<p>English 9 Honors (B, B)
French III Honors (B, C)
Latin I (B, B)
Algebra I (C, F-C (retook in summer))
Earth Science (A, B)
Modern World History (A, A)</p>
<h2>Sophomore year</h2>
<p>English 10 Honors (D, B)
French IV Honors (B, A)
Latin II Honors (B, B)
Geometry (F, W-F (retook in summer got A's)
AP Biology (D, B)
AP European History (A, A)
American Government (half year) (A)
Health (half year) (A)</p>
<h2>Junior year</h2>
<p>AP English Language (A, A)
French V Honors (A, A)
Ancient Greek I (A, A)
Algebra II (B, B)
AP Environmental Science (A, A)
AP US History (A, A)
AP US Government and Politics (A, A)
Independent Study-AP Comparative Gov. & Politics (A, A)</p>
<h2>Senior year</h2>
<p>AP English Literature
AP French Language
Ancient Greek II Honors
Pre-Calculus
AP Physics B (possibly standard Physics)
AP Economics</p>
<p>Looks like you have a great upward trend, but your GPA and rank is probably already down because of it. There IS that possibility that you can still get into an Ivy League School (GPA isn’t the main factor, there’s always chance for explanations, if you’re passionate and display lots of interests…something something something), but it’s a bit unlikely if you have nothing else going for you.</p>
<p>I’m a good swimmer, if you’re familiar I can post my times. And I’m involved with the governing body of my state (I’m on the board of directors). I am on student council and am the board of ed rep for next year. I also do a my schools peer advisory program, class board, where I am an officer, NHS, do a lot in politics (like fund-raising for campaigns), and also run a lot of fundraisers for Alzheimer’s. And my sat right now is 2240</p>
<p>There is no general rule that freshman year doesn’t matter. If there is a solid explanation for the initial low grades, by all means use it. It’s no guarantee, but there are cases where an illness or family challenge explains. But, be aware that this isn’t taken just on your say-so. GC and letters of rec would somehow have to support this. A lot now depends on your major and Sat IIs. How rigorous is your hs? Also, where you retook a class and improved a grade, are you absolutely certain this will be part of your gpa? Some colleges will note the original grade and give less bearing to a summer school class that might have been exceptionally easy. Especially if your hs is tough. </p>
<p>In general, any advantage from fundraising for campaigns depends on the depth of your involvement- this is often a very entry-level activity. Same for Alzheimers; it depends on what you actually do. [Ie, a tough position or just helping out? You may need to carefully word what you did or do.] Your competiton at an Ivy will be fierce. Make sure you also look at great LACs- they may value your ECs more and you could be quite happy at some. See if your swim coach thinks you are on a level where a college will actively recruit you. If so, the college coach may wish to pull for you.</p>
<p>Sorry, the cold hard truth is you won’t be able to get into any ivies with Fails or D’s…</p>
<p>^This is just my opinion so feel free to disagree, but I have seen many students with upward trends such as you having to just go to state… :[ I was actually pretty sad from that</p>
<p>Well for campaigning I usually fundraise and do organizational stuff and for alzheimers I do a lot, I’m a team leader fo a fundraising group and also team leader for walks. My hs ranges from 1-5 in the state. And for my retake classes, the better grade that I got in the summer goes in my gpa, but the bad grade still shows. Also for some of my bad grades, ii got them mainly cause my mom is a single mom, with me and my 2 brothers and my father has been in and out of jail-so its hard. I wasn’t gonna say that to colleges though. And also for my english 10 honors first semester grade, it was a D because on the first day of school, my teacher started talking about hitting his wife, and I told someone, and he found out and literally had something out for me. Like I had A-grade work, but he gave them f’s. I even showed all my work during my semester to the ap teachers I knew and they said it was very good.but yeah haha</p>
<p>Yes they are bad for top schools but you have an upward trend at least. Top schools aren’t out of the question but the grades won’t be a positive factor.</p>
<p>What’s with the obsession about Ivies? OP never asked about Ivies, just about “top schools”, of which there are many beyond the Ivies–I suspect that with his/her credentials and background, OP will have a shot at a number of them.</p>
<p>good upward trend, but if you’re talking about ‘top colleges’ as in ivies, no way. Some good universities and LACs, maybe. Probably a good college, but not one that’s super highly ranked or anything like that.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but frankly, there are too many overqualified applicants who DON’T have C’s and D’s (or even that many B’s) on their transcripts applying to these schools. You probably won’t get into any “top colleges.” Of course, that doesn’t mean you won’t get in somewhere great (by “top colleges” I assume you’re referring to the top ~20 universities/LACs).</p>
<p>My friend got into Cornell’s agriculture program because she grew up on a farm. There are hundreds of Sat ace-ers and 4.0s that don’t get in because they’re two dimensional. If there is anything we’ve learned about the college admission process is that it’s unpredictable. You could very well get in where you wish, and you might go to state, (which isn’t the end of the world, depending on the state of course.)
