I Got Into Harvard With A B+. Learn How I Did It!
June 1st, 2009
One problem that is common to students attempting to be accepted to Ivy League colleges is low grade point average (GPA).
Many straight-A middle school students get into high school and find themselves confronted with different teachers and harder classes that cause them to earn the first B’s and C’s of their school careers.
I had a hard time with the fact that my GPA was low when I was going through the process of applying at Ivy League schools. Here are some of the ideas that helped me. I hope they will help you, too.
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Here are three tips that really helped me a lot:
1. Take some college classes and be sure to do your very best work.
During the summer months, take a few classes at your local college or junior college. Be sure to choose topics that really interest you so that you will be able to excel. If these also happen to support your major, that’s even better.
Clearly, taking these classes will benefit you when it comes to submitting your Common Application. The fact that you have taken some courses at the university level and done well will show that you have what it takes academically. This is known as demonstrated academic depth.
This is helpful because, your high school GPA represents your ability to perform successfully at the college level. If you take actual college classes and do well, it will counteract your low GPA and help convince the admissions committee that you have what it takes.
2. During your final semester or two, be sure to take as many AP and Honors courses as possible.
In the final analysis, you will simply have to do well in your classes. Your transcript makes a major statement about your ability to study effectively and your work ethic.
During my fall semester of Common Applications, I took seven advanced placement classes. This was not at all easy, but it paid off. Having seven AP classes on my transcript looked really good and went a long way toward presenting me as a serious student.
We talk a lot about trends in our admissions committees discussions.
What I mean by this is that taking these AP courses shows that the student has potential and is actively working on improving himself. So, even if your grades are not terrific, you can show that you have what it takes to improve them in a consistent manner over a period of time. It’s a lot better to have lower grades as a freshman and show that you have improved them as a junior than the other way around. Remember that.
3. Say a lot about your extracurricular achievements and your summertime activities.
Obviously, you want to draw attention away from your GPA if it is low. You can do this effectively by giving a generous estimate of the amount of time you have spent on your extracurricular activities and talking about them in great detail in your essays.
Doing this will make it clear that the reason your GPA is low is that you were really busy with your varsity teams and clubs.
One thing you should know is that, it doesn’t matter if you are the valedictorian. If you haven’t been a member of a varsity sports team or the president of a club, you won’t get into Harvard.
Click here to learn why college admissions counselors waste your money.
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