Bad GPA freshman year due to health issues

I’ve always been a straight A student in middle school. However I have something called crohns disease, and 9th grade was not a good year for me. In short, I was hospitalized numerous times and missed over 1 month of school last year. Because of this, as you can imagine, my grades were trash last year (3.1 GPA). This year Im confident I can get a 4.0 GPA as I’m in remission. This wouldn’t be much of a problem but my school is INSANELY competitive; I’m pretty sure the average GPA is 4.3 or maybe even over that. What do you think by best option is? Explain why my grades were so low? Do a bunch of AP courses next year to make up for it? Will colleges even compare me to my school? Thanks for your time guys.

When the time comes, your guidance counselor will explain in the letter of recommendation your health struggles freshman year. Some schools don’t even look at freshman year so don’t worry. Hope you have a healthy and successful year!

If you had to be sick one year, freshman year is the one to do it
You will take harder and harder classes, and if you do well, colleges will know you are capable of doing college level work. The GC can mention this in their recommendation.

Do not take a bunch of AP classes next year to make up for it. Take the normal classes you would have taken if you had gotten all A’s this year. It is important for you to be prepared for a class and to do well in it. I think with Crohn’s you don’t want to overstress yourself either.

Colleges will compare you to your school in that they will see how many AP classes are offered and what you took, and what your SAT score was compared to those in your school. But they aren’t going to say “oh, lildude got a 3.9 and other kids got a 4.3”. They are going to see “oh, lildude took AP Calc AB and got an A, AP Chem and got a A-, AP USH and got an A” etc.

Fret not and do well and feel bettter!

(also B’s are not trash)