Will a bad GPA ruin my chances at Swarthmore?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>My GPA is not so hot. It's 3.7, which is ok, but not optimal for a school like Swarthmore. Will that ruin my chances? Here is the rest of my application:</p>

<p>School: Competitive public (#100 on Newsweek ranking, #250 on Washington Post)
State: TN
Race/Gender: Asian Female
Income Bracket: 250k+</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 UW, 4.2 W
SAT I: 750 CR, 700 M, 780 W
ACT: 34
SAT II: Haven't taken yet
Rank: Top 7%</p>

<p>AP Classes: Completed 6, passed 7 AP tests (AP Euro - 5, AP English Lit - 5, AP Calc -3, APUSH - 3, AP Physics - 3, AP Bio -3, AP Lang - 4)</p>

<p>Senior year schedule:</p>

<p>AP Econ/Gov (We go to each class every other day)
AP Spanish V
AP Psych
AP Stat
Anatomy Honors
Great Books (Standard-level class, but I think I can get a rec letter from teacher explaining what it is)</p>

<p>Also taking Geography and Philosophy through dual enrollment.</p>

<p>Additionally, I took three college classes during the summer, with two through Gov School summer program (Religion, Music) and another through dual enrollment (Microecon). Got A's in all three classes.</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<ul>
<li>Debate team ("Technical adviser" - in charge of handling evidence and stuff)</li>
<li>Quiz Bowl team (Restarted team, Captain)</li>
<li>Volunteered 150 hours at Youth Encouragement Services, program that works with at-risk, inner-city kids</li>
<li>Peer Tutor, 100 hours</li>
<li>Youth In Government Club - Attended Youth Legislature four years and Model UN two years, have positions (Blue Hour Floor Leader for Youth Leg, part of Secretariat for Model UN)</li>
<li>Played Cello, six years</li>
<li>"Resume adviser"</li>
<li>Math Team/Mu Alpha Theta (Uhhh...wrote prealgebra test)</li>
<li>National English Honor Society</li>
</ul>

<p>Also, I'm in the process of writing a novel. I should be done before the last of my apps get sent out. Planning to raise $75 from the books, with the proceeds going to an undecided charity.</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<ul>
<li>National Merit Semi-Finalist</li>
<li>National Spanish Exam Gold Award (95% and above) - three years</li>
<li>Selected for TN's Governor's School for the Humanities (< 25% acceptance rate)</li>
<li>Top 5 in National History Bee for TN</li>
<li>Top 10% for school during last three years</li>
<li>AP Scholar with Distinction (lol)</li>
</ul>

<p>Other:</p>

<p>Downward trend. ): I had an incredibly rough year last year, unfortunately. I am planning on making this up through my midyear reports. If they don't reject me before then, that is.</p>

2

<p>If there are extenuating circumstance, you or your school should explain.</p>

3

<p>Nope. Just laziness. :confused: </p>

<p>I did have a very rigorous schedule though.</p>

4

<p>Well, the grades aren’t helping, but I don’t think you’re necessarily ruined. Your ECs are enviable and fairly interesting. With impressive recs and essays, you definitely have a shot.</p>

5

<p>Worth a try. At a rigorous hs it’s not uncommon to see grade deflation. How the gpa affects you really depends on how the adcoms feel about your school’s rigor (despite it’s media ranking) and your specific competition from your school and other kids in your area. How the so-so AP scores will affect you really depends on your projected major. Agree, if there is a legit reason for the bump, the GC should be able to cover that. But, please make sure you have safeties you love.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>

<p>I would also like to point out that my APUSH score was really a 5 instead of a 3. That’s a big difference. :wink: So I really have four 5’s, one 4, and two 3’s.</p>

<p>Also, as far as I can tell, no one from my school really applies to Swarthmore, so I’m not sure if they’d know how hard it is.</p>

7

<p>My GPA was 3.82. My AP scores were 3, 2, and 1. I never took a precalculus class in high school. I was accepted. Swarthmore’s application is MUCH more than grades. They aren’t giving lip service when they say that they view every applicant holistically. Once you meet the minimum academic requirements, your personality, goals, and interests are what they evaluate. Swarthmore denies valedictorians and 2400’s all the time. I almost didn’t apply because I was so intimidated by the academic superhumans on CC. Now, I’m a living beacon of hope for non-perfect people who love Swarthmore. Believe me, nobody here is perfect once you actually meet them, but we all have something special that made the admissions council choose us over the 6000+ geniuses that applied.</p>

8

<p>It’s a crapshoot, so you might as well try.</p>

9

<p>Hey Frumens,
did you apply early decision?</p>

10

<p>* Hey Frumens,
did you apply early decision? *</p>

<p>Yes.</p>

11

<p>Frumens,</p>

<p>Did you have a hook, URM, legacy, athlete?? ect.</p>

12

<p>I’m just like you! Asian female, I have a 3.65 unweighted GPA and only in the top 40%, but it’s also because I’ve had a heavier workload than practically anyone else at my school, and no tutoring/ previous background knowledge. </p>

<p>The way I see it is, there’s no way colleges will admit someone with a 4.0 but easy classes (unless you have a major hook), but it does say something good about your intellectual priorities if you take the most challenging courses for the sake of learning. I emphasized that curiosity aspect of me in my essays, and I’m hoping Swat will look beyond the numbers, or let my high SAT scores make up for it. </p>

<p>On the plus side, they paid to fly me in for an overnight, so people like us must have a chance :slight_smile: I really do hope we both get in ED!</p>