Is a 3.8 GPA good?

My current GPA is 3.8 and I'm wondering if this is considered good? Will this help me be competitive when applying to colleges?

A 3.8 GPA is indeed considered good and it places you in a competitive position for college admissions. To better understand just how competitive, though, it would be helpful to know if your GPA is weighted or unweighted.

If it's unweighted, it means you're earning As and Bs in your classes, which is impressive. If it's weighted, it takes into account the difficulty of the courses you're taking, such as honors, AP, or IB courses. A weighted 3.8 means you're likely balancing a mix of As and Bs in these harder classes.

Where your GPA stands in relation to the universities you're aiming for is also important. Most colleges provide an average or middle 50% range of admitted students' GPAs on their websites. You can compare your GPA to these ranges to see where you stand.

Also, remember that grades aren't everything in college admissions. Application components like your course rigor, standardized test scores (if the school isn't test-blind), essays, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement also matter a great deal.

Keep up the great work and strive for improvement where you can, and don't forget to devote time to your other areas of interest as well! Remember that balance is key in creating a compelling applicant profile.