<p>Hi guys, so I have a major problem. I'm in a good amount of ECs, have a perfect ACT score, great essays, but my GPA...3.0. Freshman year it was a 3.2, Sophomore year it was a 2.57. and Junior year it was a 4.0. I have lots of honors, some APs and few regulars. What should I do? I'm so stressed out, because of that awful GPA, and my dream school is Loyola University. Please help, will I get into here or any other college? Community college isn't an option from where my family is from :( I know my grades are bad, but I do think I have ample leadership skills, and I think I don't deserve to go to a community college for that reason when I've tried so hard all my highschool career.</p>
<p>Many schools state that scores can offset grades and vice versa. Is there a reason for low soph. year? Time to do some research at a variety of colleges and talk to admissions officers - I’m sure you have lots of options besides community college. (Which Loyola?)</p>
<p>Find out know about what your parents can pay. Unfortunately, your grades may hurt you if you want merit aid even with high ACT.</p>
<p>Apply and find out. Assuming you’re for real of course</p>
<p>My advice: you have to consider how you are going to pay for your university education. Do you have $40K per year to spend? Do your parents have that money in an account? </p>
<p>Your GPA will not qualify you for merit aid, and, you didn’t list your ACT score and need-based aid will only get you so much that it probably wouldn’t be enough. </p>
<p>Even students with perfect GPA’s don’t get full rides because the universities are the ones that fund the student’s education, and, they are very careful with how they spend their money and on who. Loyola may admit you, but you are probably not going to receive a dime in financial aid with that gpa and will be full pay.</p>
<p>Don’t shoot the community college system down because it may be your only option.</p>
<p>I’m tired of hearing ignorant comments about the Community College system. “I don’t deserve to go to a community college for that reason when I’ve tried so hard all my high school career” REALLY? Get over yourself. No, I’m sorry, but you did not work so hard in your high school career because you are at a 3.0 GPA. And, as a parent of 3 very bright children, and a sports team mother, I have personally seen what it takes to get a 4.0 and beyond and it is very tough. </p>
<p>In California, the community college is an option that many budget-savvy and smart students take because it is low cost and can lead directly to the UC system. </p>
<p>My daughter’s friend, Julie plans on going to med school. She was a 4.0 in high school, competed on athletic teams and had a boatload of clubs and activities. She was admitted to Berkeley, yes BERKELEY! but she went to a San Diego Community College first. She just completed her requirements at the CC, received a 4.0, and was accepted to UCSD’s Revelle college. She will have to spend a lot of money in med school but she saved her parents a ton of money going to community college first. In September, she will be at UCSD, with Junior status and has started studying her MCAT’s. </p>
<p>Your 3.0 and perfect ACT score will get you in a lot of places, so stop fretting about that. It will even get you serious merit aid at a few places - yes you just read that correctly. Read through this thread and see if there is anything you like:
<a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;
<p>@wakhan98 Keep in mind, there are amazing schools outside of the College Confidential bubble. I’m fairly new here and it really seems surprising to me that practically all of the Chance Me’s are for elite and top private schools. You need to realize there are schools with amazing programs that would accept you with open arms.</p>
<p>With “perfect” scores, and a 3.0, you will get into plenty of schools. Is that a weighted or unweighted GPA? Your junior year is the most important one for college applications, and the 4.0 will look terrific - it would be more damaging had your sophomore and junior GPAs been reversed. You probably have to rule out the very top tier of selective colleges, but don’t pay attention to anyone who says that community college is your only option. That is utter nonsense. I do not belittle the community college system in any way when I say that the majority of colleges in the U.S. will jump up and beg for someone with perfect test scores to attend and “juice” their stats. Most state flagship colleges, other than Berkeley/UCLA and a handful of others, will admit you on the basis of your scores alone. Rutgers admitted one of my children with an unweighted GPA below 3.0, and less-than-perfect (albeit perfectly respectable) SAT scores. I know that University of Alabama has an automatic scholarship for National Merit Scholars. I’m unaware of any Loyola being so selective that you would not have a very solid chance for admission.</p>