Since GPA is inflated, how important is it when applying to college?

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
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<p>So, I’m most likely going to graduate high school with a 3.6 UW GPA and a 4.2 W GPA, which scares me because my top two schools are Northwestern and USC. I’m also looking at Boston University and Pepperdine, which are more around my range. Do you think my GPA will matter THAT much, though? </p>

<p>I’m very involved in school (treasurer for National Honors Society, treasurer for Sophomore class, Model UN member, officer for Youth in Government, representative for SGA, MIGHT be senior class president, and MIGHT be Spanish honor society president), community service (tutor for YMCA, volunteer at Veteran’s hospital during the summer, and two Mexico mission trips), some other extracurriculars (youth group church leader, youth group church drummer, VBS volunteer for 4 years), will graduate with 9-10 AP classes, and my high school is #1 in the state and one of the nation’s best high schools. Do you think my 3.6 will hurt my chances?</p>

<p>Extra info: I’m Asian and a female
Class of 2015</p>

<p>I’m completely aware that GPA is just a portion of my application, but I hope that my GPA won’t be the reason for me not getting into a certain college. Also, I know that my SAT/ACT scores and essay play a part, too. I’m hoping this post will give me a rough outline of my chances.
Hope you can help!</p>

<p>other schools I’m applying to:
UC of San Diego
University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign
UC of Santa Barbara
Boston College
(this list will most like change)</p>

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<p>I didn’t post my SAT/ACT scores because they’re not too good. I’m working on bringing up my scores!</p>

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<p>Most high schools have grade inflation. If your school calculates class rank, your inflated GPA has to be higher than the inflated GPAs of other people at your school. Other than that, selective colleges don’t take anyone’s GPA at face value (especially weighted GPA, because all schools calculate it differently). They’re more concerned with the actual grades on your transcript, as well as the number of advanced classes you took compared to how many were available. In most cases, you need to have mostly As unless your school practices grade deflation and you have a high class rank in spite of having “low” grades. </p>

<p>Make sure you have at least one safety school. Out-of-state public schools usually aren’t safety schools from a financial standpoint, because they cost a lot and don’t give a lot of financial aid to a lot of out-of-state people. </p>