Currently, I’m a freshman in highschool. I just finished the first month of the second term of three total terms. In the first term, I wasn’t doing too well academically, with a GPA of about 3.2. This term, I’m trying to make things better, but so far, it seems like I’m doing more or less the same. What exactly should I do, not only now, but in future years to raise it high enough to be seen as worthy by more rather selective schools? How can I get it closer to a four by the end of high school? My grades were a lot better last year, and I’m not entirely sure what happened all of a sudden. Is it possible for me with my current performance to at the end of all four years, have a weighted GPA of over 4?
As a senior in H.S, you have MANYYYY opportunities to raise your grades AND GPA AND build up your H.S resume for college. As you go forward in your years, make sure you are taking challenging courses that you know you’ll excel in and raise your GPA. DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR COURSEWORK!
Yes, it is possible for you to earn a 4.0+ weighted GPA by the end of your 4 years.
You are still at the start of your H.S years. Colleges mainly look at 10-11th grades. Just keep working harder!
Thanks to scheduling issues and my own lack of awareness in being jostled around by guidance, I had very few weighted courses my freshman/sophomore years of high school. Going into junior year, my weighted GPA was a 4.1 (3.9 UW) on a scale that gives .5 extra quality points to honors courses and 1 extra quality point to AICE/Dual Enrollment/AP/IB courses. After dramatically increasing the rigor junior year and taking two summer DE classes, as well as two first semester senior year grades, I currently have a 4.4 W/3.9 UW. This took place over a period of just one year, but keep in mind that I had to put myself through a ton of stress to do this.
@HTah The main thing is to strive for A’s in the courses that you are taking now, then repeat. As other’s have said, your GPA in 10th and 11th grades will matter more than in 9th grade. A few schools don’t even consider grade 9 at all (eg, most U.California’s and universities in Canada) although whether you want to and can afford to go to them might depend where you live and other issues. An upward trend is also a good thing if you can pull it off. Doing well this year will make you better prepared to do well next year.
Always pay attention in class. Sit near the front of the room if you can. Do your homework as soon at you can, preferably close to when it is assigned. Don’t wait until just before the homework is due. This way you pick up a little from the homework, even if it is just a better understanding of what it is you need to study, and therefore you can pick up a bit more in your next class. Seek out help after school if you need it. Keep ahead in your reading.
High school is a step up from middle school in terms of academic difficulty. Honors and AP classes will be another step up. University will be another step up. Most students have to put in more work as they go further in school.
I heard (not 100% sure) that some colleges like Stanford don’t look at freshman grades so I would just try to get better rather than regretting these grades too much.
My GPA was around the same freshman year (I think 3.3-4 maybe?) I finished with about a 4.1 weighted. There’s really nothing you can do except get better grades and work ‘smarter’. Whether you need to study more, go to office hours, read more closely, do homework more carefully, or start essays earlier, do it. Eventually you’ll start to see results.
My biggest issue was time management. My sophomore year I started doing homework right when I got home from school and stayed off my phone until 6. I would talk to my boyfriend on the phone while I made study guides for my tests and then review them for about an hour or 2 before bed. Never went to sleep after 11:30. My schedule helped me stay on track and after a semester of getting in this groove of social life and school I slowly started adding in my extra curriculars and sports.
High schools a big adjustment but you need to ADJUST. It took me a while (year and a half) but now I attend a top 50 school that’s a great fit for me academically. Good luck!