<p>@blossom:
There is some grade inflation, but it’s not terrible, especially when you get into the harder math/science classes. I took AP Physics B last year, and ended up getting B’s both semesters even though I worked pretty hard. I don’t think 4.0’s are very common at my school, but there are a lot of ~3.9’s.</p>
<p>One B per semester is not a slacker. Does your school consider rigor in determining class rank? Is it possible some of the students ahead of you in the rankings are getting more A’s but taking easier courses?</p>
<p>I don’t think your grades are awful. It doesn’t sound like your school has great inflation. Apply to a wide range of schools including ones that will offer merit. I’m sure mom2collegekids will tell you that you can go to university of Alabama for free as a national merit scholar. University of Southern California also offers merit to NMS. </p>
<p>As long as ou have a safety that you can afford and that you like, apply to top schools that interest you. Look into some of the women’s colleges like someone else mentioned- Smith, Mt Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, etc. is your artistic ability good enough that you could send a supplementary portfolio?</p>
<p>that gpa is fine, even if its top 15 percent material at your school
no reason to worry</p>
<p>Your GPA is not bad, but I agree with comments that you should not rest on your laurels because of your 2400 SAT. I know some kids that are like that, never even open a prep book and score perfect SAT. I think U of Chicago, Caltech are within reach.</p>
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Your grades are strong – don’t sell yourself short! My daughter had a UW GPA only slightly higher (maybe 3.85) – and she was in the top 3% of her class. My son had even higher but ranked at the 11% level – so a lot really depends on the school. It’s not just a matter of grading practices – it also has a lot to do with how rank is calculated at each school. </p>
<p>I think with your scores and GPA you can get into just about any college, except perhaps the mega-selective schools like Ivy League. And it wouldn’t be your grades holding you back from those schools – the problem there would be that they are so selective that students really need to have excelled in activities outside of the classroom as well.</p>
<p>You can also do well at just about any college that accepts you, so I would suggest simply focusing on what you want, and applying to whatever colleges seem to offer that. If finances are a factor, then there are universities that will guarantee merit scholarships based on your test scores — so if you are at a total loss of where to start, you might just want to start researching which schools will reward your excellent SAT score with $$.</p>
<p>Only in the world of CC would a GPA of 3.8 coupled with a 2400 SAT be considered lackluster. So funny.</p>
<p>How is a 3.82 bad w/ a 2400?</p>
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Don’t apply to Berkeley – with all the budget cutbacks in California it is not a good deal for out of state undergraduates. You would be paying the equivalent of private tuition for a public school with all the problems that come with that. Keep Berkeley in mind for grad school… but Occidental & the Claremonts would be great choices for undergrad.</p>
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<p>Caltech is very, very unlikely with a “B” in physics.</p>
<p>The GPA is slightly low for the top, top schools, but they do accept people out of the top 10%. The US News publishes how many people they take who were in the top 10% of their class. Harvard was like in the mid 80’s–that is, about 85% of their students had graduated in the top 10%. Other schools had a lower percentage.</p>
<p>Are the B’s typically in science/math or in humanities areas? This might affect how it is viewed.</p>
<p>OP,
As a NMSF, you will have a very good chance of acceptance at U of Southern Calif , which is currently anked around # 23 nationally , equal to UCLA, and is a University on the move- [NMSF’s have about a 50% acceptance rate] AND if accepted your great test scores and NMSF status will land you a 1/2 tuition scholarship. Just be SURE to fill out the NMSF forms required and write a great essay in the Fall [ask your college counselor for all the material NMSF will send the school in Sept] in order to qualify to NMSF standing, AND then put your heart into your application essays. I think you would thrive at USC.
I agree- drop Berkeley- you seem to want a warmer weather school .</p>
<p>Check out some of the lesser-known LACs. Whereas you might not make the first cut at tippy-top schools, Admissions officers at LACs could actually be intrigued by your stats and want to look at the whole picture. And they might throw some significant financial aid your way. After all, there are only about 300 of you one-sitters every year, and most probably end up at the Ivies. Which makes you a very rare bird indeed in LAC-land, and might get you some extra attention from the Financial Aid department. </p>
<p>I agree with calmom; drop Berkeley from your list.</p>
<p>@collegealum314
I’m not looking at Caltech anyway. All of my B’s have been in math/science areas - I guess I’m pretty one-sided.
That said, I am taking AP Chem and Calc III/Differential Equations next year.</p>
<p>@menloparkmom
USC looks amazing! I’ll be sure to check it out when I’m in LA.</p>
<p>I am taking Calc III/Differential Equations next year. </p>
<p>whoa! BE CAREFUL! Your GPA means a LOT to admissions committees! If math is not “easy” for you AND if you have already taken AP CALC BC, then you might want to consider taking some Humanities based APs instead of Diff next year.</p>
<p>Does your school actually rank, and if so, do they actually rank on unweighted GPAs? That is, I think, unusual. Most schools that don’t weight GPAs also don’t seem to officially rank. </p>
<p>IMHO you need to cast a wide net, and not overlook really excellent LACs such as Carleton and Pomona, and women’s colleges.</p>
<p>Financial aid won’t be a huge issue, but it’s still important. My parents have told me they’d pay for a private school, but I can tell they’re worried about the cost.
I’m in Pennsylvania, and I made a 229 on the PSAT.</p>
<p>The UCs care a LOT about GPA. And the standard is higher for OOS students. OOS for a UC is about $50k per year. </p>
<p>You will make NMSF, and you’ll likely make NMF. </p>
<p>Do your parents know that privates are now costing about $60k per year? Talk to them about that. Many parents have NO IDEA that privates are costing that much. It’s best to be sure that everyone is on the same page in regards to cost.</p>
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<p>This is good advice. However, I will point out that Calc III is often easier than Calc II for people. Differential equations is much less conceptual than calc II as well.</p>
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<p>Well, they probably won’t think you are a slacker then. They probably will just think that math/science is not a forte’.</p>
<p>I don’t think that 3.83 is a low GPA by any measure. I do think that your school probably does have some grade inflation though, as 3.83 should place you in the top 5-10%.</p>
<p>If I were you I would do some research regarding which schools offer good scholarships for NMSF/NMF and start your search with those schools. I also think it is important for you to figure out whether you want a large/small campus, urban/rural campus, etc… Those parameters will lead you to the right school. There are many fine universities in the US and you only need to be accepted to one school that you can afford.</p>
<p>I would also discuss finances with your parents. They may not have any idea what private colleges cost. I had no idea until my son started his college search during his sophomore year. I knew they were expensive but I really didn’t have a number in my head.</p>
<p>*How is a 3.82 bad w/ a 2400?
*</p>
<p>It’s all relative. When ranking is high, then that GPA is fine (as in Calmom’s D’s case where her similar GPA was top 3%). </p>
<p>When a 3.82 is top 15%, then it could suggest grade inflation at the school, UW exceeds 4.0, that the school is a college prep private, or some other issue. The question will be, why do 10%+ of the students in his school have a better GPA? Not being in the top 10% and applying to elites can be an issue without some other hook. Elites get a gazillion apps, and eliminating students based on GPA is an easy downselect.</p>