bandgeek05

My freshman year was terrible. There were exceptional circumstances that destroyed my GPA. In the time since, I've done a helluva a job in rebuilding my life and grades, however I used a GPA calculator and found that even with straight As for the duration of my junior and senior years, the highest GPA I could earn would be an even 3.0 unweighted GPA.

I've done my homework and know that a competitive GPA for an incoming engineering major is at least a 3.5. I'm an AP student, I'm acing Calc AB, Physics, and Lang and Comp, and alright in US History. I will have completed the Project Lead the Way sequence by graduation. I hold leadership positions in marching band, First Robotics, and student government, and am on the officer team for Maryland state FBLA.

I'm afraid that even with my 29 ACT composite I won't be able to get into a good engineering program with my GPA. Is it too late?

OldbatesieDoc

The improved grades are good, but if you want engineering, you should retake the ACT.A 30 moves you into another quintile at most good schools.

greennblue

Colleges like upward trends. With great grades junior and senior years and high test scores (take some SATIIs), you should be in good shape.

purduefrank

I completely agree with the previous poster. There is a human aspect to everything and most admissions offices surely realize that there are extenuating circumstances that students go through. Most people are willing to give you the benefit of the doubt in life if you have taken the initiative to turn things around. If you make extraordinary improvements, like you have been, this will show through and tell a compelling story that speaks much louder than your overall GPA will.

Keep pushing, keep up the good work. If you do, you will get into a good school. I definitely would not let this deter you.

needtogetin

lol the crappy part for me, is that my grades get gradually worse with each passing year. less motivation to actually do work lol

bandgeek05

Thanks so much for the positive input. I was under the impression Adcoms would look at my GPA and course load and label me as a Smart Slacker.
^ I wish I had that luxury. It sucks that my school doesn't put dual enrollment toward high school GPAs or I could do that.

hypher

I have the same problem. I took all AP classes my freshman year, but I didn't apply my self and ended up with around a 2.1

Right now in my sophomore year I have a 3.0, but will be bringing them up to all A's.
If all goes well, I'll end up with a 3.3 by the end of my junior year.

Would a 3.3 unweighted GPA be sufficient enough for admission to a good or decent Aerospace Engineering program?

Techy233

A 29 ACT would hardly put you under the smart slacker category. I thot you were in college. 30-34 ACT would greatly improve your chances. Just make sure you get 5s on Physics and calculus - if you're acing AP Physics C, then you may want to consider taking the BC exam.

Swervmerv

Eh dude you're fine. You just probably wont get into any selective engineering schools. There are alot of great programs out there that are relativity easy to get into. The upward trend would look good too . And the difference btwn ACT of 29 and 30 is not really significant enough to even worry about. Just keep it up and apply yourself in college.

cyclone10

get ur grades up...go to community college if u need to....

go to a good engineering school in-state...(there's a huge list of em somewhere on cc)

Work ur butt off in engineering undergrad and u will be rewarded with exciting opportunities in industry or academia...

NOTE...you should never use the words "is it too late"...not now, not in undergrad, not in grad school, NEVER...we live in a great country and if you work hard in school for engineering you will be rewarded with exciting opportunities...

it takes hard work