<p>First, you need to ask your GC what your transcript will look like. Do they actually include your class from 8th grade, or do they just include credit? Do they even list it on your transcript, as it is not a class taken in high school? Many school systems have students complete the “first year” of a language in middle school, but don’t include it on the transcript - much as colleges will sometimes offer placement out of an introductory class even if they don’t offer credit.</p>
<p>Your next step is to find out the policies of the school where you will apply. Some will recalculate your GPA, based on their own formula - the 8th grade class would not be included, but they also might not include electives and phys ed. Still others will recalculate using only 10th and 11th grade, dropping anything taken in 9th grade, as that is a transition year (too bad for kids who did well as freshman and had a dip as sophomores).</p>
<p>Lastly, if you current GC is the same one who will complete your school’s portion of your college applications, a conversation now could help set you GC up to write the recommendation with this in mind. Your transcript will include all your grades throughout HS, so anybody reviewing it will be able to see the trend, and that will be to your benefit. Most do not have a hand and fast cutoff for GPA, particularly when GPA at one school cannot really be compared to another. They look for patterns and trends.</p>