<p>I'm a freshman in High School currently and I'm very nervous.</p>
<p>I'm supposed to be a straight A student like my siblings, one done with medical school, one with a MBA, and another half-way through medical school.</p>
<p>My first semester was horrific for me because it was the first time I saw anything but an A. My sister's wedding, football season, 3 deaths of close relatives and terrible mental feelings kept my grades on an anchor to rock bottom.</p>
<p>Geometry: B
English: D
Spanish II: B
PE: B
Art I: C
Biology: C
2.33 GPA</p>
<p>I don't know what possessed me, maybe because I felt lonely due to my siblings slowly leaving, or my parents being much more strict than normal. </p>
<p>I just recieved my 3rd quarter progess (halfway through the quarter) transcripts and I changed my grades to </p>
<p>Geometry: A (100)
English: B (87.54, will become A)
Spanish II: B (81.9, need to study more on Test/Quizzes)
PE: A (100)
Art I: A (95.9)
Biology: B (86.7, upcoming open-note test will raise to A)
3.5 GPA</p>
<p>I'm gradually getting on the track I need to be, but that D in English REALLY concerns me because I really want to make it into a UC or high-standard college because if I don't, I will lose some honor (lol, weird word to use). Can anyone help me out with my issues here?</p>
<p>Poor freshman years can be overcome, although it’s difficult; a poor first semester, while obviously not as good as a perfect one, won’t have much impact on your final decisions, I think.</p>
<p>Its okay! You have 3 more years!</p>
<p>But that D will stand out when sending applications towards any UC or Stanford, etc?</p>
<p>Freshman grades don’t (usually) count toward your UC GPA. you should check though, to see if you get credit for a D in an A-G subject.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/index.html[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/index.html</a>
"If you’re interested in entering the University of California as a freshman, you’ll have to satisfy these requirements:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (a-g courses), with at least 11 finished prior to the beginning of your senior year.</p>
<p>The 15 courses are:</p>
<p>a. History/social science</p>
<p>2 years</p>
<p>b. English</p>
<p>4 years</p>
<p>c. Mathematics</p>
<p>3 years</p>
<p>d. Laboratory science</p>
<p>2 years</p>
<p>e. Language other than English</p>
<p>2 years</p>
<p>f. Visual and performing arts</p>
<p>1 year</p>
<p>g. College-preparatory elective
(chosen from the subjects listed above or another course approved by the university)</p>
<p>1 year
2.</p>
<p>Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (3.4 if you’re a nonresident) in these courses with no grade lower than a C."</p></li>
</ol>
<p>But should I still do something to try changing that D?</p>
<p>What can you do? If you want to apply to a UC, there might be info on the website about retakes for a higher grade or something.</p>
<p>I found this</p>
<p>"To be considered for admission, you must complete 15 yearlong high school courses with a grade of C or better — at least 11 of them prior to your senior year.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that taking approved high school (“a-g”) courses isn’t the only way to satisfy these requirements. You also may meet them by completing college courses or earning certain scores on SAT, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams."</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>"B) English
UC-approved high school courses</p>
<p>Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent writing, from brainstorming to final paper, as well as reading of classic and modern literature. No more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement.
SAT Reasoning Examination</p>
<p>Writing section: Score of 560 satisfies first three years; score of 680 satisfies entire four-year requirement.
SAT Subject Examination</p>
<p>Literature: Score of 560 satisfies first three years.
AP or IB Examination</p>
<p>Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition Exam; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB Language A1 English HL exam
College courses</p>
<p>For each year required through the 11th grade, a grade of C or better in a course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in English composition, literature (American or English) or foreign literature in translation. Courses used to satisfy the fourth year and/or the entire requirement must be transferable. For lower-division transfer, all courses must be transferable. Literature courses must include substantial work in composition. "</p>
<p>Stanford doesn’t look at freshman grades.</p>
<p>Make it up. Online. But with a gpa like that unless there isnt a huge upward trend you shouldnt apply to stanford</p>
<p>Let’s just say my Sophmore-Senior years are good, will that cover up the Freshman year more?</p>
<p>An upward trend is looked upon very favorably. They would much rather see poor grades in your freshman year than any other year. Also, your guidance counselor will send a letter of recommendation to the college at which you apply. He/she will have the opportunity, at that time, to put your freshman years grades in perspective. In other words, if your lower than normal freshman grades were related to family stressors or medical issues, it may be noted in the LOC.</p>