@CameronBameron2,268 answers, 8,482 votes
• a year agoIf your school uses Naviance, then log into it and make a college list and see how students from your school performed in the past 5 to 6 years based on their GPAs and test scores. And if your school doesn't use Naviance, then I would set up a meeting with your HS counselors and ask them to share with you their opinion of what matriculation criteria were present in the past for students from your school to get admitted to the kinds of schools you are applying to.
There is absolutely no magical cutoff for GPA. Each high school calculates it differently. I went to Deerfield Academy where a 93% average is considered high honors due to grade compaction. So 90% of the graduating class has less than 93% and about 10% have between a 93-95%. But there are plenty of DA students who get into Ivy or Elite colleges with 90-92% GPAs. But if you compare that to Harvard-Westlake in CA, then 67% of the graduating class has a 92.5% GPA or higher. So with rampant grade inflation, it appears that everyone from HW is a genius when this is far from the truth.
The real answer lies in the acceptance rates/matriculation rates for high schools. Deerfield has a 30% average Ivy acceptance rate and a 22% matriculation rate. This means 30% of DA seniors who apply to Ivies get in and 22% enroll. At Harvard-Westlake, it's like 24%/17%. So this informs you that regardless of what your GPA is, all college admissions offices use GPA in the context of the course rigor and grading system of the HS to determine who gets in and who doesn't. Another thing to point out is that there is more likely a higher density of legacy and recruited athletes and fac brats and rich donor kids at East Coast boarding schools compared to California.
Good luck.
FAQs
No, your child does not need to be valedictorian or receive a perfect 4.0 GPA or 1600 on their SAT for admission into Ivy League colleges. However, numbers-wise, grades should be up there. GPA is the first filter admissions folks use to weed out the less qualified candidates. For the GPA, a 3.8 or above is the norm.
What grades do Ivy League colleges look at? ›
While each school has its requirements, averages, and general expectations, all the Ivy Leagues have very high academic standards. Most applicants will have a GPA of 4.0 or higher and get a 700 or higher on each section of the SAT; there is a generally accepted minimum of 31 for ACT scores.
Do Ivy Leagues accept C's? ›
Not unless you have some magic pull anyway. All applicants to Ivy Leagues and other top universities have 4.0's, that means ALL A's as well as 1550 or higher in SATs, are # 1 or maybe 2 in their high school class, have glowing recommendations, and are active in the school and community.
Do Ivy Leagues care about grades? ›
Absolutely, Ivy League schools do look at your entire high school transcript, which includes your freshman year grades. While it's true they consider the rigor of your coursework and your improvement over the years, all four years of high school contribute to your GPA, a key component of your application.
Do Ivy Leagues care about Bs? ›
It's absolutely possible to be admitted to an Ivy League school with a few B's on your transcript.
Is a 3.7 GPA bad for Ivy League? ›
Earning a 3.7 GPA indicates consistent academic achievement. It means you can apply to just about any school with a good chance of being accepted (except for the Ivy League schools, but that's because there are no circ*mstances of guaranteed admission at Ivies).
Is a 4.7 GPA good for Harvard? ›
At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18.
What is the easiest Ivy League academically? ›
Cornell University
Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. It was established in 1865 and is situated in Ithaca, New York. Out of 49,114 candidates, Cornell accepted 5,330, for an admission percentage of around 10.9%.
Do Ivy Leagues accept one B? ›
It's important to remember that one B won't disqualify you from being accepted. Ivy League schools also value personal growth, resilience, and the willingness to challenge yourself, so if this B was in a particularly challenging course, that can even be a positive.
Do you need all A's for Ivy League? ›
However, there is a common myth that in order to gain admission to these elite institutions, you need to have straight A's. This simply isn't true. The Ivy League admissions process is complex and highly competitive, taking into account a wide range of factors beyond just grades.
Most Ivy League colleges want to see a composite SAT score of 1500-1600 and a composite ACT score of no lower than 33. Does that mean that you shouldn't apply if you don't have these scores? Not at all.
Is a 93 average bad? ›
A 93-100 is an A, or a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. (97-100 is an A+, but that's still a 4.0.) A 90-92 is an A-, or a 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. The average unweighted GPA (a weighted GPA assigns more value to honors, AP, and IB courses) is a 3.5-4.0, while the average weighted is usually at least a 4.2.
Is a B+ a bad grade in college? ›
A B+ is generally considered a good grade in college, especially for your first semester as you're adjusting to the new environment and academic expectations. The definition of a "good" grade, however, can vary depending on the university, major, and individual's goals.
Will one B ruin a 4.0 GPA? ›
Will a single 'B' ruin my 4.0 GPA? A single 'B' can lower your GPA from a perfect 4.0, but the impact depends on the number of classes you have taken and their credit hours. However, a strong overall academic record with one 'B' is still highly regarded.
What's the funnest Ivy League school? ›
Campus happiness: Brown is widely known as the happiest Ivy, perhaps because of students' freedom to choose courses with almost complete autonomy. Students report feeling less competition amongst themselves and an overall sense of campus community.
What is the hardest Ivy academically? ›
1) Harvard University
It's also one of the most difficult Ivies to get into, which should come as no surprise.
Do Ivy Leagues look at 8th grade? ›
Do Ivy Leagues Look at Middle School Grades? No, Ivy League schools do not look at middle school grades. While these schools may not look at your middle school marks, there are still many ways you can prepare for Ivy schools.
What grades does Harvard look at? ›
The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.
Do Ivy Leagues accept 3.3 GPA? ›
Yes, it's definitely possible if you can craft together a powerful personal statement. I've helped a student with a 3.3 unweighted GPA get in before. The personal statement is the one differentiating factor that separates the 1600 SAT, 4.0 GPA student from the one who has a 1580 SAT and 3.9 GPA at the same high school.
Do Ivy Leagues accept 3.5 GPA? ›
A 3.5 GPA is below average at Ivy League schools. While we wouldn't say acceptance is impossible, you'll need to offset a lower GPA with an otherwise strong application. You may be able to offset a low GPA with high test scores, thoughtful application narratives, and strong extracurricular activities.
