What Colleges could I get into with a 2.7 GPA?

College Search & Lists
1

Hello! I am currently looking at colleges and am a little nervous. I have a 2.7, however, after this semester/year, it should be bumped up to a solid 3.0. I have a list of colleges that I am looking at, and I was wondering if anybody knew if I could get into them. (Note: PLEASE do not respond with “Go to a community college to get your GPA up.” I am not looking for that.)

GPA: 2.7 (soon to be 3.0)
ACT/SAT: 26/1610
Race: Caucasian
Extracurriculars: Rowing/ Mock Trail (not doing anymore)
Volunteer Work: 330+ hours

List of Colleges:
University of Oregon
Oregon State University
Washington State University
California State University- Chico
Michigan State University
Central Michigan University
University of Arizona
Arizona State University
West Virginia University
Temple University
Colorado State University
Florida Atlantic University
Penn State University
Bowling Green University
Toledo University
University of Texas- San Antonio
University of Montana
Louisiana State University
University of Nevada- Reno
University of Rhode Island
University of Maine- Orono
Portland State University

Thank you!

2

Speaking from experience and being almost in your exact situation (identical GPA), get your SAT up. This will help you cull your list of schools, which is WAY too heavy right now.

If you manage to get your SAT up to an 1850+, look into UNC Wilmington.

3

Alright, sounds good, Ill work on it! This list isnt all schools that I am applying to. The main starts end at WVU, and I most likely wont apply to OSU.

4

Michigan State, Penn State, and U of Oregon might be reach-y for you.

What are you in-state for?

What do want to major in?

I think your ACT score is good, considering your GPA. But re-taking it might not hurt.

5

Cost constraints? State of residency? Are you in 11th or 12th grade?

6

You have a LOT of expensive OOS publics on your list. What are your parents saying about how much they’ll pay each year for college?

That answer will likely determine where you should apply.

7

You could probably get into a Penn State branch campus. Whether that is feasible or not might depend on your state of origin.

8

Perhaps you should spend less time volunteering and more time hitting the books.

9

Assuming you are a junior, to go from a 2.7 Cum to a 3.0 Cum by the end of the year you need to get a 4.6. If you’re a senior you need a higher number.

10

OP would probably be admitted to many branch/regional/directional campuses but it would help knowing state residency, intended major, and financial situation.

11

There are dozens of smaller schools you have a shot at.

If you exclude freshman year, what is your GPA?

12

S2 was accepted to Arizona State, Temple and Montana last year. His GPA was roughly the same but his SAT were 1850ish.

13

I dont volunteer anymore. I got the hours from being a camp counselor.

14

My GPA excluding Freshman year is 3.06

15

Umm no? I can get it by the end of this year without having a 4.6? I am not counting this semester in my current GPA.

16

(2.7 * 4 + 2x)/6 = 3.0
(2.7 * 4 + 2x) = 18
2x = 7.2
x = 3.6 for two semesters, or 4.2 for one. Maybe Erin’s Dad mistyped. Either way, good luck, that might be a tall order.

17

Well, are you trying to get into college for college’s sake, or do the schools on your list have a undergraduate program that genuinely interests you?

18

@mguy99 Many schools don’t count freshman year and even if they do focus on your improvement, so without freshman year you have 3.06 and 26 ACT there are plenty of really good schools to go to, ones that will make you a better student, not the ones on your list, BTW.

Where are you from?

19

Again - what are your in-state public university options?
What are you interested in studying, or are you undecided right now?**
What can you afford to pay?

3.06 and 26 is a good enough combo for many schools. It may not get you merit aid at most places, but it will get you in. The ACT score indicates you can handle college-level work.

** considering that the Bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma, I think it’s perfectly reasonable for a high school grad to plan for college, even if he/she hasn’t decided yet what to study. Gen Ed courses can be taken the first two years… Yes, OP could also go to community college and take gen ed courses, then transfer to 4-year, but it’s a pain to transfer. And kids tend to do better in the long run, when they just dive right into the 4-year university setting. With OP’s stats, only finances and special circumstances at home should warrant going the cc route.

20

Transferring is a bit of a pain but completely doable if you work hard. You can show major improvement by scoring high grades in your classes which will prove to the colleges you definitely can handle college-level work. They might even take that as you just needed to be challenged… however don’t take my word for that. just a hypothesis.