<p>College I want to apply for next year has an average gpa of 3.9. My gpa is 3.88, is that a slight reach or a match?</p>
<p>If that were the sole criterion it would be a match, but it’s probably not. Look at the school’s Common Data Set, section C7, to see what they use for admission.</p>
<p>Your GPA is a match, but do they look at anything else ie: SAT/ACT etc?</p>
<p>Many very selective schools don’t even disclose an average GPA in their Common Data Set files. By itself, once you get above 3.6 or so, it’s not a very meaningful number for distinguishing match from reach at those colleges.</p>
<p>With a 3.88 in a full IB program at a demanding private high school, a very selective private college might be a high match (given strong test scores, ECs, LORs, etc). With the same GPA in an undemanding high school program, and below average test scores, your state flagship could be nearly out of reach.</p>