High School Archives - Write Track Admissions

Strategies for Strengthening Your College Application Despite a Low GPA

Many students with a low GPA may feel discouraged or hopeless when applying to graduate school or other academic programs. While GPA is a critical factor in the admissions process, it is not the only one. Admissions committees consider various elements, such as test scores, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and professional achievements. This Blog will cover what you can do to improve your candidacy by taking a holistic approach to your application, highlighting your strengths, and demonstrating potential in other areas to offset a low GPA.

Key Takeaways

A low GPA does not necessarily mean the end of your academic journey.
Admissions committees consider factors beyond GPA, such as test scores, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and professional achievements.

Understanding the Impact of GPA on Admissions

A GPA is usually an indicator of a student’s academic ability and potential for success in an academic program. While other factors, such as test scores and letters of recommendation, are also considered, a high GPA can help a student stand out in a competitive applicant pool. Minimum GPA requirements vary across different institutions and programs. Researching the GPA requirements for your desired programs is essential to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications. For example, the University of California system requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents for admission to their undergraduate programs (though this can differ from university to university within the system). Conversely, highly selective institutions like Harvard University may require a minimum GPA of 3.8 or even higher.

Assessing Your Academic Record

When evaluating your academic record, take an honest and objective look at your transcript to identify areas of weakness and take steps to address them. Identifying Weaknesses in Your Transcript Review your transcript for patterns or trends in your grades. Seek feedback from teachers, guidance counselors, or academic advisors to gain valuable insight into your academic strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan to address any areas of concern. Calculating Your GPA for Target Schools Research the GPA requirements for the schools you are interested in. Use a GPA calculator to determine your GPA for each school. Keep in mind that GPA is just one factor in admissions, and other aspects of your application, such as extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation, are also important.

Strategic Academic Planning

Selecting Courses to Boost Your GPA Taking additional courses that align with your interests and strengths can boost your GPA. Choose challenging but manageable courses, and consider retaking courses in which you received a low grade to demonstrate your commitment to improving your academic performance. Utilizing Academic Support Resources Use academic support resources such as tutoring services, study groups, and academic coaching. Developing good study habits and time management skills can help you stay organized and focused, leading to better academic performance.

Alternative Evidence of Academic Ability

Applicants with a low GPA can still demonstrate their academic ability through alternative evidence, such as highlighting relevant coursework and projects and demonstrating competency through standardized tests. Highlighting Relevant Coursework and Projects Showcase your strengths by discussing how you excelled in specific courses or projects related to your field of interest. Highlight any research or publications you have completed, focusing on their relevance to your desired program.

Extracurricular and Leadership Activities

Extracurricular activities and leadership positions can significantly help overcome a low GPA. Admissions committees value well-rounded applicants who have demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to their community. Showcasing Leadership and Teamwork Participate in extracurricular activities to demonstrate leadership skills and teamwork abilities. Highlight specific examples that showcase your role and the impact of your efforts. Community Service and Volunteer Work Community service and volunteer work demonstrate a commitment to your community and a desire to impact positively. Provide specific examples and quantify the impact of your volunteer work.

Effective Application Strategies

Crafting a compelling narrative can strengthen your application when you have a low GPA. Admissions officers want to see that you have overcome challenges and have a clear vision for your future. Writing a Persuasive Addendum Use the addendum as an opportunity to explain your low GPA and showcase your strengths. Be honest about any extenuating circumstances, focus on how you have overcome challenges, emphasize your strengths and achievements, and use specific examples to demonstrate your skills and experience. Remember to ‘explain’, not make excuses, as to why you do not have a high GPA. Make sure to check out our College Admissions Mastery Course for exactly how to create a bulletproof addendum! Securing Strong Letters of Recommendation Strong letters of recommendation can strengthen your application. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your strengths and potential. Provide them with specific information about your academic and future goals and any challenges you have faced to help them write a personalized and persuasive letter. Applying Early or Through Rolling Admissions Applying early or through rolling admissions can increase your chances of acceptance, especially if you have a low GPA. Early applicants are often reviewed before the application pool becomes too competitive. Rolling admissions allow you to submit your application as soon as it is ready, rather than waiting for a specific deadline.

Conclusion

A low GPA does not have to be the end of your academic journey. By taking a holistic approach to your application, assessing your academic record, strategically planning your courses, and highlighting your strengths, you can overcome a low GPA and strengthen your application. Focus on demonstrating your potential and commitment to academic success to increase your chances of acceptance into your desired program. Again, make sure to check out the College Admissions Mastery Course to ensure you have all the leverage necessary to overcome a low GPA and get yourself into your dream program!!

