How do people with low GPA's get into IVY??

CTScoutmom
Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:00:05 +0000

Descuff, if your hypothetical student with the 2.0 attended a highly competitive school, where most of those with a higher GPA also scored just as high on the SAT or ACT (meaning the median score at the HS is a nearly perfect score), and has significant ECs and leadership ability, wonderful essays, and and LORs (your student who had lower grades due to angry teachers isn’t likely to have those), might stand a chance if the 2.0 is unweighted. But that high school doesn’t exist.

If said student spent a year at a state school, getting A’s and proving himself, he might be able to transfer in, a year later. But that 2.0 from high school is going to raise questions.

There are no hard and fast limits, though there are lower levels where the likelihood is very minimal. Harvard won’t set a specific limit, because that would be arbitrary. If they say 3.0, what of the student with 2.99 GPA? If your hypothetical student did in fact exist, Harvard might want the opportunity to consider him.