3.0 GPA, High goals, Oh my! 3.0 freshie GPA is it to late?

<p>Freshman year has been extremely hard for me. I've been dealing with a lot of family issues, money issues and a healthy dose of peers that made my life hell and it's taken it's toll. To the point where I've been diagnosed with depression. Anyway, I think I'm going to pay for it with my future </p>

<p>This year I've gotten all B's. I just haven't been that dedicated with my school work. I could've done better. I SHOULD'VE done better.</p>

<p>Gender: F
Race: Black
State: Louisiana</p>

<p>Classes:
Physical Education
Home ec
Gifted English
Honors Physical Science
Honors World Geography
Algebra 1 part 1 ( no honors)
IBCA ( basically typing. Pointless class but needed to graduate).</p>

<p>I'm not sure if this helps/hurts or doesn't matter at all but I go to a public school. Bad dropout rate and horrible overall. State is considering taking the school over.</p>

<p>My question is if I made a remarkable improvement and started getting 4.0s, a good SAT & ACT, tons of EC's and a good essay could I still have a chance at say... Stanford or Duke? Or have I screwed that up completely and should start looking at state colleges?</p>

<p>Next year my classes are
Algebra 1 part 2
Honors Civics
Gifted English
Honors Biology
Speech for my elective
still haven't decided on other elective.</p>

<p>EC's will be
Tennis
SADD
Key Club
SGO (I'm not sure if other schools have this but it's basically a group of kids that helps with school activities)</p>

<p>African American Heritage club</p>

<p>What if I made it into Spellman or Howard and did extremely well. Would ivy league grad school be a possibility? </p>

<p>Can I bounce back from this?</p>

<p>Heres how it goes:</p>

<p>Your most likely going to be sending your Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior Cumulative Gpa - considering you will most likely apply to schools before the end of senior year.</p>

<p>So if you got a 4.0 sophomore and junior year, your cumulative gpa would be 3.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 divided by 3 = 3.66. </p>

<p>A 3.66 is really good, but not anywhere close to being a Stanford GPA. Stanford rejects 4.0 2400 students every year, and your 3.66 wouldnt cut it.</p>

<p>Also, don’t call me cruel, but I highly doubt you will be able to get a 4.0</p>

<p>Even though you had problems freshmen year, if you didn’t get a single A, it seems as if you are incapable of getting all A’s - High school is a high stress situation, and people are going to bother you - you can’t make the excuse that you were being bullied.</p>

<p>Im not doubting your problems effected your grades, but getting all Bs really just means your a B student.</p>

<p>:( Well so much for that. I guess I DID ruin my life. Thanks for being honest though.</p>

<p>Don’t completely give up hope. There will be opportunities in your application process to discuss your freshman year and explain why you didn’t perform up to your expectations. </p>

<p>Schools definitely love an upward trend. Your grades and ECs during your junior and senior years are much more reflective of the kind of student you are rather than your freshman year. Continual improvement in your GPA is definitely taken into consideration by those on admission committees. </p>

<p>Make sure the schools you are planning to apply to are schools you are truly passionate about for their qualities, not just their names and prestige. If you really love a school, it will definitely come across in your application and make a big difference. Good luck!!</p>

<p>That being said, I have to agree with sidthekid. Stanford is probably not an option but there are many fantastic schools that are still viable options.</p>

<p>I think you’ve got a shot. Affirmative action will be a HUGE boost for you, make sure you attain an upward trend in gpa, and get high test scores. Keep the extracurriculars interesting and remember, play up your race. It’s a big factor.</p>

<p>Colleges (yes, even the Ivies!) love to see an upward trend. Just keep at it! And wherever you end up, if you try hard, you will be successful in life. Good luck! :)</p>