<p>I'm a HS sophomore, and last year as a freshman, I had terrible, terrible grades. My GPA was a little above 2. I go to a gifted school--don't know how much of a difference that makes--and I was going through a lot. My whole life sounds like such a cliche thing. My mom is alcoholic, drinks as soon as she gets home and could care less about my grades. My dad is always out of the country on business, and on their divorce they just let it all out on me in random car coversations. So it was a lot of stress and my grades plummetted because of it.
I explained my situation to my guidance counselor and she said she'll give me sophomore year to bring it up and show that I belong at this gifted school.</p>
<p>So, this year, my GPA hovers around 3.1, much better. I'm doing better, my mom still doesn't care and my dad is still out of the country but the divorce is over and I can finally focus on other things.</p>
<p>I read that in your applications, they don't want to hear about how traumatizing your parent's divorce was. I bet everyone says "oh well my case is different."</p>
<p>The thing is--I'm worried if this is going to affect my chances of getting into a good design school as much as I think it will. I don't really know at all.</p>
<p>Also, I want to have good grades. What looks worse:
a.) Doing one super bad year at a gifted school and one OK year at a gifted school, then transferring to a regular school and doing very good; OR
b.) Doing one super bad year, and three OK years at a gifted school?</p>
<p>I talked to my guidance counselor about it and she said that if I can't do as well as I think I can (aka, if I'm still doing crappy next year) then I should transfer to either a non-gifted school or a IB program which is way easier than our gifted program.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>ROFL, I doubt that the IB program is easier than whatever you do at your "gifted school". I don't know if it's you, or your counselor who told you this, but the IB program is the highest level of high-school courses (see AP vs IB debate) AND it's international standards. Oh sure, depending on the teachers your program may have more homework, but the amount of homework in a class doesn't equal how difficult a class is.</p>
<p>And again, I'd like to point out, to say you'll do very good at a public school is very presumptious of you. You really aren't giving public schools enough credit, you can't predict your own success. And I would say option A is better.</p>
<p>And ok, your freshmen year will hurt you. And apparantly semester 1 for your sophmore year wasn't amazing, but it's not bad. Just work hard for whatever option you choose, and get good grades, extra curriculars, etc.</p>
<p>And in your essay, or letters to colleges which you will write, explain your first yearish grades. You can write about your parents divorce, it's ok.</p>
<p>I realize that it's not guaranteed that I'd do very well at a public school, but I think I'd be able to do much better.
As far as IB programs versus gifted programs go, the IB program at the nearest school in my county is a complete joke, in the freshman and sophomore year. I heard that their junior & senior year classes are probably just as hard as my school's. I looked at that school before I attended this gifted school.</p>
<p>I'm determined to have a career in fashion, or fashion design--I don't know how hard it is or how rigid the credentials are for getting into that kind of school.</p>
<p>Forgive me if I sound completely uninformed as far as colleges go, because honestly I am!</p>
<p>Ok, I'll start over too then since I thought you were trying to make out the IB program as a joke :p </p>
<p>Ok, so as a freshmen your GPA was a 2, but then as a freshmen you got a 3.10. This is much better, and I've actually heard before that alot of colleges don't care about your freshmen year.</p>
<p>As for choice A and B, I'm not sure. Is your school really well known? I've heard that graduating from some well known private schools/gifted schools is a "ticket" into any college you want. However, in any case, I would say doing better in a public school would be better for you, plus I'd think there would be more clubs and such there.</p>
<p>You are not out of the race yet! Yes, you are probably out of the race for top-20 schools, but that's a different story.</p>
<p>Focus on getting great grades, and your extra curriculars. You say you're interested in fashion, I would say if you can, make some type of clothing (a dress, etc) and see if you can get it modeled at a local fashion show. This would be a great initiative to your new goal, and maybe you can turn it into an extra curricular!</p>
<p>"Ok, so as a freshmen your GPA was a 2, but then as a freshmen you got a 3.10. This is much better, and I've actually heard before that alot of colleges don't care about your freshmen year."</p>
<p>I've heard this too, but I don't know exactly which schools, so then I know how much to worry haha.
My school was in Newsweek's top 10 high schools last year, and lost 1 place this year, so I would say it's pretty well known.
A lot of the kids here go to UF, which is a pretty good school and the hardest to get into in Florida I hear. Haha.</p>
<p>I would have to say that the IB program isn't the for the faint-hearted. I am in that program now and it isn't exactly a "walk in the park" kind of situation and have to dedicate yourself. </p>
<p>I am sorry about your situation, but make sure you that you can convince admissions that your situation is appealing and can catch their eye. Many people are in your position also, so they don't want to hear hundreds of "sob stories" that will not move them ... If the essay is compelling enough, that will make it more convincing for the poor grades. </p>
<p>Grade wise, make sure that are your grades later improve a lot, improvement is looked upon rather than staying normal!</p>
<p>yeah, unless you're going to a very competitive prestige school, colleges dong care much about your freshman year, and your grades are going up, so thats a plus</p>