How to Stay Motivated as a Student: Checking in on Your Well-Being

Are you having trouble feeling motivated enough to finish out the school year? If so, you may need to examine your overall well-being. Here’s how to do a mid-semester wellness check-in:

Wellness for Students

Wellness is not taught to students, so many times we feel like we are only surviving from semester to semester. Society’s constant need to work is causing ‘getting by’ day after day to become a dangerous norm. According to the BBC, overworking is actually killing people. It has become the largest occupational killer. Overworking causes a fight or flight response in the human nervous system. We must stop these bad habits as students, to prevent ourselves from becoming victims to this socially acceptable way to die. Therefore, thriving must be our goal because surviving is no longer enough. As students, we must look at ourselves as whole beings and not just as work machines. A focus on wellness is the way to do this. Understanding wellness also gets us away from the toxic side of self-love culture. It is a holistic approach that allows us to look inwardly and outwardly at ourselves. To get started on a wellness check-in there are four questions that I like to ask myself:

How am I doing physically?
How am I doing socially?
How am I doing emotionally?

The answer to these questions will add up to give us an answer for how we are doing with our overall well-being. This may help in decerning what is the root of the motivation struggle.

Physically

Physical wellness is ensuring that the best decisions are being made when it comes to taking care of our bodies. Most people choose one or two parts of their physical well-being to focus on and overlook the rest. Neglecting one of them will most likely harm the effects of another. Physical Wellness includes (but is not limited to):

Nutrition
Physical activity
Sleep
Skincare
Haircare
Water intake
Blue light screen time

Socially

UC Davis has a helpful guide to social wellness. Social wellness is cultivating meaningful relationships with proper boundaries and trust. As well as, showing respect to everyone in your life. Social wellness includes (but is not limited to):

Proper Boundaries
Cultivating healthy relationships
Participating regularly in social interactions
Trying new activities
Meeting new people
Knowing and using your support system

Emotionally

How well we are able to handle feelings and emotions while adapting to changes and stresses in life is the core of emotional wellness according to the National Institutes of Health. College is a time of transitions and unknowns, so stress, anxiety, and depression are issues for college students. This is especially true after the pandemic. PBS News reported that 1 in 4 college students have considered suicide. Taking care of our emotional health is what we must do to continue living. Emotional Wellness includes (but is not limited to):

Stress levels
Happiness
Coping with change
Acceptance of emotions
How you treat others
The perspective you have of yourself
Managing difficult emotions
Having a purpose in life
Positive/negative self-talk
Gratitude
Having a safe space to process
Getting professional help for mental illnesses

In school, we will not be successful when these areas are off. If physical wellbeing is neglected then our brain has less capacity to process information. Our self-esteem plummets when our social lives are not healthily maintained. In addition, we will not have the necessary social skills to succeed in our professional life. Our emotional health can often be the foundation of our well-being, as unaddressed mental struggles can affect our functioning in life. So, as students, we need to check in with ourselves and make sure that we are wholistically doing well. If we are not, there are steps that we can take to get better. Stay on the lookout for more blogs discussing how to improve in each of these areas. ~ Victorie Norman | WTA Communications Director

How to Have Great Senior Year in High School

Everyone wants their senior year in high school to be a magical picture. *queue record playing nostalgic music* A special time where you say goodbye to your school, friends, and essentially move into adulthood. Filled with final football games, school dances, getting into college with no problems, and senior pranks. Where senioritis hits at just the right time in the second semester and your teachers are kind enough to let it slide. *Your record gets scratched with reality setting in* However, this is usually a dream too good to be true. For many, senior year is a stressful time, filled with the unknowns of the future. Burnout plagues because seniors are trying to apply to colleges, keep up with their grades, take college-level classes, be involved in extracurriculars, and study for exams. This begs the question, can seniors have all of this responsibility and still enjoy their senior year? The answer is yes!

Live in the here and now.

First things first, throw that ridiculous fantasy of a movie like a senior year away. That’s overrated. Living in the moment in real life – whether it is stressful or happy is a wonderful tool to have. Remember, comparison (especially to an unrealistic dream) is the thief of joy.

Think about what you want from your senior year in high school.

Next, Write out goals. Break them up into two categories: Academic and Personal. This will help you stay on top of your schoolwork while also having some fun planned too.

Some ideas for academic goals are:

End senior year with _____ GPA
Get to know a teacher that you admire better
Join a new club
Improve on your SAT/ACT score
Try truly reading your textbooks
Focus on a subject that you don’t like and try to find at least one positive about it.
Tour 3 colleges that you are interested in
Consult a college admissions counselor

Some Ideas of Personal Goals are:

Find a mentor
Go to every home football game
Go all out during spirit week
Take a freshman under your wing
Have a Mental Health check-up
Finally, ask your crush to homecoming/prom
Find one self-care task, and do it at least once a week
Train two extra times a week for your sport

These are just some ideas, but make four or five goals for each of these categories and write them down. This will give you direction for the year.

