A 3.4 GPA is far from horrible; it generally translates to a solid "B+" average and sits comfortably above the national high school and university averages. While it may not be high enough to secure automatic admission into hyper-competitive, elite Ivy League universities without stellar extracurricular achievements, a 3.4 GPA keeps the vast majority of four-year colleges, state universities, and regional institutions fully accessible. Students with this GPA can easily strengthen their academic profiles by focusing on compelling college essays, strong recommendation letters, and solid standardized test scores.