subject: College Admissions - What If Your Gpa Is Just Ho-hum? [print this page] Don't give up because your GPA doesn't dazzle!
Today, colleges and universities are looking for more than just academic excellence. They want students who are well rounded, involved in their communities, and interested in getting involved in the college's activities.
A student with a low GPA (grade point average) can still get accepted to a good college. Several key factors can help lessen the impact of a low GPA.
When considering your GPA, the better institutions are going to take into consideration the reputation of your high school, whether your high school courses were in advanced rather than standard classes, and how challenging the subjects were that went into computing your GPA (e.g. physics versus basket weaving ). Again, you cannot overestimate the importance of your essay. The essay is your way of stating your case. The application form and the high school transcripts are full of facts, but the essay can let the college admissions committee know what the stats don't show about you. Letters of recommendation from the same high school's teachers can blunt the effect of your high school GPA.
Most high school graduates are unaware of the existence of their "high school profile." However, when your high school transcript is sent to a college, your guidance counselor will also include your high school profile information.
The high school profile isn't about you, but your high school. It provides the college with information about your high school that allows them to compare your school's performance with that of other schools. They look at how many college freshmen your school produces as well as where they are being accepted. Without this information, the admissions committee cannot compare high schools. It will impact their evaluation of your academic record, so you should be aware of it.
They will know if there is grade inflation at your high school and many other things. I tell all low GPA students that colleges also look at your trend in grades. So if you are a late bloomer, that is all to your advantage. But if you started ninth grade with a high GPA, and now your grades seem to have fallen off a cliff - well, let's just say that that doesn't bode well for you.
