Freshman and sophomore year I was in a school where kids didn’t really care or apply themselves, or atleast I was friends with those who didn’t. I got many B’s those two years… My weighted is like a 3.68 as a junior (freshman+sophomore year). However, my gpa rose this year (junior year). My weighted gpa for my first two quarters were 4.833 5 AP classes and one regular language class. I went from one ap a few honors sophomore year to 5AP’s junior year. I took the act without much prep and got a 32, I can definitely raise it to a 34-35. I’m in many clubs and hold officer positions in two. What are my chances that I jumped from a 3.68 to a 4.83 in the selection process for good colleges? (NYU, Cornell, Michigan University and other Ivy Leagues)
For Ivy Leagues and other top-tier schools, the low freshman and sophomore grades––even with an upward trend––will negatively impact your application, especially if you are unhooked. A 3.68 GPA falls well below the average range of such schools. Your 32 ACT is good, but even that won’t standout by itself. I advise raising your ACT score, taking SAT Subject tests, and continuing to increase your cumulative GPA>
Thanks for the reply! I know I can get my ACT to a 34-35. But will good non-ivy schools look at the major improvement that I had this year?
It’s not the improvement per se. But your GPA will be higher because you did better. So obviously it is better than had you not improved. Will you beat out someone who had a steady high GPA? NO. But you will beat out someone (all other things being equal) who maintained the low GPA.
It depends what you mean by “good non-ivy” schools. For schools like UChicago, Duke, Stanford, and many of the highly-ranked LACs, your GPA will still hold you back. Rather than dwelling on this, however, focus on the present. Continue to get all As. Get that 34 or 35 ACT (going from a 32 to a 34-35 is not the easiest thing in the world). Take a few subject tests.
Part of it comes down to how you perform relative to your peers. If you still are in the top 10% (or even better, top 5% or top 1%), then it’s not as big of an issue.
No sense in re-taking ACT if the OP has a 32 now.
How about other schools such as NYU, University of Michigan, and Rice University? Assuming I do good on the new SAT and improve my ACT?
I’m asking do colleges acknowledge the huge improvement that I’ve had?
NYU might accept. Chances for Michigan are low. Rice is low as well since your ACT will fall in the bottom 25%.
Try the Supermatch function to the left under find a college. That may give you some ideas.
If I get my ACT to a 34-35 and my SAT to a 1550+ how would my chances be for NYU or Rice?
Bump
even with a 34+35, itd still be tough as ull be competing with people w/ similar act scores but with higher gpa… be sure to write good essays, and ED somewhere or EA… then have good standout ECs. gl
Weighted GPA means nothing at most schools. What is your UW GPA?