I just finished my junior year and am applying early action to most schools I am applying to. I may apply ED to one school (I’m thinking Duke or Vandy) but I am wondering if my GPA is going to kill my applications. It is a 3.67 UW and a 4.50 weighted. I go to an exceedingly difficult high school full of geniuses (my school is #1 for my state on USNWR) and am ranked somewhere in the top 15-20% of my class. I have a lot of EC’s (captain of state championship winning varsity sports team, started my own charity club at school which raises money/volunteers for cancer reseach facilities, head dive coach for a summer team, etc.) and a pretty good ACT score of a 32, which I am retaking to hopefully get a 34. I have started on my essays after a lot of reading up on how to write good ones and already asked two teachers I am very close with to write my recs. I want to apply to a lot of good schools like Duke, UPenn, and Vanderbilt but I am extremely concerned about my GPA. Do you think my EC’s, test scores (studying all summer to hopefully get a 34), essays (which I will make sure are impeccable), and teacher recs would be enough to make up for my low GPA? Should I even apply to top 20 schools or should I aim a bit lower? Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Usually when you apply to top schools that have alumni all over the country, at least one person who reads your application will be from your region and will know your school. If your school is ranked 1st in the state, he or she will certainly know that and will communicate it to the other readers so they’ll understand its rigor in context. It’s fine to aim at top 20 schools with that GPA, but make sure you have several safeties and matches that you’ll be willing to attend. NC State and UNC seem to be excellent safeties/low matches for you. Now just add on to the list.
@AnEpicIndian Funny you say that because UNC has been one of my top choices for years. I just get anxious looking at the CDS’s for these schools and seeing the average GPA and class rank statistics.
Our high school is top tier in my state and It would be very difficult for you to get into Duke, Penn or Vandy with your present stats. I don’t think that winning the state championship is a hook, but maybe I’m wrong. Do a lot of practice tests in a simulated environment(if you can afford it) and your score can definitely improve. Good luck!
@educateddarcy how would my GPA affect me for schools like UNC (in-state), UVA, and other schools of that caliber?
wait, how are you applying EA to a bunch of schools AND ED to another?? is that even possible?
I don’t know if i’m applying ED to any schools, that’s what I’m saying. I toured Duke and during their info session, they stated that you can apply ED to duke and EA to other schools, like Chapel Hill. But if you’re accepted to Duke, you must withdraw your applications from any other colleges since you HAVE to go there. That’s just duke, however. At some schools like Harvard, you can’t apply anywhere early (not even early action) if you’re applying ED
It’s completely possible unless any of the schools say you can’t (ex. Single Choice Early Action).
Oh wow, didn’t even know. Okay, that GPA will be a weakness in your application, but if you can make up for it in hooks, test scores, class rigor, ECs, essays, and teacher recs – basically everything else in your application, so your GPA is your only weakness – you can still have a shot at one of the top 20 schools. Just make sure you have some safeties and matches you’re very comfortable with.
UVA is very difficult out of state. Out tippy tippy top students got in! I can’t speak to UNC because I’m out of state. Go on their thread. Good luck!
Come to Duke-- we’ll start a MBV fan club (see my username? ;)).
@MBVLoveless hahah yes, I love it
bumping this. I want to get more feedback about my GPA because this thread veered off topic a little bit.
Yes your GPA will kill you at some schools.
Did you check the CDS at these schools? Fit example, the 2013-2014 CDS for Penn showed 89% of incoming freshmen had a GPA of 3.75 or higher. 7% had a GPA between 3.5 and 3.75, while 4% had a GPA lower than 3.5. This doesn’t speak well for your chances at Penn. There is a more recent CDS but I can’t imagine these proportions changing much in a year in your favor.
Check the CDS for Vanderbilt (who likes high, very high, test scores), Duke and other lottery schools. You may need to recalibrate your reaches.
@slackermommd yeah, I’ve looked at the CDS’s for the three. Duke doesn’t report GPA on their CDS (ugh) but Vanderbilt surprisingly doesn’t have a super high average GPA, but as you said earlier, they do value test scores a lot. I am studying all summer for the September ACT (really hoping to bring up my 32 to a 34 or even a 35) and just bought a book with ten ACT practice tests inside of it. However, my dad went to Vandy and does alumni interviews, so maybe that will help a bit. Penn’s average GPA is like 3.9 or something so that kinda sucks but I’m still gonna apply. But if every single other thing on my application is stellar (assuming I bring my ACT up 2 or 3 points), will my GPA still be a major problem?
GPA/scores in the bottom 25% of a class tend to have a story behind them: think recruited athlete, huge donor, amazing life story. If your GPA/scores aren’t in the 25-75% range consider admission a long shot.
Yes, even if everything else is stellar, your GPA will still hurt, because the super-selectives could fill their classes a few times over with applicants with stellar everythings, including perfect GPAs. That doesn’t mean don’t apply to Duke, Vandy etc, but realize that they’re extreme longshots and work on developing a list of match schools and less-reachy reaches.