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What grades do colleges look at?

Do colleges look at grades?

  • I am in my junior year of high school and am really worried about college. I have already taken the SATs and am very happy with my score, but my grades are suffering a little bit. I am not a slacker and always try as hard as I can in every class, but I am taking two APs and it is kind of alot to handle. Right now my GPA is a 3.4, but I am afraid no college will accept that. I am a really good writer (if I do say so myself), so I am not worried about my college essay, and I am not worried about my SAT scores, and I am a generally kind person who sticks up for the right thing (I am not super worried for interviews) and I do a bunch of curricular activities and community service work, but I am really worried that my grades are bringing me down and none of that other stuff will matter. I really want to get into the school best for me, and I know inside I am a smart person who works hard, but for some reason my grades don't reflect it. A 3.4 is not good enough. I am just wondering if most colleges focus only on grades, or if my other good stuff will over power my bad grades. How much do colleges take grades into consideration? (By the way, I am not aiming for an Ivy League school or anything, just a regular good school that is good for me).

  • Answer:

    Colleges look at the whole package. You didn't say what you were looking to do - liberal arts, math, science, engineering, art - each of those will focus on a different discipline. Everything matters, everything is weighed in the balance. Pick a few schools that you think you might be interested in and go to their web sites. Look for admissions requirements - most will post the average SAT scores and the average GPA for their accepted applicants. Remember that "average" is in the middle - there are scores above and below that number. Relax. You'll do fine.

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Do geologists look at rocks? lol, yes, colleges look at grades. It's nice to have little community service things as well, but without exceptional grades, you can't really hope for much. This really should have been a question you asked around freshman year... \ :/

Somewhat-but most colleges look for well-rounded people. A 3.4 GPA combined with extra curriculars and some volunteer work should do just fine. Good luck :)

Izzy Aberg

3,4 is a wonderful GPA if you want to get into a college. With all of your other abilities you'll get accepted quickly.

Jonathan

Almost all Colleges just look at you GPA :)

Molly

From what you wrote you should be fine just make sure you are well rounded and do community service

Lrefog

I'll be the first to tell you that I screwed up in high school. Freshman year I had a 3.8. Then sophomore year I slacked a little. Junior year I became depressed and I didn't do hardly anything, with about a 2.9. My senior year I did better, but settled at about a 3.3/3.4 cause I was lazy. Got into a good university. Your SAT and or ACT are what count big time. Extra curricular/volunteer stuff is highly considered. Don't worry, there's kids with a 1.5. They're the ones that don't get into a good school. I was worried about the same thing you are, but it was alright.

Val

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