So hey, first post here although I’ve been a lurker. I’m a freshman in high school (I go to a pretty competitive one, top 5 or 6in California) and I’m aiming for Duke, UCLA, or possibly an Ivy such as Brown. I take bio and chem honors, algebra 2 honors, english honors, french 2, etc. and I ride horses for school credit (don’t ask my school is weird). Unfortunately I had a pretty bad 1st semester, underestimated the workload, and I have a 3.75 unweighted GPA and a 4.55 out of 4.8 total possible weighted GPA. I have 2 mid-B’s. I realize these grades might seem good, but they’re not good enough for where I want to go.
I tutor for French, and occasionally volunteer for a music service thing. I have some awards for research on breast cancer and am aiming to publish a paper once I’ve got everything sorted out. I write a lot and have some formal recognition for it. I’m in Davidson Young Scholars, DukeTip and some other stuff. At last testing, I scored about a 2200 on the 2400-point SAT and a 1370 on the 1440-point 8/9 PSAT, with almost perfect scores in reading and writing.
My point is, what do I need to do to get where I want to be? How can I bring my grades up next semester? I’ve been told not to stress by a multitude of school counselors, but they don’t realize how badly I’m doing in comparison with how I did in middle school. What other leadership opportunities should I find? How bad is this and how much are Ivy schools going to count my 1st semester for? Will an upward grade trend help enough? Do I have a legitimate chance anymore?
I know I can do better and I’m willing to work as hard as possible for it. I don’t want to graduate knowing I limited my own potential. Please don’t tell me not to stress, because if/when I quit worrying about schoolwork, I always do worse. Advice appreciated
Honestly, I just want to know if I have a chance at Ivy, so I can work accordingly. I’m really discouraged by my 1st semester grades and am kinda lacking motivation. >.<
3.75 unweighted?! That’s not even bad! (But, yes, you might be feeling bad if you’re not doing your ultimate best) From what I can tell about you- you’re pretty hardworking and driven to achieve…so if you can find a way to manage your time better or find out the root cause of your lower grades…then you can make adjustments so you maintain a 4.0 for second semester.
But, just some math to keep in mind- if you are so obsessed with the numbers (It’s not a bad thing, but you shouldn’t be so fixated on the schools you’ve listed. What is it that you like so much about them? Is it just the prestige?) Your first two years of highschool cement your GPA. Right now 3.75 will count for 1/4 of your cumulative GPA. You’ve got three more quarters to bring it up. (3.8 UW or above is not a bad GPA) It’s a very good GPA, you are almost a perfect A student with that sort of GPA.
Remember, there are other factors besides your grades that will help you gain admission to your dream school. It’s good that you’re trying to spread yourself out and expand your interests- horse riding for a credit?? Woah. You’ve got research planned as a freshman? Dang. I’m impressed.
You will be fine. Just make a good plan. Start building study habits- try to find ways to spend the least amount of time, but put in good effort. Learning should be the ultimate goal and the grade a reward for your hard work.
I didn’t answer some stuff. But, you have a decent chance if you maintain your level of performance or higher plus ec’s.
For leadership (I understand you want to position yourself to be a competitive candidate, but you should only do an ec if you’re genuinely interested), it depends…maybe start developing your role in clubs and by junior year- you can take president role or start a new club? Also, admissions offices take into account the competitiveness of a school when they evaluate an applicant. From my understanding, they will be a bit more lenient with applicants coming from very good highschools…but when it comes to the tippy top schools? I can’t say.
Upward grade trends are always a good thing!!
And you should try to think more positively- don’t become overconfident, but believe in yourself. Adopt an optimistic and positive mindset- don’t think it’s the end of the world when you make a ‘mistake’. If you think you’ve messed up, then learn from it and try to do better.
You are doing fine in respect to UCLA, as the freshman year Is not even considered in the UC-GPA calculation!
(Besides, you did not do that bad, to be out of race for any school yet)
Thnx for the replies Good to know about UCLA. Mostly, I want to go to those schools since I really like Duke as a university (visited there in 8th grade), and UCLA is a good choice close to home. Also, I went to a GPA-obsessed (and I mean OBSESSED) middle school and I don’t want to be that one kid who didn’t get into her preferred college.
I lacked motivation first semester, was also depressed and couldn’t focus on anything. I’ve looked at Harvard sample applications and it’s insane–kids with 4.0 UW GPA’s, national recognition awards at INTEL, captains of 50 different school teams. I know I can do better and I really want to bring my grades up second semester. (I’m worried because my cousin had a nearly 4.0 GPA, perfect SAT math scores, 7 years of robotics experience, stellar academics, amazing at soccer and only got into UCSD.)
So you got one B? What you can do to improve your chances is not get any more Bs. That won’t be a sure thing for an Ivy or Duke, but it seems like that’s what you want to hear, that you need a perfect gpa.
Talk to the teacher who gave you the B and ask what you need to do to get an A. Class participation? Writing a better essay? Focus on that course and bring up that grade.
You’re fine. Your gpa can change so much since it’s only your first semester. Some schools won’t even look at those grades. Even with the right grades, these schools will be very hard to get into though, so make sure that your goals change as you discover more about yourself.
Don’t use depression as an excuse, don’t give up because you think where you are now will doom your future. Relax, develop a positive mindset, do the best you can. Who knows, the best college for you might be one that you haven’t ever heard of yet.
Anybody that gets a 3.75 and writes that they have failed that semester needs more help then they’re going to get in an online forum. And you go to a top-five school but you don’t believe what your guidance counselors are telling you.
The best advice I can give, which I’m sure you will instantly dismiss, is to tell your parents you need to start working with a qualified mental health professional.
Wow, that kinda took it way too far. The OP is stressed and needs a little reassurance to guide her, no need to tell her to start working with a qualified mental health professional. @mikemac
@writer80 the OP has been told by several counselors at her top 5 HS not to worry. It seems like she’s already received what you prescribe several times over. Just how much reassurance is going to be enough? And providing it by anonymous people on the internet will make the difference when these qualified school counselors could not?
Hey everyone, thnx for the replies. My next semester starts on Monday and I’m gonna try to get straight A’s this time, which will bring me up to about a 4.88 or around that. I don’t need a mental health professional
I was just really stressed 1st semester, but it’s getting better now on its own…I’ve actually considered counseling before but I have this distrust of psychologists.
