Highschool Student Worried About GPA

<p>Alright so I messed up my Freshman year of Highschool really bad. Let's just say that because of my astounding laziness my ending grades that year ended up being something similar to two A's, one C, and three D's (one of which was in an Honors class, and it is also possible that the grades were actually worse because this is all just off of what I can recall). Ridiculous as it may sound, I had no idea before today that my Freshman GPA would massacre my overall GPA so horridly. It is now midway through my Sophomore year of Highschool and while I did better this first semester, my grades are nowhere near what they should be: Two A's, a B in an AP class, and three C's (one in an Honors class). I am now terrified to discover that my bad Freshman year could butcher any chance of me going to USC, and there's nothing I can do about it. I know that I am well beyond capable of achieving A's if I overcome laziness, which believe me, this horrifying revelation is more than enough to kick myself into gear and work work work. But even if I do my very best to succeed in the years ahead, are my chances still ruined? I will be taking three AP classes my Junior and Senior years, but I've heard that they don't even look at your Senior year. Would they see it applied to the GPA if you were to not apply during the Senior year? And would even that be enough to save me?</p>

<p>Is there any way for me to save my GPA? Is there anything I can do to make up for that bad Freshman year? Is there any way that I can have any chance of still going to USC? And what is the damage in terms of what my final GPA will be even if I kick butt in these coming years?</p>

<p>Any help would be very much appreciated... I feel so screwed!</p>

<p>Unfortunately, most of us are in the same boat. Freshmen often don’t realize how important grades are in the first semester.</p>

<p>With that said, I doubt you’ll be able to do anything to change your freshman year GPA. Your best shot is to look forward and do well your next 3/4 semesters. I think it is true that senior year grades don’t make that great of an impact since grades are sent during mid-year transcript periods and hopefully your application would have already been submitted way before that! It is very very likely that Junior year will be the last year to make a big punch.</p>

<p>I would still apply senior year. Be sure to apply to other colleges as well. If you don’t get into 'SC senior year, you can choose to take a gap year and re-apply again or just go to one of the other colleges that you applied to. (I’d just go to another college. One more year of painful waiting/murky future and seeing your friends move on without you is terrible. Trust me.) There always is a chance that you’ll get into SC. Luckily, if I’m right, USC doesn’t have a GPA cut off point; they read each and every essay. They are definitely not the university that only thinks in numbers. So there always is a chance. Don’t set your eyes on only one university. Yes it’s good to have a reach and the one dream school, but you need to be able to accept the fact that if you don’t get into the school, you’ll be happy to go to another. Again, trust me. 'Cause I made that error and I made only one school, but come to think about it, I don’t see myself going anywhere else.</p>

<p>Good luck and stop procrastinating!</p>

<p>First, a bit of hope. The grades you receive fall of senior year are taken into consideration for most USC admission decisions. They request first semester grades in most cases and wait to receive them before rendering final decisions. Showing there is no slacking off while taking a serious amount of AP/rigorous courses is a great way to show you can do well in a tough college curriculum–which is exactly what they are looking for. OTOH, students who take easy classes and get Bs in them will not be impressive.</p>

<p>In addition, in general, the admissions office will look favorably at grades that continue to go up each semester. Showing an upward GPA trend is a good thing. They understand each student matures at a different time, and once the right motivation kicks in grades improve. </p>

<p>However, some students may have dug themselves a very deep GPA hole and it’s very hard to pull up C’s and D’s (or worse!) When compared to thousands of very accomplished applicants, a lower GPA will be less competitive. </p>

<p>USC is highly selective, so you are going to want to do a big college search and find other attractive schools that are matches and safeties for your particular stats. Many good schools may have slightly different admissions criteria. For example, some schools like the UC’s do not factor in freshman year grades AT ALL. Work extra hard to get the best grades you can the next 3 semester (UC’s do not look at senior year grades for initial admissions decisions) and really rock your SATs, ECs, essays, etc. There are many other schools that have similar criteria (no freshman HS grades counted).</p>

<p>Lastly, if USC is still a dream, there is always the chance to transfer to USC after a year or two of excellent grades at a CC.</p>