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How much does GPA matter?

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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
I had a bad last semester I'm a junior in high school and it dropped me to a 3.0 gpa unweighted 3.4weighted. How much do colleges look at this? And how will this effect getting into a good school? Just stressing help me out
Jan 4 2013 12:30AM
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Hammyslapwagon
Posts: 1261 - Karma: 1,411
Depends what college you're looking at
Jan 4 2013 12:32AM
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Amadeus.
Posts: 3050 - Karma: 382
upward trend my man. one bad semester wont fuck you over if you improve after that.
Jan 4 2013 12:34AM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
CU, CSU, CSM. U of U, not super amazing schools I'm looking into either materials engineering or mining engineering
Jan 4 2013 12:34AM
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Darth.Maul
Posts: 2472 - Karma: 652
Ya depends on what kind of uni you want to get into. Also need act/sat scores...
Jan 4 2013 12:34AM
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
Good luck at csm. I had a 3.5 unweighted and 4.5 weighted with a 32 on my act and still didn't get accepted.
Jan 4 2013 12:36AM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
Um I fill out the golden app since I live there and kids I know with way less then that got in. I would write the admissions board.
Jan 4 2013 12:40AM
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
Hahah I'm going to UNR on a presidential scholarship for mining right now so I guess it's their loss!
Jan 4 2013 12:43AM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
CSM has like 2 hot girls so your not missing out
Jan 4 2013 12:48AM
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Z-PAULY.
Posts: 559 - Karma: 284
You'll get into the U don't know about the other ones
Jan 4 2013 12:50AM
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
Hahaha UNR's pretty dope! I live like 45 minutes away so it wasn't a huge deal, but I like it a lot so far
Jan 4 2013 12:58AM
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.Duncan.
Posts: 1375 - Karma: 459
should be ok for csu if you have decent sats/acts
Jan 4 2013 1:04AM
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Dr.Dro
Posts: 190 - Karma: 16
You are trippin. I had a 3.1 and a marginal sat and got accepted to all my colleges I wanted to go to. With a 3.4 and a good sat you will be able to get into a a very decent college.
Jan 4 2013 1:08AM
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fupaface
Posts: 810 - Karma: 449
I got into CSU, CU and U of U with a 2.8 and a 26 on my ACT so i would be very surprised if you dont get into those.
Jan 4 2013 1:13AM
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DizzyG
Posts: 698 - Karma: 296
Holy shit that makes me feel better! OP is set for sure
Jan 4 2013 1:25AM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
I'm going to unr too, but just wondering where you didn't get accepted to because I have a 4.1 and got a 31 on my act and got big scollarships
Jan 4 2013 1:55AM
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gregorio
Posts: 2372 - Karma: 151
I didn't even have a 3.0 GPA and I got into Northeastern University. Just write a good essay, do alright on the SATs or ACTs, and get good recommendations and you'll get into a good school.
Jan 4 2013 2:07AM
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bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 84
Really depends on the school. I didn't have a great GPA in highschool, but I got a decent SAT score and was involved in a lot of sports and other extracurricular activities, as well as holding a job for the last two years of high school. All of that stuff really weighed in where I went to college.
Jan 4 2013 10:06AM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
....the guy you're quoting could have a range of factors that balance out his less than stellar GPA. he could qualify as a minority, he could be involved in an unreal amount of school activities and clubs and community service, he might have had siblings or parents who went to the university, etc etc etc. every situation is different
Jan 4 2013 10:32AM
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
I applied to unr, csm, and Minnesota and only didn't get into csm and I got a pretty big scholarship from Minnesota too
Jan 4 2013 10:39AM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
do things outside of school. play an instrument in band or orchestra. i've actually heard a story of someone that got into a college solely because he played tuba and the marching band needed another
Jan 4 2013 11:41AM
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Forcillo
Posts: 3801 - Karma: 3,580
I play the tuba. This pleases me.
Jan 4 2013 11:56AM
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rtav
Posts: 227 - Karma: 90
My GPA when I applied to colleges was a 3.57 unweighted, but good test scores (34) and hard classes senior year 4 APs will hopefully make up for it. I got into Villanova already. I think test scores are the most important factor, I got in over friends with better GPAs (3.8ish)
Jan 4 2013 12:00PM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
Ya it shouldn't matter too much if you have other stuff going for you. Just make sure your applications seem super well-rounded and you play up any interesting things you do. Make sure your essays are not only well-written, but truly convey who you are. They don't necessarily need to be too unique, but as long as they are interesting and clearly differentiable as who you are then you're set. Colleges like it when kids have a good idea of who they are. I got into Colorado College with a 3.2 unweighted GPA and I think it was because of my application. Just focus on getting grades up as much as you can and writing baller essays.
Jan 4 2013 12:05PM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
^In that first sentence I meant "GPA shouldn't matter too much, as along as you have other stuff going for you"
Jan 4 2013 12:06PM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
ALL of its bs honestly. Im outof college now but in highschool when i was alplying i was in about the top 10-15% of my class, low-mid90's average, descent sat/act, Shit ton of AP, community service, varsity sports for 4 year, and i got wait listed to a bunch of school, not sure how people get in to descent school or if everyone is a genius and are just being nice to me...maybe they haven't told me i actually have down syndrome
Jan 4 2013 12:08PM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
I do have quite a few of extra curricular activities. I am an Eagle Scout dunno if that helps any and I bike race, ski, and play soccer for my school! Thanks guys this thread has helped me feel a little better!
Jan 5 2013 1:17AM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
Eagle Scout is pretty good. In alot of jobs and stuff people will like that.
Jan 5 2013 1:41AM
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accualyisdolan
Posts: 3295 - Karma: -192
Says matter more. I had a 3,0 avg but 1450 out of 1600 sats. Got me into "a" college
Jan 5 2013 2:00AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
it matters a lot. I didn't get into the school of my choice because my gpa was too low. I had an 80% average and had extracuricular activities (I was an athlete). I am happy now that I did not get in because I really like the program I have been exposed to at my school.

