College options for a 3.6 GPA?

Hi all. I'm a junior with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 so far. Wondering about what my options might be for college with this GPA? Hoping for a university environment, but other types of colleges are definitely on the table.

There's a wide range of schools that accept students with a 3.6 GPA, and remember, colleges look at more than just GPA. Things like your SAT/ACT scores, essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation are also important components of your application.

Universities such as the University of Washington (median GPA around 3.8 for admitted students) or University of Wisconsin, Madison (median GPA around 3.9 for admitted students) may be more of a reach, but with strong other components of your application, they could be worth considering.

Schools like Oregon State University (median GPA around 3.6 for admitted students), Loyola University Chicago (median GPA around 3.7 for admitted students), and the University of Oklahoma (median GPA around 3.65 for admitted students) are more match schools whose average admitted GPA is closer to yours.

For schools where your GPA is well within the range of accepted students, consider colleges like Arizona State University (median GPA around 3.5 for admitted students) or West Virginia University (median GPA around 3.5 for admitted students). These are referred to as "safety" schools.

Remember to explore a variety of colleges to find the best fit for you, considering factors such as size, location, social environment, course offerings, and extracurricular opportunities. This will help ensure you enjoy your college experience, regardless of the name or prestige of the school. A 3.5 GPA offers you plenty of college options, so explore and apply widely.