I know this reply is absolutely unhelpful, and I’m stressing as well about it all, but this is just the train of thought that’s keeping me encouraged and cautious. I wish you the best.</p>
<p>Oh btw major I’m looking to probably do is political science/public policy…ap scoers: European History (5), Biology (2), US History/US Gov/Comp Gov/EnvSci/English, probably all 5’s I really felt that I did well…sat II’s BioE (700), World History (780), US History (790)…and are you saying I have no chance at all? I really like Yale/Brown/Georgetown/Columbia/Upenn…I’ve seen people @ upenn get in with 3.2’s…and before you judge me on the colleges listed, know that I DO have safeties</p>
<p>Oh btw major I’m looking to probably do is political science/public policy…ap scoers: European History (5), Biology (2), US History/US Gov/Comp Gov/EnvSci/English, probably all 5’s I really felt that I did well…sat II’s BioE (700), World History (780), US History (790)…and are you saying I have no chance at all? I really like Yale/Brown/Georgetown/Columbia/Upenn…I’ve seen people @ upenn get in with 3.2’s…and before you judge me on the colleges listed, know that I DO have safeties…oh and I’m urm haha with like $45.000 income</p>
<p>You may know people with 3.2s get in but that doesn’t mean you’ll get in. Your URM status will help but your grades aren’t on par with the applicants that get into the schools that you just mentioned. You have a great upward trend, sill the C’s, D’s, and F’s can’t help your apps. The URM can only get you so far. I’d say go ahead an apply but don’t be terribly disappointed if you don’t get in.</p>
<p>OP, would you be willing to consider a top LAC? These schools can be very forgiving of low income, URM students who have some low grades but have had to overcome adversity in their lives. This sounds like you. Try reading about them and see what you think.</p>
<p>Oh I’m sorry I don’t recall saying that since I had higher than a 3.2 I was going to get in…wait I didn’t. And I guess I could look at LASs but truthfully, I don’t really like any.</p>
<p>At the schools you mention, partly because of name recognition, there is fierce competition at the gate. Fierce means, no C’s. Maybe one or two B’s. These kids go to summer school to take an upper level class not available in hs or to finish out a language requirement, so the kid can take an in-depth class in the hs curriculum. Some of them work and volunteer at the same time, plus school activities with some leadership. Plenty of URMs with top stats and experience. </p>
<p>If you haven’t found an LAC that interests you, you just haven’t looked well. That advice to explore top LACs is worth its weight in gold- could be a life changer. (We aren’t talking third tier schools.) Look at profs’ backgrounds and research interests, the classes available (online catalogs,) study abroad and internships. At your income level, an LAC may offer better financial aid and you can plan well for grad school at one of those you mention.</p>
<p>Kids who get in with a 3.2 tend to have a mitigating factor. Eg, if you are a nationally recognized swimmer and want to compete in college. Or, they could be faculty kids. You have no idea how many URM, first-gen, low-income kids are out there, performing at tippy top level, even in a lesser hs.</p>
<p>Team leader and charity walks…just isn’t a level of EC in your field that will beat the competition. Some of the other things are good, but you need to build up. Go ahead and apply to one or two of the tippy tops; see if you can get a fee waiver for the CA. But, do yourself a favor and get excited about LACs.</p>
<p>why are some of you saying the OP doesn’t have a chance? the D’s, F’s, and C’s will lower chances, but it seems like the OP is very active in the community. I would say that you have a shot. not to mention, your junior year grades are good.</p>
<p>Those Fs and such won’t let you into Ivy Halls. One year at a community college with continued activity and then your chances will double. But the GPA better be IVY colored.</p>