GPA

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen some recent discussions about GPA’s and college admissions. Does anyone know how colleges view GPA’s? Do they include all four years of high school, only the last two or some combination? Does it vary by college? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

It varies by school. The vast majority look at 3 years (freshman, sophomore, junior) plus the first quarter or of senior year (or even first semester for those applying regular decision.)

Some don't look at the senior year first quarter. A few don't look at freshman year grades at all (Stanford and the University of California schools).

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I wasn't sure if freshman grades were considered, as it is a transition year, but that is good to know.

[Anonymous]

Also ask this on your tours. College policies are shifting in real time, especially in light of testing requirements changing.

[Anonymous]

4.0 uw over 4 years for unhooked at elite schools.

[Anonymous]

How important is GPA overall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How important is GPA overall?

You are mostly compared to your classmates (not kids at other schools), and it is arguably the most important factor, but allowance may be made if something differentiates the student -- but for the vast majority of students, GPA is the most important factor for determining which colleges are in your match range based on your own school's placement history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How important is GPA overall?

It's by far the most important factor. I've seen the Scoir and Naviance data for our school and admissions almost entirely follow GPA. It really doesn't matter what extracurriculars a kid does not not. I was surprised. Hooks like legacy basically mean the typical GPA can be a a tenth or two lower than that for non-hooked kids. But GPA is still reigns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is GPA overall?

You are mostly compared to your classmates (not kids at other schools), and it is arguably the most important factor, but allowance may be made if something differentiates the student -- but for the vast majority of students, GPA is the most important factor for determining which colleges are in your match range based on your own school's placement history.

NP. Not true. You are competing against kids from other schools from your area. Know of several kids from the area same gender that got accepted to a few schools (multiple kids) and none from other schools got in that applied the same timing/way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is GPA overall?

You are mostly compared to your classmates (not kids at other schools), and it is arguably the most important factor, but allowance may be made if something differentiates the student -- but for the vast majority of students, GPA is the most important factor for determining which colleges are in your match range based on your own school's placement history.

NP. Not true. You are competing against kids from other schools from your area. Know of several kids from the area same gender that got accepted to a few schools (multiple kids) and none from other schools got in that applied the same timing/way.

Clarify - going against kids from other schools that are same gender boys against boys/girls against girls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is GPA overall?

You are mostly compared to your classmates (not kids at other schools), and it is arguably the most important factor, but allowance may be made if something differentiates the student -- but for the vast majority of students, GPA is the most important factor for determining which colleges are in your match range based on your own school's placement history.

NP. Not true. You are competing against kids from other schools from your area. Know of several kids from the area same gender that got accepted to a few schools (multiple kids) and none from other schools got in that applied the same timing/way.

and your school - it is both competing against all kids in the area obviously - look at stats - some schools do not send anyone to certain schools while others do - clearly going against own school plus other local privates