How does a 3.76 GPA fare in college admissions?

End of junior year and my GPA stands at a 3.76. I know it's not stellar but, is this competitive enough for selective colleges? Should I be worried or is this a decent place to stand?

Your current GPA of 3.76 is considered above average and should position you decently for many colleges. However, the competitiveness of your GPA also depends on the rigor of the coursework you have undertaken. To make your academic profile stronger, it is beneficial if you have engaged in honors or advanced placement courses throughout high school.

Additionally, higher-profile, highly selective colleges also consider other aspects of your application, such as standardized test scores, your extracurricular involvement, recommendation letters, and application essays. These factors can significantly counterbalance a GPA that isn't in the top percentile.

While a 3.76 is not necessarily a drawback, it’s also true that the average GPAs of admitted students are often higher at very selective colleges. For example, Ivy League schools often report average admitted GPAs well above 4.0, due to the prevalence of weighted GPAs where A's in AP or Honors courses can count as a value greater than 4.0.

In short, your GPA is not a singular defining factor in college admissions, and while you may find it more challenging to gain acceptance to extremely selective colleges, having a 3.76 GPA is still quite commendable. Keep up your hard work, and remember to also focus your efforts on crafting meaningful essays and maintaining strong extracurricular roles, as admissions committees will be considering your application holistically.