Freshman year grades

I’m a sophomore in high school, and last year wasn’t exactly fantastic. Emotionally, and transversally academically I was a wreck. I had something around a 2.4 GPA weighted. This year I have about a 3.5, and am taking 2 AP and several l3 classes next year, in subjects I’m generally strong and interested in. I’m hoping to get into UConn, but since I doubt I’ll be able to get my overall GPA much above a 3.5, I’m not sure if that’s possible. SAT wise, I think I’ll do fairly well. I got around a 1200 on the PSAT with 0 prep/studying, so I think with prep and learning more of the math I should do well. Do you think my terrible freshman grades ruin my chances at UConn? And how much (if they are at all) are freshman grades less important if there’s an upward trend?

Hi @Npapa17! I think challenging yourself, which you seem to be doing, is very good. Freshman year grades seem to matter very little. In all honesty, for people around the ~3.0 cumulative GPA mark, I think test scores are very important- and yours seem to suffice! I was accepted to many decent public and private unis with a ~3.1 GPA and 1270/1930 SAT (old). As far as UConn goes, I think you should be ok. Are you in-state? Additionally, you could apply undecided, I believe, which could potentially increase your chances of being accepted (if you were concerned your grades would hinder you from being accepted to be, say, an engineer). Best of luck on your college search!

Colleges do like to see an upward trend…you are now doing better in harder classes.

Freshman year is the least important year; just keep up the good work and you should be fine.