I’m currently a junior in high school, and I’m finishing my first semester of junior year. I took rigorous classes this semester and I was determined to work hard, but I really flopped and I’m most likely ending with 5 B’s out of the 6 classes I’m taking. I want to really try hard next semester to improve my grades, but I wonder if my improvement would be viewed significantly during admissions, especially since my starting point seems so rock bottom.
Bs will actually get you in to a whole lot of colleges. Do the best you can and work with what you’ve got.
If you post your classes and levels, GPA (weighted and unweighted), test scores, what you want in a college and appropriately what you can afford each year, posters can help point you in some more specific suggestions.
Agree. B’s are not “rock bottom” and will qualify you for many colleges. Do your best and when the time comes (junior year) honestly asses your academics including GPA, course rigor, standardized tests and seek out appropriate colleges.
would just like to clarify, I am very aware that B’s are not “rock bottom,” it just “seems” like rock bottom compared to other kids at my high school who excel in academics, and definitely compared to the other semesters I’ve had, this is the lowest gpa I am receiving. I know it does not define me as a failure, and I am quite satisfied with my B’s, but I was curious how this would affect my application.
@happy1 and @Groundwork2022 thank you so much for your kind responses!
Makes sense to work hard, take classes you think will be helpful to you, be involved in activities that are meaningful to you and then, when the time comes, choose colleges that make sense for you. We don’t know where you intend to apply so there is not much specific information we can provide. If you are involved in either school or outside activities, and choose classes that will serve as the background for later more advanced classes, and if you choose colleges (from the hundreds available) that offer the curriculum you plan to study, you’ll be accepted into schools that make sense for you.
@lostaccount thank you for your descriptive response! I’m actually having a difficult time choosing what my prospective major will be, so I haven’t been able to put together a list of prospective schools.
Then continue with a well rounded curriculum. Continue to put the time and energy into your classes. There are hundreds of colleges. Don’t get caught into the trap of thinking that there are only 20 colleges worth going to. That is absurd but it is what drives the crazed need to get all A’s-something that is very harmful and inane. There are plenty of schools that most students would be very happy attending-not just one. But many students have unrealistic ideas about college. Hopefully you will work hard and reasonably-not crazed. And there will be a great college that will welcome you.
And if your classes are honors/AP, you will get the GPA weighting.
Don’t stress over things. You seem level headed and will do fine.
@lostaccount and @Hamurtle thank you for your responses!
Colleges love seeing improvement so if you somehow raise that GPA your junior year colleges will appreciate it.
@Ozzy08 thank you for your input!
I am no longer on this account, thus I will not be responding to any comments from this point forward ?