<p>Alright I believe I have good stats for Ivy league or top 10 colleges (such as Columbia University) but I think one thing may hold me back from getting into a college like this: my GPA (or more specifically, my Sophomore-2nd Semester Grades). Basically the stress just piled up that year: I was overloaded with ECs, I had no lunch (8 straight periods of classes), advanced curriculum (AP Stats, Honors Physics as a Sophomore, AP Tech Level Classes, etc.) and I just fell through the door and destroyed my GPA. I got 1 D, 3 Cs, and 1 B and 3 As. ****</p>
<p>But in Junior year I changed. I still kept my same ECs (and added some as well). The summer before Junior year began I went to India and volunteered there and helped children for over 100+ hours. I began to stay after school until 8:00 PM-9:00 PM to study because of ECs (Debate, Speech, Tennis, Business, etc.) and also a couple hours just to study in a quiet area. I got almost 100% in every single one of my classes except one or two. My teachers loved me. I had a hard curriculum this year with only 1/2 Lunch and 7.5 periods of Honors/AP Classes. I also scored a 35 on my ACT and also a perfect PSAT and 2350 on my SAT. (800 Reading/800 Math/750 English). I also added about a 100 more hours to my community service. This summer I plan on volunteering at a hospital for some more hours. I don't know what else to do. My GPA UW is 3.75 and W 4.5. I think I am either in top 10 or 5 percent, not completely sure on that.</p>
<p>So do I still have a chance for any of these great colleges? Can I explain to them what happened Sophomore 2nd Semester? Is it possible to only submit Junior grades (4.0 UW and 5.0 W)? </p>
<p>In case you skipped everything before this here is a quick run down of my stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.75 UW 4.5 W
Rank: Top 5-10 percent
SAT: 2350
ACT: 35
PSAT: 240
AP Tests: Statistics 5, AP US History 5, AP World History 5, AP English 5
Lots of ECs and hopefully over 300+ hours of Community service (including volunteering and helping illiterate children in a third world country). Numerous awards in business, debate, speech, scholastic bowl, model UN, etc.
Good Recs hopefully from teachers in Junior year</p>
<p>NEED to know whether those Sophomore grades make a drastic change</p>
<p>It is impossible that those grades don’t count. It would only be fair to other students, that these grades are considered too.</p>
<p><<<can i=“” explain=“” to=“” them=“” what=“” happened=“” sophomore=“” 2nd=“” semester?=“”>>>
Ask counselor/teacher to explain it, they might even be able to talk about your massive improvement. Otherwise, put it in your additional info.</can></p>
<p><<is it=“” possible=“” to=“” only=“” submit=“” junior=“” grades=“” (4.0=“” uw=“” and=“” 5.0=“” w)?=“”>>
No, all required grades MUST be reported.</is></p>
<p>I understand that it would be unfair to other students, but actually at the school I go to they only count the top 45 credits that you attain… Since I have taken a lot more classes than other people at my school, I will end up graduating with about 60 credits at the end of Senior year… so 15 of my lowest scores get dropped from my transcript (7 when I apply to college) so I actually don’t think the D or the Cs would actually show up on my transcript…</p>
<p>But even if they don’t, the guys over at the admissions would probably have to be notified about this, or would they be notified about it? I think that’s the real question I wanted to ask you guys.</p>
Your school’s system is unique, so I am not qualified to answer. You know what will show you on the transcript sent by your counselor; I don’t know.</p>
<p>To be above-board, just play by your school’s rules. Ensure that when sending transcripts, your school accurately documents its policy.</p>
<p>Despite your troubled past, you GPA is still not too bad. If you keep up your work ethic by the first semester of senior year, you should be in good standing grade wise. I’m pretty sure colleges will check out your sophomore year grades… but if anything this upward trend will work more for you than against you.
If your scores are as great as you claim they are, then with a great essay we’ll probably being seeing you at CU next year.
Btw… by great essay… don’t use it to explain your poor grades–your transcript already provides that information and admissions officers will want to know more about you.</p>
<p>Just to echo what everyone else has been saying, I don’t think your bad sophomore grades will count against you. Colleges like to see an upward trend, and it shows that how you, as a live, breathing human being, changed your work habits and improved for the better. So yeah, keep up what you’re doing, and I think you will be in great shape.</p>
<p>Do you think if I got a teacher in Senior year that was one of my same sophomore teachers, and he somehow communicated my improvements to the people over at admissions, it would help?</p>
<p>Didn’t really feel like reading this entire thread so excuse my response if it doesn’t answer your question, or if it repeats what someone else has already said.
Completely disagree; focusing on a weakness (such as your sophmore year grades) would make for a really good essay, especially if you are a good writer. You could also mention your growth and self-evolution since sophmore year.</p>
<p>yeah, I think your essay topic sounds better than writing about your grades. Not sure what everyone else is saying… but colleges will already see your transcript. </p>
<p>Your personal statement is about YOU… not your report card. Anyone can talk about why they got a bad grade… but can they talk about it with passion?</p>
<p>Write about something your passionate about. I completely disagree with anyone who says you should talk about your grades in your personal statement… but if you must mention them in your application… save your grades for the “further comments” section.</p>
<p>A college will see whatever grades show up on your transcript. If your school really drops extra “lower grade” credits off your transcript and sends it with those omitted, I suppose they won’t be able to see them. Otherwise, you have some amazing stats. Honestly, I don’t think you should accentuate extra attention on sophomore year. Just relax and write your applications.</p>
<p>Colleges like rising grades. Agree that you should NOT write about your grades. Write about yourself; schools want to get to know YOU. You’ll get into some excellent schools, so relax. Your teachers will write the recs they think are appropriate. Be sure to apply to some matches, not just Ivies or top 10 on one-size-fits-none lists.</p>