Senior Year - too late to save GPA?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

Hello everyone,

So I wanted to know if it would be too late to use senior year (first semester) to basically save my GPA.
Some background:

2nd semester of junior year is coming to a close and I burned out towards the end… I’m pretty sure I’m going to have a crappy unweighted GPA. First semester I got 4 A’s and 2 B’s (2 B’s in AP Chem and AP Physics since I discovered I didn’t really enjoy either one at all, 4 A’s in APUSH, AP Lang, AP Calc AB and Swim), which isn’t too bad - then second semester I switched it around and I now have 4 B’s (chem, physics, calc, HEALTH [yes I’m screaming and hoping I can get this up]) and 2 A’s (APUSH and Lang).

I’ve taken AP’s since freshman year and I highly overestimated the extent to which I could handle a rigorous courseload as a sophomore and made the mistake of loading up on too many AP’s junior year. especially when I have other important EC commitments and sports. I’ve thus lowered my courseload for senior year to 3/4 AP’s (lit, bio, calc bc, and gov [one semester]) and I was wondering if I could manage to get all A’s in these classes, if it would still boost my GPA in time for college apps, and lessen the detriment my 2nd semester junior year grades would have on my transcript.

I’m also planning on taking a 3 credit class at my local community college on a subject I’m passionate about this summer.

Overall, I currently have a 3.78 uw gpa and a 4.5 w gpa, which will probably lower to a 3.6-3.7 uw after this semester. I know school background also matters - I go to a competitive suburban public school, but I still have managed to be in the top 2% for gpa (if rank matters anyway).

Thoughts? I know there is MUCH more to an application than GPA but has anyone been in a situation like this and still gotten into a good school? (i.e UC’s, like UCSD and maybe UCLA?)

2

Honestly maybe? It’s all up to you. You already sound pretty competitive application wise and perhaps since you’re cutting down the AP classes senior year you’ll get just the right handle on your ECs and courseload. It all comes down to how bad you want this. Can you handle one more year or stress to get into your dream college? This is entirely mental. You can do it. You got this.

3

UC’s do not consider Senior year grades in their GPA calculation or admissions decision unless you are waitlisted, appeal or are asked specifically for Mid-year grades due to special circumstances. Senior grades will keep your provisional admission once you have been accepted. Your UC GPA is what it is at the end of Junior year.
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

You still look like a competitive applicant. Good luck.

4

@Gumbymom I did not know this, wow! Okay, that clears it up for the UC situation, thank you.

@redwood20 I’m hoping that taking fewer AP’s will have that effect! Thank you for the encouragement, I feel empowered already :slight_smile:

Update: I got my health grade up to an A within the last day of school by some miracle so that means one less B!

5

First off, 3.78 isn’t too bad. Especially for someone who started taking AP’s freshman year.

Can you bump up your GPA? A little, but not much. But at this point it shouldn’t matter too much. Colleges have most of the grades they’re going to use by this point, especially if you’ll be applying early. Just do the best you can. What else is there to do?

6

I wouldn’t be too worried. Some colleges don’t take into account freshman year, and they will also see a rigorous course load. I think ultimately your GPA will be fine, 3.78 isn’t bad at all!