In college gpa matters even more. please don't think C for degree! you never know if your interests might change. If you are not careful you could be like me (battling a poor GPA from before I switched majors!)
Jan 5 2013 2:14AM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
I currently go to CSU. I got in with a 3.0 and a 23 on my ACT. I have lots of friends at CU with with similar scores. You should be fine.
Jan 5 2013 2:20AM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
I didnt get in to the school i wanted because my gpa was too low. now i have a 3.8gpa (out of 4.0). im also at a school i would rather be at, its way more fun and a little easier.
For you OP, Dont stress over it, spending your time stressing over something you cant change anymore is pointless. just chill and wait for those acceptances or rejections to roll in.

but no matter what, five ohh and go is not what you want in a post secondary education.

Jan 5 2013 2:41AM
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Davy.Crockett
Posts: 5373 - Karma: 324
can you pay full tuition? unfortunately this has a lot to do with it.
Jan 5 2013 3:08AM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
Yes I can. And does any one know if say your taking hard classes AP and Honors and getting lower grades then if you took regular how that pulls into how colleges view you?
Jan 8 2013 1:05AM
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OG_lock
Posts: 314 - Karma: 1,615
not about the grades you make, its the hands you shake...
Jan 8 2013 1:08AM
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BE..
Posts: 1185 - Karma: 81
harder classes with lower grades is always better. take as many AP's as you can manage.
Jan 8 2013 1:10AM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21665 - Karma: 4,144
lol HS
Jan 8 2013 1:11AM
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crab_pretzel
Posts: 3919 - Karma: 622
alot. and im talking about even further down the road.

my dad told me how he was presenting a potential new employee's portfolio to his boss and his boss interrupted him and asked what his GPA was. when my dad answered (i forget what it was but it was above average) he just said he's hired and nothing else on it.
Jan 8 2013 1:16AM
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Where-am-I
Posts: 1635 - Karma: 281
state schools are not really that difficult to get into, some of the hs bros i know that went to CSU were total morons. not at all saying that you cant get a great education there.

also, i also had a bad junior year. i got my first D of all time, but i retook the class, got the grade replaced, and got into a good school (st. olaf college). you just need to show that you care and put effort into school. also, my gpa and act are very similar to yours. school of mines would have been tough for me though, although it isn't where i wanted to go, so your enthusiasm might be the key.
Jan 8 2013 1:39AM
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