<p>From my experience, as long as your SAT score is over 2150 and your GPA is reasonable (as in, higher than a 3.3) than you should make it to the next round.</p>
<p>A 2000 on the SAT should suffice as I think that was the cut-off; your scores do not have to match or exceed your PSAT scores exactly. 3.3 GPA depends on your school. My son was not in the top 10% and had about a 3.6 at the time he sent his materials in. You will be moved on. Try to get an upward trend going. Do not worry! If 15,000 of 16,000 move on, you will likely be one of them. The GC at our large public school said she had never had anyone refused and I know some kids who had less than stellar gpa's.</p>
<p>I had also heard that 2000 and above is what is needed SAT wise.</p>
<p>2 students at my daughter's school did not move on from semi to finalist based on GPA or grades. I don't know what their GPA or grades were. But this was a State math/science school where students basically need straight As their freshman and Sophomore years in their 'home' high schools to be accepted at this school for their junior/senior years. At this school many of the students have major grade drops even including failing classes. As these bad grades come in the all important junior year they may have had a big impact. </p>
<p>But yes bad grades can cause you to not move on. Work on pulling that GPA up if you can.</p>
<p>My D's situation was somewhat similar. She made the semi-finalist round, had decent SAT scores (around 2100) but had really bad freshman year grades (about a 2.0). Sophomore and junior year were much better (>4.0). However, after submitting her finalist application she got a letter telling her she was not eligible to become a finalist because they require academic excellence in each year of high school.</p>
<p>I still think you will be fine if you continue to get a b+ or higher gpa, which you appear to have, along with good recommendations and/or an explanation for any low grades. At any rate, by the time you find out, you will likely have already applied to all of your colleges anyways. Work hard on your academics.</p>
<p>Well, I made the cutoff fine, but a friend of mine who was also a semi made it to finalist with several C's in her junior year (I know she did poorly because she didn't even make merit roll, plus she had mentioned she was on the cusp of failing APUSH.) However, she had really good extra curriculars, and they must ask about them for a reason, so I imagine that might've been what saved her.</p>
<p>Make sure you at least get the SAT score above 2000. If your guidance counselor will write your rec, have him/her emphasize your rigorous coursework. This might take some heat off your GPA. Good luck rss.</p>