Well, I’m totally stressing because it’s the end of my junior year and my GPA is only a 3.66.
Next year, I am taking relatively easy classes (honors English, AP stat, AP psych, AP bio) so I’m confident that I will have straight As, but my senior year grades won’t help me much.
My SAT was a 2250, and I got a 5 on all of my AP exams (English Lang, World, Government, Calc BC) so far, and I will hopefully get 5s on my exams next year as well.
I am on financial committee of the county SGA and I do a lot of work with a nonprofit that provides a summer camp to underprivileged kids. I am also a peer tutor, a member of Spanish Honors Society, and I have taught English to speakers of other languages since 8th grade.
Do you think that my test scores/extra curriculars will outweigh my low GPA? I am planning on applying to a few schools but UMich, Chapel Hill, and UMD College Park are my top choices right now.
Well first, a 3.66 isn’t even that low, so calm down a little. Is your GPA spread out (i.e. consistent B’s all year, every year, for the last 3), or is it focused in freshman/sophomore year because you “slacked off” but then improved in junior year? I don’t know too much about UMD College Park or Chapel Hill, but I know UMich says the following on their website:
“The average student admitted to the freshmen class of 2010 had a 3.8 GPA. Please note, however, that we are more focused on your actual grades and grade trends than on the GPA itself. Did the student have more A’s than B’s? Was there an upward or downward trend to the grades? All grades are also taken in the context of the student’s curriculum at their high school.”
Which means that if your lower grades are concentrated near the beginning of high school with a good upward trend, you should be just fine. I assume the other two schools have similar policies. Add that on top of your amazing test scores and great ECs which will allow you to write interesting essays, and you should be okay.
Maryland is a high match, Michigan and UNC are both high reaches. Find safety schools that are similar to them. A 3.66 GPA does not cut it at the most competitive public schools in the nation.
Get the GPA up but 3.66 isn’t awful. If you are out of state for any of the other 2 state schools, they will be reaches. All of those schools are difficult for OOS applicants to get in. Your SAT and EC’s are fine. As long as you keep at it and improve the grades, you should be on a smooth path. Add some interesting, compelling essays and you’re on your way! As @patriot420 says, make sure to add some decent matches and safeties to your list.