorite colleges and see if you will be able to reach those. Remember, this next phase of education is about preparing for your future as an adult professional, not impressing the public with a school name. Good luck.</p>