<p>How influential can they be? I've heard that some colleges will overlook your grades from 9th grade (even Princeton, or so I've heard). I really messed up my freshman year (had a 3.2), but I've been getting straight A's since then (now a 2nd semester junior). How will this effect me when I apply to somewhere like Cornell?</p>
<p>It’ll affect your overall GPA and class rank.</p>
<p>But it won’t kill you. They don’t pour lava on applicants who screwed up freshman year and improved dramatically later on.</p>