Am I still screwed?? Bad grades in the past...

Applying to College
1

I am an international student from Asia, and am currently a junior in a private boarding high school on the East Coast. As I didn’t have any formal English education before I started studying abroad, I struggled extremely with academics during my first year in the states (in which I was enrolled as a 10th grader). I had straight Bs and one C+.

Hoping for a fresh start, I transferred to a new school to repeat my 10th grade and my grades have been improving exponentially ever since then. I got one 79 (C+, yes, my school just uses percentages and doesn’t give GPAs) in my calc class for the first semester of my sophomore year but I ended the class with an overall B by the end of the year. It happened due to the failed transition of math classes from one school to another, as my old school’s math class didn’t cover a lot of my current school’s calc class’ prerequisites (and I am definitely going to write a note for this when I submit applications).

Other than that, I haven’t gotten a single B since my sophomore year. I have also been taking the most challenging courses possible for different area of subjects. Especially this year, I have at least 95 for most of my classes. I still haven’t taken the SAT yet, but I am getting 1500s for the practice tests and it is likely that I will end up with a decent score. Even though my school doesn’t offer the AP courses, I self-studied and took four AP exams this year. I have several leadership positions in my school and I am also involved in an entrepreneurial/social justice project with some of my friends from other schools, which I have so much to write about for college essays.

I am honestly doing whatever it takes to make up the low grades I got in the past… but do I even have the chance of being considered seriously for some of the highly selective schools? Some people tell me that I’m fine as long as my grades are improving (and I hope that’s the case, lol); others tell me that old grades matter. I would like to hear your opinion if you happen to know or have any experience with a situation like mine. Here is the list of reach schools I am looking into: WashU, Tufts, Northwestern, NYU, BC, UCs (Berkeley, LA, SD), UMich, UVA, and USC.

2

If your transcript reflects your drastic improvement in academic performance, I would not worry too much about your past grades. Having sub-par sophomore grades is obviously not the best case scenario, but colleges will definitely take note of your improvements. After all, not so many C students become A students in a matter of a few semesters. While I have no idea about your ECs, IMHO, you seem to be a qualified applicant, so have confidence and keep up the good work. I hope this helps.

3

You would need to check with each of those colleges to see if they would use all the grades or replace the ones you retook. Make sure you have a good safety or two on your list you would be HAPPY to attend.

4

You took calculus, a first year college course, as a sophomore in high school. Stop worrying about that grade.

5

Also your guidance counselor can mention that you didn’t speak English when you started HS in their recommendation so that is reflected in you grades.

6

Thanks, will do!