<p>I have a pretty solid GPA this year (around 91-93, unweighted, all classes honors or AP), but my freshman and sophomore GPA's were not as good. In my freshman year, I had mostly low 80's, and in my sophomore year, I had mostly high 80's. Now I have all low 90's (junior year).</p>
<p>If I keep my grades up this year and the beginning of my senior year, do I have almost as good of a chance as someone with a 92 throughout high school? Or will freshman/sophomore really hurt my chances? I assume a steady improvement like mine would look impressive to most schools, since they can tell how much better I did over time.</p>
<p>My "reach" schools will be NYU and Northwestern (music programs, for music-technology). </p>
<p>I got a 35 on the ACT, if that helps.</p>
<p>Please help me out, I am really worried!</p>
<p>Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Obviously, it’s better to have A’s all through high school, but an upward trend is also good, especially if you’re taking harder classes. Your ACT score is very good, and while your reaches are excellent, they aren’t so selective as to be unpredictable. You have a decent shot, assuming you have good ECs, too.</p>
<p>I think even if you had +95 those two schools would still be high reaches, especially NU, and NYU have become more competitive over the years. Upward trend is very good, especially if you could get above 95+ senior year. With a 35 ACT and lower GPA show you have not applied yourself. You should try to manage your expectation.</p>
<p>Yes, freshmen year and sophomore year affect you just as much as junior and senior years…why wouldn’t they?</p>
<p>(Except some schools don’t count freshmen year)</p>
<p>Some people come up with the excuse that freshmen year is a “transition” year but so is freshmen year of college, which is a much harder transition, and they expect you to do good freshmen year of college.</p>
<p>yes it will, but there’s always room for improvement, i know a kid who did bad his first two yrs but still was able to get into bc caroll while doing well on his junior yr and acing his SAT’s.</p>