Worried about GPA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
1

<p>Hi everyone - so, Oberlin is absolutely my top choice school. I'm dying to go there. However, my GPA is certainly not as strong as I'd like it to be. Freshman to junior year, cumulatively, it's a 3.4. My GPA from the first semester of my senior year alone, however, is a 3.82.</p>

<p>The weird thing about my school is that, while GPA isn't weighted, rank is. My rank is 19/302, putting me in the top 7% of my class.</p>

<p>Though my school doesn't have too many advanced-level classes, I've taken all honors core classes since freshman year and will have taken 5 APs by the time I graduate. I got a 4 on the APUSH exam.</p>

<p>My SAT score is a 2190 superscore (800 CR, 670 M, 720 W) and my ACT score is a 32 (36 in English and Reading, 34 Writing, 30 Science, 26 Math).</p>

<p>I have very good ECs: I work for a nonprofit; facilitate youth conferences; am editor-in-chief of the literary magazine; and am an officer of NHS, French Club, and Poetry Club, among other things. I tutor three kids and have taken foreign language classes at local colleges. My Common App essay was excellent, according to the adults who read it--it's funny, they say, but not silly or uninformative. My Why Oberlin essay, however, while specific and truthful, is a bit bland.</p>

<p>As for awards, I've gotten a few from the nonprofit I work for, one for my volunteer work at the library, and an Academic Achievement Award from my school. I was a NMS Commended Student, as well.</p>

<p>Therefore, I have a question!</p>

<p>Do I have a shot at Oberlin, in your opinion, despite my poor GPA?</p>

2

<p>Well, before someone just sends you the Oberlin Blog link “What Are My Chances,” I will give you some tangible figures that are very similar to yours. I applied ED and was accepted. 3.5 unweighted, 32 ACT. I had 3 A’s and a B for first quarter grades, which Oberlin saw. I also was told the essay was very good. Meh recs. Pretty good EC’s, much like yours. I thought my why Oberlin was solid enough, I felt better about than it sounds like you feel.</p>

<p>Are you applying RD or EDII?</p>

3

<p>RD. Your story is comforting, so thank you!</p>

4

<p>Just to reassure you some more, I’ve gotten in (ED) and I had an even lower GPA (3.45 weighted, something like a 3.01 unweighted counting by the official Oberlin system where an A- is 3.7 and a B+ is 3.3). What I think helped was being on an upward trend with my grades (pretty similar to what it sounds like you’re on) and having good test scores (also quite similar to yours). Our APs and ECs are even remarkably similar!</p>

<p>So. I think you definitely have a shot.</p>

5

<p>Sharrakor, that makes me feel better, too. Congrats on the acceptance! Hopefully I’ll see you around in the fall.</p>

6

<p>paperbackhead, your stats are very similar to mine! Right down the the cumulative GPA, and first semester year GPA, and SAT score (although the distribution is different). </p>

<p>I hope that we both get in!</p>

7

<p>Had a lowish(that cant be a real word,can it?) GPA and I got in ED as well.However I am an international student and we have a whole different grading system and curriculum.But I guess showingpassion for OBERLIN in the additional essay should really help.</p>

8

<p>Had a lowish(that cant be a real word,can it?) GPA and I got in ED as well.However I am an international student and we have a whole different grading system and curriculum.But I guess showingpassion for OBERLIN in the additional essay should really help.Dont worry too much,they really look at the whole app and you as a person,not just GPA:)</p>

9

<p>You meant “lowerish” or, if you want to deliver it with a more affected, sophisticated European flair: “loweresque”</p>