Is a 3.8 low for stanford EA?

needhelp06 · October 23, 2004, 1:24pm

Hey everyone,

I feel that right now, the only hole in my application may be my 3.8 GPA. I realize that many people think this is high, and im not trying to be ****y or anything, but do you think it will hurt me for stanford EA? My SAT scores are great, I spend a lot of time on only a few EC's that are really important to me, I have good awards and honors, decent leadership, good recs, and good essays (i think but i can never tell). I always see people on CC saying "Don't try stanford in you dont have a 3.8+!" Well, im right on the border. Is my gpa too low?

Note: Im really pushing for straight A's this semester and that should bring it up to 3.9.

needhelp06 · October 23, 2004, 1:26pm

****y = c-o-c-k-y

yz16 · October 23, 2004, 1:26pm

hm. i think it's fine actually ... o.O. really, and I do set my own standards quite high so you can rest somewhat assured.

amnesia · October 23, 2004, 1:31pm

a 3.8 is fine... only if those Bs (or Cs) were in an AP course.

quynh2007 · October 23, 2004, 4:03pm

you never know. i think with your stats, the worst that can happen is being deferred (which I'm not sure if that is much better than outright rejection)

it gets harder each year -- so good luck

lisa_fillmore · October 23, 2004, 4:13pm

If great SATs is 1500 plus and your school is competitive and you're in top 5%, you don't need to worry about a 3.8.

pebbles · October 23, 2004, 4:42pm

um i've had straight A's for all 4 years and my gpa hovers around a 3.8... so she/he really may not HAVE any B's or C's

needhelp06 · October 23, 2004, 5:48pm

actually i have had 1 B every semester of high school. I dont think I'm in the top 5%, but I am defintely in the top 10%. Just to give you more info, I have a 1590 SAT, my sat II's are all 750+ (math iic, writing, and chem). I am captain of a a few academic teams at my school, and have won a lot of medals at the state and regional competition. I am a Siemen-Westinghouse semifinalist, a national merit semifimalist, I have patents (relating to my independent research in biochemistry), and my recs should be good. Maybe this new info will help you guys out on evaluating my chances at stanford EA?

needhelp06 · October 23, 2004, 5:54pm

sorry...MODERATORS YOU CAN MOVE THIS POST TO THE MY CHANCES FORUM IF YOU NEED TO

lisa_fillmore · October 23, 2004, 8:12pm

With what you describe, a few Bs won't matter. Focus on getting strong recs.

zantedeschia · October 23, 2004, 8:16pm

a 3.8 is perfectly fine! and a few B's won't kill you.

unclefeezus1 · October 23, 2004, 9:16pm

Man, you're a shoo-in for stanford.

Hawkeye · October 23, 2004, 10:38pm

my friend got a B- in drivers ed.

Luckily, after deffering, the stanford admissions officers saw through it :)

carolyn · October 23, 2004, 10:41pm

One thing to consider: what is your GPA in academic core subjects like math, English, science, language, history? Those are what Stanford and other competitive schools are going to focus on most strongly. A few B's in gym, driver's ed, even art or drama, aren't going to drag you out of consideration.

needhelp06 · October 23, 2004, 10:45pm

well, my soph year i had b's in english, then i raised them for junior year. Junior year my b's were in math, but senior year first semester I am gonna work really hard but I will get that A! But will 1st semester senior year be too late for EA?