Low GPA, high class rank

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Ok so here is the deal. At my highschool grades are deflated (especially the humanities). Even if you write an absolutely perfect essay, you will only get B+/A- max. For example, in Latin the highest grade on any essay through the entire year was a B+, and most of the kids are good writers (everyone in the class has 700+ writing scores). Anyways, my GPA is only a 92/100 which translates to like a 3.7UW. However, because getting high grades is so hard, this actually puts me at #1/50 in terms of class rank! Also, keep in mind I have taken the most rigorous course load and beyond. I have taken 17 AP/honors courses compared to the 8-10 of the #2 ranked student. Also, if it matters, my test scores are good.</p>

<p>SAT: 2230 (800M, 700CR, 730W)
SATII: 800 Chem, 800Physics, 800Math II
AP: AP stat (5), AP physics B (5), AP Calculus BC (5/5), AP Chemistry (5), AP USH (4), AP Latin (???), AP Bio (???), AP Physics C(???), AP English Lit (???)</p>

<p>So my question is, will my relatively low GPA matter, considering my circumstances? I’m applying to HYSPMC, etc…</p>

2

<p>Is there a reason you think it would?</p>

<p>And a 92/100 GPA would not be what would hold you back from the school of your dreams, regardless of whether there’s deflation or not.</p>

<p>Calm down, love life, eat a cheeseburger.</p>

3

<p>Does your school report class rank?</p>

4

<p>Even if class rank is not reported the school profile will have the info to allow colleges to figure out you are #1. Top colleges use a broad range of admission criteria and GPA is only one component. Is your school an Ivy feeder school?</p>

5

<p>not really… we only send 0-2 kids to ivies per year (out of approximately 50)</p>

6

<p>Your situation will be to your disadvantage applying to schools that use GPA but not rank (e.g. public universities in California). But it will be to your advantage applying to schools that use rank but not GPA (e.g. public universities in Texas).</p>

<p>At other schools which consider both, it depends on the relative weight to put on GPA versus rank, and how GPA and rank are evaluated (e.g. if they consider GPA in your high school context or not).</p>

<p>Sending any non-zero number of students out of 50 to Ivy League schools every year is a lot.</p>

7

<p>The fact that your school is small will not help you. #1 out of 50 is an achievement, but will not be perceived in the same light as #1 out of 500.</p>

8

<p>“We only send 0-2 kids to ivies per year”
Do you know their UWGPA?</p>

<p>“my test scores are good”
Your SAT II scores are excellent but your SAT score (2230) is about average for HYPSMC etc.</p>

9

<p>You’ll be fine at schools that look beyond the intial GPA - which is most of them. The purpose of the guidence counselor’s rec is to point out that your GPA places you at the top of the class and that you have taken the most rigorous courses available at your school.</p>

10

<p>Given the class size of 50 students, I’m assuming that you go to a private school. Most likely, colleges are familiar with your school, and the nature of the academics there if it is as competitive as you say it is. I went to a competitive private school, and the guidance counselors had good relationships with college admissions people, and the rigor of our school was well known. I assume it is the same at your school, so you should have no problem, especially given the fact that all of your test scores are great. If you’re worried, talk to your guidance counselor about maybe explaining your situation to schools, but it should really be no problem at all. Also, a 3.7 isn’t even that bad. Plenty of people get in to competitive schools with 3.7GPAs, as long as you have good scores and extracurriculars. Also, AP and honors classes come in to play. Schools look at rigor, and how well you did in all of your classes, and since you did well, you shouldn’t have any problem whatsoever with admissions.</p>