What does a 3.5 GPA mean for college applications?

As I'm starting to think about which colleges to apply to, I keep hearing people talk about having a 3.5 GPA. I'm wondering if a 3.5 is considered strong for college admissions. Does it open doors to more selective schools, or would I need higher for that? Also, how does it compare with my chances at state schools?

A 3.5 GPA, which is approximately a B+ average, is generally considered good and competitive for many colleges, although it all depends on the selectivity of each school and the context of your entire application. When it comes to more selective colleges (think top 50 in the rankings), a 3.5 GPA might be on the lower side of their average admitted student profile. For instance, universities under the Ivy League, Stanford, and MIT usually have their average weighted GPAs of admitted students well above 4.0.

However, it's important to recognize that while GPA is a significant component, it's not the only factor in a college application. Even at more selective schools, you may still be considered depending on the rest of your profile, like the rigor of your course load, your test scores (if required), essays, extracurriculars, reference letters, etc. For example, if you have several AP classes under your belt or a remarkable accomplishment in an extracurricular activity, those could help balance out a GPA that's not quite as high.

As for state schools, these institutions often have a wider range of accepted GPAs. A 3.5 GPA is typically above average - sometimes well above average - at many state schools. However, the most competitive state schools (such as the University of California, Berkeley, or the University of Michigan) can sometimes be just as selective as top private schools.

I'd recommend looking up each prospective school's admitted student profile to get a sense of their average GPA. This can offer invaluable insights into where you stand academically and help you target the right schools.