Get ahead in every way possible.

To reduce the stress that senior year may bring, try getting ahead in one area. If you have a ton of AP exams ~ have a consistent study plan going during the first semester. If you are stressed about college applications, start planning out what you will need for them right now. If you have a crush, try saying ‘hi’ to them right when you get back to school. If you want your Friday nights off for fun, see if you make a plan to get your work done before then. Getting ahead can allow a bit of senioritis to set in, without it turning into complete burnout.

Talk with Someone When You are Stressed

There is a lot of pressure on your shoulders! It is okay to get overwhelmed; especially because you’re living through a global pandemic. Please do not try to keep it all to yourself and suffer alone. This will have negative effects on your mental and physical health (even if you can’t see it now, it will show up in the future). Find someone to talk to: a friend, parent, teacher, therapist, youth group leader, a coach, a mentor, etc… It makes all the difference to allow yourself to be supported.

Have Fun ~ It’s the only High School Senior Year You’ve Got

Finally, this is the only high school senior year that you will have. Build on your connections with the friends that you have. Go all out during Spirit week. Cheer as loud as you can at sporting events. Let the team that you are on become your family. Try to find a positive outlook as you go to class every day. Do something kind for a classmate. Be proud of all that you have accomplished. Remember that your happiness should not be dependent on a test score, GPA, or even a college acceptance letter. Find it from within. If you can do this you will be ahead of a lot of adults in this world. Have a wonderful school year!!! ~ Victorie Norman | WTA Communications Director

How to ACE the Strengths and Weaknesses Essay

Reading Time: 5 mins The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted countless lives across the globe. From financial troubles, unstable home lives, and unchartered school plans, students, in particular, have been disrupted greatly by the pandemic. Given the difficulties that students have faced this past year, the Common Application for example as well as many other schools, have placed a new question asking students about the impacts of COVID-19 on their lives: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. For more information, check out our COVID-19 FAQ. Students are asked to check “yes” or “no”, and if they choose to share (i.e. press “yes”) then students are given up to 250 words to address the prompt. However, many students are unsure as to what is suitable information to put in this section. A few reasons students might want to respond to the prompt include: Grading changes: If your school decided to change the grading system or standards, then this would be a great place to let your colleges know about what was changed! Unique circumstances: If you experienced significant changes to your daily life (such as the loss of a parent, forced evacuation from home, etc), then this would be the perfect spot to inform your colleges about the circumstances. Keep in mind, however, that most applicants faced some type of hardship during this time, so make sure you’re specific! Testing: If you were unable to take required tests (IB, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, etc.), then be sure to make your colleges aware that your tests were cancelled. Although most colleges are being lenient with their testing requirements due to the pandemic! The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world quite hard, and it continues to impact and change most of our everyday lives. The aforementioned ideas are just a few of the things that you might like to include for the COVID-19 prompt; include what you see fit. If you have been impacted by the pandemic, in any significant, unique way, then you should be sure to make your colleges aware. The better you explain your circumstances and your story, the better your chances. Remember, the college application is like a little film about YOU; all you have to do is tell your story! ~ Sam Saba Write Track Admissions — College Expert

Tackling the COVID Essay on your College Application

Reading Time: 5 mins

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted countless lives across the globe. From financial troubles, unstable home lives, and unchartered school plans, students, in particular, have been disrupted greatly by the pandemic. Given the difficulties that students have faced this past year, the Common Application for example as well as many other schools, have placed a new question asking students about the impacts of COVID-19 on their lives: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. For more information, check out our COVID-19 FAQ. Students are asked to check “yes” or “no”, and if they choose to share (i.e. press “yes”) then students are given up to 250 words to address the prompt. However, many students are unsure as to what is suitable information to put in this section. A few reasons students might want to respond to the prompt include: Grading changes: If your school decided to change the grading system or standards, then this would be a great place to let your colleges know about what was changed! Unique circumstances: If you experienced significant changes to your daily life (such as the loss of a parent, forced evacuation from home, etc), then this would be the perfect spot to inform your colleges about the circumstances. Keep in mind, however, that most applicants faced some type of hardship during this time, so make sure you’re specific! Testing: If you were unable to take required tests (IB, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, etc.), then be sure to make your colleges aware that your tests were cancelled. Although most colleges are being lenient with their testing requirements due to the pandemic! The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world quite hard, and it continues to impact and change most of our everyday lives. The aforementioned ideas are just a few of the things that you might like to include for the COVID-19 prompt; include what you see fit. If you have been impacted by the pandemic, in any significant, unique way, then you should be sure to make your colleges aware. The better you explain your circumstances and your story, the better your chances. Remember, the college application is like a little film about YOU; all you have to do is tell your story! ~ Sam Saba Write Track Admissions — College Expert

Should I go to community college and then transfer to a university?

