Can a 3.81 GPA be offset by other things? For top schools.

Applying to College
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<p>Hey everyone!</p>

<p>This has been nagging me for awhile so here it goes.</p>

<p>Where I live:</p>

<p>86+ = A. 4.0
73-85 = B 3.0
66-72 = C+ 2.5</p>

<p>I got a 72 in math 10 (even though I tried super hard), but got 95 in math 11. Currently 100 in math 12 and got 720 on SAT math (reasoning).</p>

<p>I got 82 in science 10 (again, tried really hard), but got 92 in Bio 11 and 88 in Earth Sciences 11.</p>

<p>Again, math/sciences are really not my forte, and I’m applying for IR. My grades definitely show an upward trend and I have a 2260 in SAT (800 CR, 720 M, 740 WR) and 750 in SAT LIt, 700 in SAT World, and 800 in SAT Chinese. I also self studied five APs. World (5), Euro (5), Comp Gov (5), Human Geo (5), Psych (4). My school doesn’t offer any humanities APs (we only have AP calc but I’m not good enough to take that).</p>

<p>So can my 3.81 GPA be set off by good APs, SATs, and an upward trend? I applied to Penn CAS ED, and will apply to the ivies, and top 20 schools for regular (Washington at Louis, Pomona, Rice, Middlebury etc).</p>

<p>I also have very good extracurriculars, recs, and essays.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>The only place I’ve seen this addressed is Yale, which has said that they might consider someone with stellar grades, but average scores-- but not average grades, and stellar scores. Yale’s not on your list though, and I don’t know how any of those schools look at the issue. (And realistically, Yale has enough people applying with stellar grades and stellar scores that they don’t have to consider either one, unless they’ve cured ebola or something.)</p>

<p>Good luck though!</p>

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<p>@petrichor11‌ Thanks! I was hoping that my upward trend and otherwise good marks would make up for the math and sciences…I guess not :(</p>

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<p>Your school is really weird for having those ranges. With those ranges of grading, you should have a 4.0. Colleges will look at that and they will see your grades and a 3.81 is not good. Your SAT scores are also not exceptional or a guarantee at all for ivies. Don’t count on it. You also did not take many APs compared to most people. Your extracurriculars better say you started 50 clubs and speak 20 languages if you want a shot.</p>

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<p>@whuffy‌ I’m Canadian, and the grading system is a lot more difficult here than in America. There are no APs offered in my school, so I self-studied five in on year on top of regular courseload. </p>

<p>I am counting on my extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Women’s Rights (9-12):</p>

<p>-Researcher and assistant writer for a book on girl empowerment. The writer is a pretty famous retired activist.
-Co-founded a girls rights conference where we had speakers/workshops and around 100 delegates
-Public speaker for an international girls rights organization; founder of local branch for same organization (raised over 5k)
-Volunteer at Rape Relief Shelter (help babysit, edit resumes/cover letters, tutor English)</p>

<p>Model UN (8-12):</p>

<p>-Deputy SG of a national MUN conference 2015 (700 delegates)
-Chief of Staff of same national MUN conference 2014 (600 delegates)
-Director of Sponsorship for international MUN conference 2013 (500 delegates)
-Exec/coach of school conference; also dsg-internal for school conference
-Delegated and staffed over twenty conferences, many awards, spent a lot of time on this activity
-Also volunteered 54 hours at WorldMUN</p>

<p>Political stuff (8-12):</p>

<p>-Been in youth parliament since grade eight, held positions every year. Elected and serving as Premier.
-Worked for Provincial elections as an elections officer (paid)
-Volunteer and Youth Rep for a Federal level political party (cold-called during elections, attended rallies, help organize events)</p>

<p>City Involvement (11-12):</p>

<p>-On city youth action council, where I help plan a three day conference for youth
-On city youth leadership council, where I represent our city’s youth at special events etc</p>

<p>Debate/Speech (8-12):</p>

<p>-Top three in Regional champs; qualifier to Provincial Champs
-Finalist for largest debate champ in Canada (8th out of 74 teams)
-Top 4 for Provincial Law Cup
-2nd for District Speech Champs; qualifier to Provincial champs
-Coach/exec for school teams; helped organize school invitational tournaments</p>

<p>Non-profit (10-12):</p>

<p>-Started this registered non-profit organization in response to teacher strikes
-We organized educational conferences, hosted fundraisers (ie debate tournaments), set up tutoring programs at inner-city schools, and had outreach teams bring school supplies to developing nations</p>

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<p>@whuffy Or brutal grade deflation. </p>

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<p>Your extracurriculars are very impressive. You have a chance of Ivy Leagues then.</p>