<p>Yeah, I know GPA is the most important part of a college app, but I have a pretty bad one (3.1 with one semester left in Junior year). So, if I’m forced to rely on that I’m pretty screwed, even if I can bring it up with my last semester. However, I’m (don’t judge me for bragging) a pretty damn amazing writer, a 34 ACT, and heavily involved in extracurriculars: Editor-in-chief of my paper, president of my local JSA chapter, interned with my congressman, etc. </p>
<p>Are there any schools out there that would cater to someone with an awful GPA but great everything else? Just so you know, my plan is to major in English and apply that to a job as a journalist.</p>
<p>A lot of state schools have a gpa/test scores/class ranking combination requirement that would help you out. The higher your test scores, the lower your gpa and ranking can be. Also, I think any school that awards merit money based on gpa/test score combination. I’m not saying that you would get a merit award (you might) but a lot of schools that don’t require test scores, certainly don’t mind reporting high test scores as part of their common data set. So if they’re using it as part of the scholarship requirement, they might take a closer look at your EC. You might also look on the parent forum at the thread for 3-3.3 gpa students and see where they’re getting in. Don’t worry too much. You can still get into a very good school, it just probably won’t have the name recognition or prestige that so many people are used to.</p>
<p>I was actually aiming for a small private college more than anything, IE St. John’s, Reed, Lewis and Clark, colleges like that. George Washington University is the only 'big" school I’ve liked, and there’s really been no publics I’ve loved so far. I’m totally willing to sacrifice the big name recognition in order to get an experience I’ll love and benefit from more.</p>
<p>Oh god, Elon looks great. Although this threw me:
“Admitted freshmen in the class of 2013 had a core academic GPA of 3.96, and the class included 12 high school valedictorians”</p>
<p>It doesn’t say anything about the Communications school, though. It may be better than that, but still terrifying.</p>
<p>Supbros: that is a weighted GPA; +1 for honors, +2 for AP’s…the top kids there have GPA’s between 5-6…so the 3.96 is an average…plenty of “B” students there…</p>
<p>And your ACT is way in to the top 25%…</p>
<p>communications is not a separate admissions process…auto entry when you declare as long as you get C- or higher in pre requisite courses…</p>
<p>State schools, the above schools mentioned. Cuny schools (only some apply) Schools like Temple, Pace, etc are relatively easy to get into. Please respond to my thread!</p>
<p>There are plenty of colleges who will accept a 3.1GPA student. The fact that these may be so-called “lower tier” schools is what seems to be bothering you. Frankly, your HS guid counselor is probably best situated to help you form a target list of schools. Don’t look back in regret to “what might have been” but take the steps necessary to crank out your next four years. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Thanks, T2. Yeah, the hypercompetitve, name-driven college system is really terrifying me, High School has conditioned me to think of a state school as the ultimate fallback. So that’s bad.</p>
<p>It’s all a matter of perspective. The large urban school district from where I graduated, currently has ~22% of entering ninth graders getting a diploma in 4 years. And among these only 1 in 10 go to a 4 year college after that. That means roughly 2 in 100 entering ninth graders will be sitting in a 4 year college classroom in 4.5 years. Among those, who will graduate college? You’re looking at ~ 1 in 100 entering ninth graders who will have a college degree (any college degree) in 8 years.</p>
<p>And I didn’t come from a Third World country,either. It’s a prominent yet troubled US city.</p>
My 3.3 GPA student just started college and did fine with his applications (maybe even over performed expectations). In reality there are about 60 schools that are incredibly difficult to get into (the top 30 or so LACs and then the top 30 or so research universities) … and then selectivity drops off dramatically and very good schools accept a much wider range of students (as measured by high school and standardized test performance). My son visited a ton of schools and for me the overwhelmingly strongest impression was that I could see virtually all the schools providing a great experience for students for which it was a good fit. In addition, my son realized he probably would grow more as a student if he went to a school at which he was a pretty strong student (more willing to speak out in class or get research assignments for example) than if he was accepted to his high reach schools.</p>
<p>Yeah, Elon’s 3.96 is definitely weighted. And as another North Carolinian I agree Elon is great! I agree that they have fairly holistic admissions, and you could say this of many smaller private schools. You may also be interested to Roanoke College and Furman University, two other holistic admissions schools in the south. </p>
<p>One great resource for you might be U.S. News’ list of “A+ Options for B Students.” ([A+</a> Options for B Students | Top Liberal Arts Colleges | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/a-plus]A+”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/a-plus)) You can filter between National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, and Regional Colleges with the tabs at the top. Schools that jump out to me are Southwestern University (don’t let the name fool you, it’s a small LAC, and absolutely lovely, located outside Austin, TX), James Madison University (Virginian state school), Xavier University (in Cincinnati), University of Evansville (in Indiana), and University of Richmond (a U.S. News “up-and-coming school”), just to name a few.</p>
<p>Also, check out the list of Colleges That Change Lives. These schools tend to be really unique and easier to get into. And check out the list of “Up-and-Coming Schools” on U.S. News. While ranking lists shouldn’t be a true authority on the quality of a college, some of these “Up-and-Coming Schools” have in common that they are recruiting students with high test scores and such.</p>
<p>To boost your application, make sure to write all of the optional essay questions. Also, if there is anything that caused a dip in your GPA, or if there begins to be a positive trend, highlight these factors!</p>
<p>Try not to rule out a school based on it being funded by a state. Some smaller state colleges go to great efforts to keep a small feel, and boost academics by having an honors college. Some have liberal arts curriculums, like College of Charleston, UNC Asheville, and UMinnesota-Morris.</p>