Time and time again, I here applicants have pretty “low” weighted/unweighted GPAs get accepted to selective colleges. These GPAs are around 4.4-4.6, and usually in the region where I come from (Southeast), students have those GPAs by the time they finish their sophomore or even freshman year. With that said, if I have pretty below average grades my first year or so (even failing a class), but I pick it up the following year and have that same GPA by the time I graduate, does that hinder my chances of getting admitted?
A lower GPA does not completely put you out of the running. Some colleges do not even consider your freshman year scores (they view it as a “transition” year)- you would have to check with specific colleges.
I would say focus on your grades for the next few year (I think you are a sophomore, yes?) and work on developing leadership in ECs, and score highly on the SAT or ACT.
Thanks! And yes, I will be a junior the next school year and I am very focused on getting admitted into a great university. However, 1 semester my freshman year, I didn’t do very well in my first AP class. I don’t want that bad grade to define me as an applicant. (Especially to selective colleges)