3.83 GPA—Good or Bad?

I currently have a 3.83 GPA and was wondering if it was good enough for me to get into some selective colleges. Would appreciate any insight into how colleges interpret this kind of GPA!

Having a GPA of 3.83 is generally considered academically strong, especially if your school uses a standard 4.0 scale. However, selective colleges don't just look at GPA in isolation. They consider it within the context of your high school's curriculum and the rigor of your course load.

If your 3.83 GPA has been achieved in a rigorous program with AP or IB courses, it will likely be more impressive than a similar GPA achieved in less challenging courses. This is because selective colleges value students who have demonstrated that they can succeed in difficult academic environments.

Also, consider that GPA is just one part of your academic profile. Other factors, like your SAT/ACT scores, can also play a significant role, depending on the policies of the schools you're applying to. Schools also look at your extracurricular involvement, leadership positions, community service, etc.

Lastly, it's notable that different colleges can have wildly different applicant pools, and what counts as a competitive GPA at one college may not be as competitive at another. You can get a clearer picture by researching the average GPAs of admitted students at the colleges you're interested in. This can give you an idea of where you stand in comparison to typical admitted students.

In general, your 3.83 GPA, assuming it's on a 4.0 scale, shows that you've been highly successful in high school. Keep up the good work while also focusing on other components of your college application!