Gaining College Admission Despite Low GPA

AI Thread Summary
Concerns about GPA are prevalent among students applying to college, especially for those who have not prioritized high grades in the past. The discussion highlights that GPA is a significant factor in college admissions, with most colleges expecting at least a 3.0 GPA for consideration, particularly for scholarships. The student is currently in their last year of high school in Mauritius, where assessments contribute to their GPA but are not structured like traditional exams. They excel in Cambridge International Exams and have strong extracurricular involvement, which can enhance their application. While high SAT scores can help mitigate a lower GPA, admissions committees typically still require a solid academic record. It is advised to research specific college admission criteria to understand the weight placed on GPA versus standardized test scores. Financial aid is also a concern, indicating the need for a strategic approach to college applications.
Kushal
Messages
438
Reaction score
1
hi, i am in my last high school year. I will apply to college at the end of this year and i am very concerned about my GPA. i am not from mauritius and i never found it very necessary to keep my grades very high. passing averagely was ok for me. Now i am realising that this will affect my GPA. Is there any way around it?

actually, each trimester we do assessments. It's usually on a particular topic of the syllabus, and the teacher always looks for the most challenging questions. When they add up the assessments for each subject per trimester, they become average. It's not like an exam.

I work very well in the Cambridge International Exams (the best grades and top of the world in computer studies). I am in the best school of where i live (mauritius) and i am also in the best science class. I also have nice extra curricular activities,...

If i work hard on my SATs and get very good scores, do I have a chance to get into the best colleges?

and anyone knows which average(quite good) college which ain't so keen on GPA?!

thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I will say this - On general, colleges weigh more on SATs than GPA. when it comes to admission. As long as your GPA is not ridiculously terrible, say Below 2.0 out of 4.0 and if you could pull off a good SAT score, you still got a shot in applying for good colleges.

If you can write good essays or if you are involved in any extra curricular activities, that's a plus too.
 
Well, from what I've seen, almost every college requires you to have at least a 3.0 gpa, and extremely good sat scores if you are to be considered for scholarships too. Is financial matter a problem for you?
 
bah yeah i need financial aid.

i got extra curriculars like Model United Nations, Civic Action Team, prefects/student councils, science competition...

i just don't want this error of not improving my grades ruin my chance of entering into a nice college.

thanks a lot...
 
Kushal said:
hi, i am in my last high school year. I will apply to college at the end of this year and i am very concerned about my GPA. i am not from mauritius and i never found it very necessary to keep my grades very high. passing averagely was ok for me. Now i am realising that this will affect my GPA. Is there any way around it?

actually, each trimester we do assessments. It's usually on a particular topic of the syllabus, and the teacher always looks for the most challenging questions. When they add up the assessments for each subject per trimester, they become average. It's not like an exam.

I work very well in the Cambridge International Exams (the best grades and top of the world in computer studies). I am in the best school of where i live (mauritius) and i am also in the best science class. I also have nice extra curricular activities,...

If i work hard on my SATs and get very good scores, do I have a chance to get into the best colleges?

and anyone knows which average(quite good) college which ain't so keen on GPA?!

thanks

Well, practically every respectable school looks at GPA for undergrad admissions (as others on this board have already said). There is no way "around it" unless you did very well on your SAT's, and even then, without at least an above average GPA, a lot of good schools won't touch you. I guess the real question is, just how bad is your GPA? Most schools have an admissions page on their website. I suggest you check out your prospective school's admission criteria there.
 

Thread 'Hepth programs in Europe'

After a year of thought, I decided to adjust my ratio for applying the US/EU(+UK) schools. I mostly focused on the US schools before, but things are getting complex and I found out that Europe is also a good place to study. I found some institutes that have professors with similar interests. But gaining the information is much harder than US schools (like you have to contact professors in advance etc). For your information, I have B.S. in engineering (low GPA: 3.2/4.0) in Asia - one SCI...
View full post »

Thread 'Should I pursue a masters degree after 4.5 years working in IT?'

I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...
View full post »

Thread 'Tips for a CS and physics major'

Hello, I’m an undergraduate student pursuing degrees in both computer science and physics. I was wondering if anyone here has graduated with these degrees and applied to a physics graduate program. I’m curious about how graduate programs evaluated your applications. In addition, if I’m interested in doing research in quantum fields related to materials or computational physics, what kinds of undergraduate research experiences would be most valuable?
View full post »

Similar threads

Admissions Minimum GPA & GPA-Importance for Top PhD Programs
Replies
4
Views
3K
Admissions Need advice for Low GPA / Good Research / HEPth PhD application
Replies
26
Views
5K
Admissions How to be a competitive applicant with a low GPA?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Admissions What REU's to apply to with a mediocre GPA?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Other How much does GPA and Prestigious school indicate success?
Replies
7
Views
2K
Admissions Do I have a shot at top HEP-th programs?
Replies
11
Views
2K
Admissions Applying for PhD despite very weak undergraduate GPA
2
Replies
53
Views
7K
Admissions How to get a Medical Physics PhD?
Replies
5
Views
455
Admissions Feeling down, did I mess up my future?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Other What Makes a Strong PhD Applicant in Physics?
Replies
11
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top