One of the most frequently asked questions to us as admissions experts relates to community college as a segue into university. Here are our thoughts and some major key tips for those of you considering this option. Are your high school grades and/or SAT low? Then Community College gives you a second bite at the apple in that you can reinvent yourself in Community College. You just need to get great grades and your chances of transferring from a Community College to a university is higher than from a university to a university. And you won’t even need to SAT! Are finances a major issue for you? Community College is a great backdoor, saving you thousands of dollars as you will be able to skip the first two years of university tuition. ALSO, for those trying to get in-state status at a state school (i.e. University of California), then community college can buy you the time you need to establish in-state residency. You can then apply to a state school, which will save you not only money but will also increase your chances of admissions. This is because gaining in-state status will favor those applying to state schools who are mandated to admit a far higher number of in-state residents then students who are applying out of state. Are you still confused as to your intended major? If so this is a great way to test out different classes and then apply to your intended major at college with a high GPA and thereby hit the ground running. Are you going to be focused and take Community College seriously? If not, then don’t take this path because you’ll be stuck in a time warp struggling year after year, losing confidence and never graduating with more than an Associate’s Degree. Basically, you HAVE to think about this as a pass-through and the only way to pass-through is to achieve high grades; without them you won’t go really anywhere. NOTE:

(1) Make sure to work with a college counselor as soon as you start Community College so you know exactly which classes you need, the GPA you should attain etc. to ensure your admissions to your university of choice;

(2) If possible, go to a Community College that is a traditional feeder to your university of choice (i.e. SMC to UCLA, De Anza to Berkeley, Saddleback to UCI);

(3) Some Community Colleges may not have all the required classes you need to transfer or they are heavily over-enrolled. So make sure you figure the exact classes you need, apply to get into them early, and if you need outline how you will go between 2-3 different community colleges to get all your required classes (see point 1 for help).

Hope this helps! Read more helpful tips on our Quora account and stay tuned to other blogs on our Write Track Admissions Page. ~ Hamada | Write Track Founder

The Common Application – Solved!

Reading Time: 6 minutes – Lazing around in July is a thing of the past for rising seniors. Nowadays, it is prime time to begin drafting college applications. Most schools (aside from certain schools such as the University of California) utilize the Common Application. But don’t underestimate the need to get on this early and to do a GREAT job so you can get the most universities interested in who you are and what you have to offer!

The Common App

By way of background, the Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to more than 800 universities in 49 states, as well as in Canada and some international schools. The site boasts that “No other system matches the diversity of colleges and universities accessible through the Common App”. While the Common App is not the only method of applying to colleges and universities, it is certainly the most widely used. You can access a full list of schools that use the Common App to get a sense of the reach of this unique portal.

School Specific Supplements

Some of the participating schools utilize supplemental application sections in which students may need to write additional essays, provide additional recommendations, or enter more information into a separate portal. When you apply to a college through the Common App, the list of required supplemental materials will be found under that specific school’s section in the application. A great way to deal with the supplemental sections efficiently is to create a spreadsheet that tracks what each school needs and when it is due.

Creating Your Account Before August

The newest addition of the common app becomes available August 1st every year. However, experts recommend that students create an account using the Common App website before August so that your information will roll over to the latest application cycle. This way, students can input all their general information (name, birthday, social security, high school information, etc.), and get a handle of what is required so that you have time to gather it, look it over, and ensure it is correct before the new cycle begins.

Completing the Common App

It is recommended that students give themselves at least 6 weeks to fully complete the common application. The first week or so should be dedicated to filling out the extensive student profile section, which requires a decent amount of information, such as the parents’ academic and employment history, a timeline of the student’s extracurricular involvement, any noteworthy awards and achievements, academic records, and a whole lot more! After that, the student will need to write out what is essentially their personal statement, in the form of a 650 word response to an essay prompt.

Crafting the Common App Personal Statement

The 2019-2020 Common Application Essay Prompts can be found here. The topics are exactly the same as those from 2018-2019! These prompts run the gamut of suggested topics, and provide applicants with the flexibility to tell their personalized stories in their own unique voices. It is also the student’s opportunity to paint a true portrait of themselves that extends beyond their standardized test scores and their high school academics. A great way to begin the storycrafting process is to take inventory of all your passions and achievements in recent years and see if any noteworthy experiences fit into one of the prompts. But make sure not to repeat yourself when you start to submit your school specific supplements! With the wide range of expectations that the Common App places on a student, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, or run into problems. If you find yourself in a situation where you are stuck on any section of the Common App, contact Write Track! We offer a proprietary CAPP Service (College Application Preparation Process) where we provide you with support and guidance ranging from story crafting to school selection and everything in between, starting with strategizing for the Common App! Aly Hartman | Write Track Communication Officer Write Track Admissions