Could a bad Middle School grade affect my chances of an Ivy League?

Applying to College
1

In Middle School, I was a straight A student, everything was going right for me, besides for one class.

It was Spanish 1. I don’t know what exactly happened, but I tripped, I fell, I crashed, and I burned in that class. I couldn’t keep up, I didn’t know what I could do. It went so far to the point where my grade slipped to an F.

I finally pulled myself together, and I managed to get a C as a final grade in the class. I barely passed.

It stuck out like a sore thumb on my transcript in high school. My “Middle School GPA” was wrecked by that sole class. It was below a 3.0.

I knew I had to fix this. I spent more time on Spanish 2 in my Freshman year, and I managed to pull off a much better grade.

I was a solid A to B student. With an A- average for my freshman year.

I’m a beginning Sophomore, now hoping to do even better. I’m starting off with a 3.7 GPA (Rounded). And a 3.6 Cumulative GPA (Again, Rounded).

This is just a question of grades, extracurriculars are an entirely different question.

I heard that Spanish 1 can count on a high school transcript, even if taken in Middle School, which only made me more anxious.

I’m just wondering if this affects any chance of me getting into an Ivy League. (No matter how small.)

I’m not expecting anything remotely positive, so be as bluntly honest as you want if you have any adivce.

Thank you all.

2

No

3

I will bluntly say there is no way your middle school gpa was 3.0 if all your grades were A’s and one C.

It is what it is. You are getting the best grades you can and if you don’t get into an Ivy, you will be just one of the 95% who don’t, even though most have grades and test scores and ECs in the top 2-3% of all applicants. You will find a school that is just right for you.

4

Thanks.

5

Thanks for the advice.

My school district usually posts transcripts on Home Access Center, and that’s what I got off my Middle School transcript.

I guess it could then be because of courses that would count for High School credit? I’m not entirely sure.

6

Just let it go – except for not letting it happen again. Middle school grades are irrelevant to college admissions.

7

you couldve gotten straight Fs and it wouldnt matter. it counts for nothing.

8

Thank you.

9

You need to talk to your guidance counselor to find out if the high school level Spanish class taken in middle school will appear on your transcript sent to colleges and if the grade gets factored into your HS GPA. In our HS it does, but both students and parents are made aware of that fact in middle school.

In any event , it is unlikely that one blip when you were in middle school will have a material impact on college admissions. Just focus on doing your best going forward.

10

In my D’s school, high school level classes taken in middle school show up on the transcript and are calculated as part of the GPA. This is upsetting because the kids are not given any choice in whether to take these classes. In any case, I have spoken to a few admissions counselors who have assured me that they don’t count grades from middle school. Hopefully, this is true.

11

Some schools are different. My kids all took Spanish 1in 8th grade, no mention of it on their transcript. They just start in Spanish 2 as freshman.

12

I took Algebra 1 in middle school and while it was on my transcript, it just showed as a CR. If it’s on your transcript at all, it’ll probably show up as a CR. That said, I doubt they’ll look too closely at it. Kids in middle school don’t even know what they want to do in a week, let alone for the rest of their lives.

13

If they care that much about a middle school grade, why would you even want to go there? So apply, don’t worry about it, and whatever happens, happens.

14

@mello69 For our district, D’s Spanish 1 from middle school was included in her high school transcript, but the grade was not shown and wasn’t part of the high school GPA. The benefit was that she could take Spanish 2 as a freshman and potentially have 5 years of Spanish (1 in middle school + 4 in high school). OR she could knock out the language requirement earlier, and take other classes that might be more interesting for her. The academic advisor would know the answer, and you can also check the online portal to see your high school transcript. GL!! :slight_smile:

15

Why do you want to go to an Ivy anyway? There are good reasons of course (financial aid!), but one reason too often is simply lack of knowledge about other options, and a desire for prestige. Make sure that you learn about all kinds of schools. One place to start is the Colleges that Change Lives website.

Even if you had gotten an A on the Spanish, your chances for admission are slim.

I think you are trying to address a specific issue, which may or not be valid, but need instead to look at the bigger picture and try to get interested in schools outside the Ivy League.

By all means apply, but it is toxic, honestly, to live your high school life worrying about college admissions in this way. Focus on learning, explore your interests, make friends, and don’t worry so much about getting into college. Enjoy high school!

16

You will be fine

17

Middle school grades are not considered. McGill in Montreal does not factor in 9th grade grades either.

18

I told my kid when he was in middle school “If you want to goof off, this is the time. But at least try to learn at school even if he gets bad grades.” Doesn’t matter. At all. I myself got all As in middle school and then 3.0 GPA in high school. Should have done the reverse. But even that didn’t affect my college admission that much.