If a guidance counselor writes an explanation of my GPA would that help?

<p>Hi I am a junior in high school, and I’m worried that my GPA is a bit low for Columbia ED next year, even though I am a minority. Do you think that if my guidance counselor sends in an explaining my GPA that would help?</p>

<p>Gender: F</p>

<p>State: MA</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Biracial (African american and caucasian)</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted)-3.7 (however, i’m worried that by the time I apply to Columbia ED, it may be a 3.56 or 3.65) </p>

<p>GPA (Weighted)- 4.56</p>

<p>SAT: Reading, 800
Math: 760
Writing: 800</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activites: </p>

<p>9th, 10th, 11th, (and 12th for next year) member and violinst of the school orchestra
Copy editor of the school newspaper 10th grade
President and creator of my of high school STAND chapter (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur) 11th grade, and will continue till I graduate
Member of Tri-M Music Honor society- 11th grade, (and continue next year)</p>

<p>Interests in Volunteering: </p>

<p>One of the things that I am most passionate about is increasing the literacy rate for lower-income children across the nation. I am really passionate about volunteering, and am considering entering the Ameri-corps after college graduation for a year. I had tried to volunteer at non-profit organizations that were geared towards my interest in education and literacy, especially catering towards helping lower-income children in inner-cities. It is important for me to help these children, especially since I have a parent that grew up in a very low-income inner-city Boston neighborhood, and came out of the Boston public school system. I also still have family that live in poorer areas in inner-city boston, so it is close to my heart to help many of these disadvantaged children throughout the country.</p>

<p>Volunteer Work: (450 hours and counting)</p>

<p>Registration Coordinator for First Book, a non-profit organization based in D.C, which helps distribute free or reduced-priced books to lower income children across the nation. As a registration coordinator I had reached out to many different Title 1 schools, and after school programs that serve over 80% of low income children. To date, I have helped over 25 schools and after school programs including Washington D.C, New York City, and around the inner-city Boston area in Massachusetts, recieve free or reduced priced books. </p>

<p>Volunteer at an elementary school after-school program in my hometown, (11th grade and continue on in 12th grade)</p>

<p>Volunteer for Student Solutions, a non-profit organization based in North Carolina, which helps increase the literacy rate in children across America by providing literary and eduacational resources to schools in need. As a volunteer, I helped create databases of schools across the country that Student Solutions would reach out to to provide educational resources and materials to.</p>

<p>Volunteer for Nanubai, a non-profit organization based in India, which helps keep women and children in schools and India, and also helps increase the literacy rate among them. </p>

<p>Awards/Achievements:</p>

<p>Winner of First Book Registration Coordinator Challange</p>

<p>Presidents Volunteer Service Award- Gold</p>

<p>Congressional Award- Bronze Certificate</p>

<p>Congressional Award- Silver Certificate</p>

<p>Congressional Award- Gold Certificate </p>

<p>*The only problem is that I go to a really competitve high school where most people do well,( I have a class of about 420-430) I’m probably not going to be in the top ten percent of my class, bt maybe the top quarter, I’m not sure yet. Do you think I still might have a chance? </p>

<p>*I’m also about to start my own non-profit organization called “Change for Changing Lives”, which helps raise money for low-income children in inner city schools, and will provide them with books and educational materials ect. </p>

<p>*Do you also think it will help that only one of my parents is a college graduate?</p>

<p><if a=“” guidance=“” counselor=“” writes=“” an=“” explanation=“” of=“” my=“” gpa=“” would=“” that=“” help?=“”></if></p>

<p>Yes, most definitely.</p>

<p>It’s time to stand on your own two feet. Be confident in your own accomplishments. There isn’t any need to mention that you have family members living in low income areas. That is their life story. Focus on your life and your accomplishments. You’re a shining star and will go far in life. </p>

<p>What is it that you want your GC to say about your GPA?</p>

<p>Like nysmile, I’m confused what exactly your guidance counselor is going to explain. If there are some extenuating circumstances that have affected your grades, that’s your responsibility to tell the college about, not his/hers.</p>

<p><if there=“” are=“” some=“” extenuating=“” circumstances=“” that=“” have=“” affected=“” your=“” grades,=“” that’s=“” responsibility=“” to=“” tell=“” the=“” college=“” about,=“” not=“” his=“” hers.=“”></if></p>

<p>Do tell the college yourself, but have your counselor back it up. Also, don’t sound whiny; list the problem and discuss how you grew from it or learned a valuable lesson, etc.</p>

<p>It sure won’t help much if your GPA drops even further. Make sure you work on keeping those grades up. Having “only one parent as a college graduate” will not be a factor. With a college graduate for a parent colleges assume you know the value of an education and have some home support to study for that.</p>

<p>wow your SAT scores are sky high
I also got the congressional award, only bronze and silver though no gold hehe</p>

<p>i think it’ll help. i don’t know about others but on the umich app it specifically asks if the GC thinks the GPA is an accurate representation of the student’s ability, if not it asks for an explanation.
Best of luck to you, you are an excellent student. I hope you go where you want and where you’ll be happy and succeed :)</p>

<p>thanks everyone!</p>