<p>I got perfect 4.0 freshmen year. from there, it went downward since i suck at AP historys, which also pulled down my other grades just because I have to spend so much time on history, sports and other ECs. Basically, I haven't gotten an solid A on an AP class since sophomore year (almost all A-s), but that's mainly based on my motivation to aim for a 4.0 as best as I can by seeing A- as good enough and then focusing on history.... (my school didn't count +s and -s before this year)</p>
<p>As for GPA trends, it was good to start out with because I didn't do a lot outside of school in 9th grade other than 2 sports and math stuff. But as for soph/jun/senior years, I've been a lot busier not only because of history, but also more ECs and commitments. How is that going to look?</p>
<p>uw 3.83 for now (going to drop because of college math course - gettin pwnd by math this year ); a rocky trend throughout; semester Bs outside history: spanish 3 B+ and physics B+</p>
<p>I think you’ll be fine…
3.83 UW can hardly be classified as bad.
It’s ok if you don’t get A’s in all AP classes, they’re supposed to be harder and colleges know that, that’s why they’re weighted into you GPA…
Just keep up what you’re doing.
Freshman year your classes were probably easier, which is probably why you had a higher GPA…don’t be too worried about it, unless you’re shooting for ivies</p>
<p>well, not to say that you don’t have a chance at any of them, but personally, i think that ivies are a reach for anyone. but you definitely have a chance, especially if you have a lot of EC’s</p>
<p>back to the point… I was told by a guy from MIT that they love to see students’ grades increase as their years progress. He said that most MIT students had a mixture of both A’s and B’s (probably meant like a mixture of 9:1 A:B) in their HS transcripts. Even though the courses have increased in difficulty throughout HS, their consistent growth in their abilities show that they will continue to blossom in college. As for the 4.0s with 9999 AP classes… yea you’ve maxed on out all the levels, apparently you are too good for school and MIT will definitely let you in and nurture you into that next Nobel Prize winner…:P</p>
<p>forgot to mention that I’m technically international (I suppose that the feedback would probably change now that I’ve said that)</p>
my bad. Let me make it clear. you have two people, both with 3.833s. One of them started out strong and then underwent a rocky trend as his classes got harder. The other screwed up freshmen year but has been gradually improving in his grades and had a perfect 4.0 since the beginning of his junior year.</p>
<p>does the trend matter or is the GPA pretty much all that counts? I know that they look at our transcripts and the classes on which we got below A-s. But does it matter which year those screwups occur? or even the time of that year? I for example had all my bad grades towards the end of the year, when all hell broke loose with all the competitions and AP tests.</p>
<p>Since you brought up MIT, I will repeat a line that was stated in the information session that has stuck in my mind. The statement was “We are frequently asked whether it is better to take an honors course and score an A or take an AP and score get a B? We say take the Ap and score an A.” It is a somewhat harsh statement and I may have some of the exact words wrong but I have the brevity and the meaning dead on.</p>
<p>Back to you question about GPA trend. Of course and school will prefer a person with an improving pattern, wouldn’t you if you were making the decision BUT GPA that is being impacted by course rigor has to be evaluated with that in mind. Remember academic rigor is an important component.</p>
<p>3.83 is a fantastic GPA and it will very evaluated as one component of your application. It is only one piece. From what I can see, it will not get you in or keep you out.</p>