Hi I’m a junior in high school in North Carolina and I signed up 6 classes senior year:
AP Statistics
AP Macroeconomics
Honors English IV
Honors American History II
Honors Forensic Sciences
Honors Hospitality and Tourism
Early Release- Fall
Early Release- Spring
My current NC Weighted GPA is a 3.80625 (5 scale) and my unweighted is a 3.333
I already took AP Psychology, AP Human Geography, AP English Language and Composition, and Honors PLTW Principles of Engineering which counts as an AP.
My colleges I’m applying to are the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, NC State, App State, Florida State, UNCW, Penn State, UTK, and Virginia Tech.
I took the SAT once and got a 1200, however, I took it in May and am expecting to get at least a 1350 by the last time I take it.
My top choice school is definitely Clemson University and USC if I get a scholarship (I’m out of state).
What should I do? Am I screwed? I know my GPA is a little low, but at this point I don’t think it can change much. Should I still get early release?
No, early release is not going to make you look bad if you have shown rigorous coursework throughout HS. My DD had 1 late arrival period in the fall and 2 late arrival periods in the spring! She had similar stats (higher GPA, 27 ACT, similar courses, a few more APs 9 total) was accepted at U of SC, Florida State and 12 other schools. She was waitlisted at Clemson. (She is OOS) You are fine, although Clemson is tough, hopefully you can pop up the SAT score.
You can ask your counselor what actually shows up on your transcript. Maybe it won’t even say early release.
In any case, colleges don’t care so much when you leave school for the day. They care about what courses you have. It looks like you have four traditional academic courses and two that are not. You also don’t have any foreign language or traditional science like biology, chemistry, or physics. If you already have taken at least three years of foreign language and regular science, you’re probably OK with them. If not, colleges may wonder why you haven’t.
Taking six courses senior year can be fine, but only if you fulfill everything you need to. As you have to make up for having a GPA that’s not that high, you might want to think about either adding a course, or substituting Forensic Science or Hospitality with something else.
I am not as bothered by the seemingly random electives. At some schools (like my kids’) electives are scheduled at the same class periods as many APs so when you select an AP you are closing out options for certain other electives and even other desirable APs, you are left with filling in it with what is available. For instance, My own kid really wanted to take Sociology because it was a possible a career interest, but it was offered the same period as AP Euro, so she went with AP Euro. It may be that was all the OP was able to make fit in the schedule. The whole reason my DD had release periods was literally because there was nothing available except, fashion merchandising, sports marketing, horticulture and several other truly bizarre options that were of no interest or real value to her at all. One of her release periods she filled with “school service” working in the attendance office. Not ideal schedules but you make do.
I talked to the University of South Carolina admission representative and he told me that I have to take a science class senior year so I decided to opt for Honors Forensic Science rather than AP Biology, it is a science credit.
I’ve taken three years of Spanish, Spanish I,II, and III. I took Honors Earth science freshman year, Honors Biology, Honors Chem, and then Honors Forensics senior year.
My daughter applied to Clemson and U of SC (we’re in state), and she was accepted at both. Her stats were 4.1 wGPA and 1270 SAT/28 ACT. I’d say your weighted gpa is right at the borderline, but make sure to bring that SAT score up for Clemson. U of SC was much easier to get into, and you might qualify for scholarships if you can push that SAT score higher. I’d also say take the more rigorous classes if you can. By the end of her junior year, she had 4 years of spanish already, and ap chem plus ap us hist. The aim at Clemson really is to shoot for the middle of the avg entering freshmen class. If you can stay close enough to the avg, your chances are high.
Check Naviance for schools that should be a good match. I always tried to avoid fall early release as schools see that. I prefer Spring. Pick up another Engineering or other Honors class to boost your GPA. You’ll be a match for USC, App, UTK, and UNCW. NCSU and Clemson are tough. Not sure about VT, FSU or Penn State. My kid had a 1350 and a 4.4 (6 PT scale) and got into VT NCSU USC App, UNCW Honors, but waitlist at Clemson. We’re also in NC. Good luck!
Clemson is very stats oriented. They are big on class rank. If you are not on top 10% of your class you will most likely not get oos scholarship. Also You really need to get the sat up to have any chance to get admitted to Clemson.
I am trying to figure out how a university/college would know if you left early or whatever. Standard academic load at D’s very rigorous high school is five academic courses, mandatory gym/health, and possibly 2 electives. There was nowhere on Common App or direct applications that would indicate free periods. You just write in what you DID take.
Daughter took 5 academic courses plus band and orchestra every year. Got into all twelve schools she applied to. They didn’t seem to want to know if she had study hall on days with no science lab or free period during Varsity sports season (no gym). Why would they?
@burghdad is correct with Clemson being very stats based. They look at GPA, test scores, rank and rigor . ECs are considered very little in the process. It also varies depending on proposed major. Another world of advice is to apply as soon as the appropriate opens on Aug 1. They don’t have rolling admissions so you will most likely still not hear into Feb, but housing priority is based on application date.
UPDATE: My May SAT score came in and I got a 1270, which is a 70 point increase from my December one. I’m taking it in June and trying to get it up to a 1370 (100 more points especially in reading, my reading score is very low).
It seems crazy that a HS would list a free period that doesn’t do anything to help students. My son took a free period junior and senior year and had no problems with admissions. Most kids at his school take a free period both those years.m