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How important is GPA in the college hunt?

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Bodhisattva
Posts: 878 - Karma: 138
How much of a factor is GPA in applying for colleges? I have a 3.6 GPA at the moment (I'm a junior) which I am very disappointed with. I dicked around freshman and sophomore year and started off on the wrong foot. I've been way ahead in math classes for all of high school, am taking 2 APs this year and will be taking 3 or 4 next year. Will they consider this when looking at my GPA? I scored a 31 on my first ACT and hopefully will get that up to at least a 32, so which is more important, my ACT score or my GPA? Thanks

Jan 20 2012 10:36PM
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J..H
Posts: 646 - Karma: 73
I have a feeling GPA is more important than the ACTs/Sats.
That said, their both important. Also, if grades arent great extracurriculars will be key.
Jan 20 2012 10:42PM
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Bodhisattva
Posts: 878 - Karma: 138
That's what I'm thinking too. I think the GPA system is flawed especially at a school as big as mine. There's so many different teachers, some give no work at all, some let you turn in work late, etc. It's based on what teachers you have which is kinda unfair. I know some people that have 4.1s but drop low 20's on the ACT. It's bullshit
Jan 20 2012 10:44PM
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
cumulative unweighted GPA & the test scores. It's all about showing interest in the school & getting in contact with them. If a school is a 3.85 for example, that means that that's the average of every student who has gone there, gpa. Use collegeboard & check the %ages of what gpas were accepted for your college of interest.
Jan 20 2012 11:05PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10627 - Karma: 7,423
alot of its is about the classes that you are taking, but act is probably the most important.
Jan 20 2012 11:11PM
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ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
gpa can get you in and the test scores can get you scholarships. you will be fine. i had a 4.0 and a 30 and came out with a $36,000 scholarship. just depepnds on the college but a 3.6 and a 31 would be a no question.
Jan 20 2012 11:13PM
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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15081 - Karma: 9,158
Very much depends on the college. U of U, you're in, but a good state school or liberal arts college could go either way.
Jan 20 2012 11:16PM
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repdabay
Posts: 22 - Karma: 9
It depends on your school as well... is it public or private and is it well recognized in the college community. also some schools look more at gpa than sat's and vice versa. some colleges don't even look at your sat or act scores. and even though some teachers fuck you over, it happens to everyone at every school, its life and its the system its fucked but you gotta deal with it. at the end of the day colleges don't give a shit about your teachers they just look at your honors and aps and even if you don't get the best gpa if you take a shitload of aps it will really help. your essays that you write to the colleges are very key as well and if your grades aren't the best i suggest you try to interview with the admissions people for each college you want to go to this will also help.
Jan 20 2012 11:17PM
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*DELETED*
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 938
They take both scores and mathematically come up with a value. then based on what number you have, you are eligible to be accepted based on what value the school deems correct. If you have a good score, you are usually eligible for a merit based scholarship... if you want i can post a table showin what im talking about
Jan 20 2012 11:18PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
you're fine. i have a 3.2 gpa through 3.5 years and a 30 on the ACT and i got accepted into CU Boulder, Boise state, Washington State and Oregon State. and I got scholarships at all of them except Boulder.
Jan 20 2012 11:20PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
GPA and SAT/ACT scores are at least money
Jan 21 2012 12:45PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
Ninety percent of your admission. Co-curriculars really do next to nothing. There's a small section on the app for them and colleges really just want to see if you did something. That's my experience with public schools at least. Also, colleges with essays can help you if you write good essays. Sorry about the post, mobile NS...
Jan 21 2012 12:47PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
OP, keep in mind that it is also not advisable to fight kids in school and get suspended. Really hurts your chances at scholarships.
Jan 21 2012 12:47PM
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MJOHare
Posts: 9 - Karma: 10
I would say it depends what else you give them to look at.... If you'r GPA is the most pressive thing on your transcript than its not too hot, but if you have some sick extracirriculars and can write a well worded essay about them I wouldn't stress too much. I had a 3.6 junior year to, and I got into a top 25 school- don't stress about it man. What college you go to doesn't mean anything- its what you do with the education you get.
Jan 21 2012 12:50PM
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5oup5teeze
Posts: 1259 - Karma: 74
it depends on what colleges you want to go to. a lot of the more expensive or prestigious schools will look at your GPA, ACT score, and the honors or AP courses in high school. a 3.6 is a solid GPA and a 31 on your ACT is awesome. those facts alone can get you into a ton of different schools. maybe not Yale or Harvard, but big schools like Oklahoma or something like that for sure! i would say ACT scores and the classes you're in, as well as extra curricular activities are the most important to colleges.
Jan 21 2012 1:00PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
all depends on random factors.

i had a 3.0 GPA, a 2200 SAT score, and got into some really good schools, hell i even got scholarships that required a minimum 3.5 GPA.

I know kids that got into UCSB with 2.7 GPA and mediocre test scores, and i know kids that got denied with 3.7 GPA's and high test scores. It can be a crap shoot.



GPA counts, but test scores are huge. also huge are how good you are at your extra curriculars(everyone does em, you gotta be great at some), and letters or rec from important people.




What schools you looking at. I can speak on the UC's and indepth on Stanford...as well as the PNW schools.
Jan 21 2012 2:42PM
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Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
I had a 2.9 and a 1710 SAT.

Now I'm a sophomore in college with a 3.88.

I wouldn't worry about it, you're in a much better place than I was. Quite honestly I think extra currics are the most important. I was in band, skied a lot, cycled, and just in general did more interesting things than the 4.0 kids.
Jan 21 2012 2:54PM
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plaplapla
Posts: 435 - Karma: 70
i think gpa is the most important, but colleges will definetely notice that you are taking a challenging course load and they will definitely be looking at your test scores
Jan 21 2012 2:56PM
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MCIRONCOCK
Posts: 3094 - Karma: 30
I had a 2.8 and a 28 on my ACT. I got accepted to all three schools to which I applied. Getting accepted isn't the hard part, competing for scholarships is.
Jan 21 2012 3:30PM
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