<p>My junior year GPA is 3.3. I know it’s not great, but my classes were hard (3 APs last year) and my school is known for being tough (it’s not a public get-by school). FYI, my school does not rank. My counselor will surely check the “most difficult” box for my course load. This year I am taking 5 APs. In addition, I’m sure my recs will be glowing and show passion and interest in the classroom.
My SAT score is in the 2300s, although I haven’t yet taken the SAT IIs. (I plan to in November.) My ECs are very, very strong (President, Chair, Leader, etc.), showing leadership in almost every area of school life. Also, my summer work this past year demonstrates my passions at a very high level (working with famous people). So I’m wondering how to overcome my GPA, which is the only thing really holding me back. Should I address it in the “Additional Info” section on the Common App? Am I just overreacting, and it is really not a problem? I’d really appreciate some guidance. Thanks!</p>
<p>Well grades aren’t everything (bit of an understatement XD), and I know adcoms will look at your application holistically-- they will see a very high SAT score, great ECs, and plenty of volunteer work. I believe they also look at every student in their school’s context; if your school is known for being really tough, they will see that you have done well in a rigorous environment. Is that better than a student that has a perfect 4.0 and inflated grades? It’s certainly no worse, and what’s more important it shows that you can take challenges and come out strong. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if you should address it in the additional info section, but if you must just state that your school has a reputation of being difficult. The best advice I can give is to simply let your strengths shine: that is what colleges will notice.</p>
<p>Your school will send a profile that will show GPA distribution and explain their grading system. That is the context in which you will be viewed. How did you do on your AP exams? A nice string of 5s would make your GPA look better.</p>
<p>You’re not overreacting, a junior year 3.3 will make any ivy extremely tough.</p>
<p>Here are the recent comments on this site by a former Dartmouth admissions officer where she talks about a weak junior year being “fatal” in a thread discussing the chances of kids with a 3.6:</p>
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<p>I have 4s and a 5.</p>
<p>A 3.3 GPA junior year indeed will make getting into an Ivy League school highly unlikely.</p>
<p>Don’t mean to be rude, but everybody and their mother knows a 3.3 is not good. My purpose of starting this thread was not self induced sadism. I want to know how to <em>overcome</em> my poor GPA. Thanks to those of you who will reply along these lines.</p>
<p>If there was a way to overcome a low GPA we’d be selling it, not writing about it on CC.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, GPA is the most important factor in admission. Above, one of the top college counselors in the Country tells us all what a low junior year GPA means. </p>
<p>We’re not trying to torture you, just to tell you it’s probably time to get realistic about where to apply.</p>
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<p>If there were a good reason for you junior year GPA besides “things got really hard”, I’d be sure to have the GC mention it in the GC recommendation. Trouble at home, illness at school–something along that line.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t mention it in the additional info area unless you had something to say besides “take me even with my crappy GPA in my junior year.” I’d just try to knock their socks off with your essays. If you have some hook that they want (like you are a star sports prospect), that would help.</p>
<p>The other thing that I’d do is cut back on ECs/leadership positions to make sure that your first semester senior year grades are stellar. As you’re finding out, GPA is a big deal when everyone (AKA the competition) will have stellar grades throughout their high school careers.</p>
<p>[ quote ] If there was a way to overcome a low GPA we’d be selling it, not writing about it on CC [ quote ]</p>
<p>Could not have said it better myself. Get straight As during your senior year and apply RD. That’s really the best thing you can do. Also, be SURE to make them smile at your essays and how you portray yourself.</p>
<p>Discover a new element.</p>
<p>^you’re a bad person… but it was funny.</p>
<p>It really does depend on your school and its profile. From my son’s school, gpa’s don’t get a lot higher than that…and many go to Ivies with gpa’s lower than that. There are never 4.0’s at this school. The workload is incredibily rigorous whether or not you take AP’s. My son’s regular courses prepare him for AP tests. They do look at your school profile.</p>
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<p>Just like my idol, House.</p>
<p>Here’s how to overcome a poor GPA: get better grades next time. Maybe drop one extracurricular or lessen your involvement or something, and just try to focus on studying. I def did not have perfect grades, and I’m a freshman here now. Dartmouth knows that it is very important that you challenge yourself and you are certainly doing that w/ a ton of APs and everything, maybe a little too much though. It sucks to have to cut back on the stuff you wanna do, but Im afraid it is probably the best option.</p>