Hi, I am a high school junior and I have a 32 ACT and a 3.9 GPA currently. However, I’ve only taken 1 AP class along with a couple of accelerated classes, and I have pretty much no extracurriculars. I’m hoping to change that next year, but I’m wondering if the stats I have right now will enough to get into MSU?
So you’re right to be thinking about AP classes, and what they might mean to your chances. Admissions staff refer to that as “rigor”…as in, how rigorous a course of study did the student pursue in relation to what was available to them. It takes a weaker GPA and makes it stronger/more relevant…or, more to the point, more predictive…and can, as it does in your case, take a high GPA and bring it down a notch. Either way, they’ll recalculate your GPA based on core (Math, English, Science, Language) classes anyway…but here’s the good news: Aptitude tests are the great equalizer, and with an ACT above 30 (in fact, 32) you’re Golden. In fact: Slam a few AP courses senior year and retake that ACT aiming for a 33 and you may well find yourself Honors College (and assistance $) bound. Good Luck, enjoy the ride, Spartans Will.