Grade Trend?

Hi,
I’m wondering if a 5.55/6.0 GPA (freshman year)… taking non-challenging courses but 5.33/6.0 (taking extremely challenging courses) sophomore year will play a heavy impact on my college apps? I’m heading into my junior year right now… and since I’m more of a STEM person, my English grades suck… so that was the dragging factor in my sophomore GPA. I ranked in the second decile for freshman year and third in sophomore year.
Thank you!

Colleges will like that you challenged yourself. If you get a higher GPA junior year with the same amount of (or more) challenging courses, they’ll see that during sophomore year you were just getting used to high-level classes, and that you were able to adapt and get a high GPA in them junior year. If anything, it’ll show you’re adaptable, so it’s not a big deal if you get a better GPA this year.