I did very bad freshman year due to lack of motivation and not trying, with a 3.0 weighted GPA… I am projecting a 4.3 sophomore year, and I can most likely get the same junior and senior year along with 9 AP in total. What would my chances be at Stanford, UPenn, Harvard, Yale, or Princeton with this bad freshman year???
I myself am a freshman in high school. What I’ve heard from other posters and sites is that freshman year shouldn’t be too important, as long as your sophomore year has an increase in grades.
Freshman Year is usually a year of adjustment, and students are usually immature. Colleges focus more on Sophomore and Junior Year, just do your best, don’t slack off and universities will see that you are a hard working student! That growth from freshman to Senior Year will also show how you work hard for what you want. Just don’t let your grades go down throughout junior and senior year. Congratulations on your GPA. Good Luck!
True, an uptick will look nice. But the adcomms will also wonder why you had a “lack of motivation” freshman year. I might try to identify some safeties–I wouldn’t go Harvard or bust.
This is all assuming you keep a 4.0 GPA for the next three years, by the way.
So lets just say I do manage a 4.0 through 10-12, would I be able to get into a distinctive school? or will freshman weigh me down and ruin my chances.
@seanotisreynolds Most likely not. Your freshman grades won’t weigh you down, it’s just the acceptance rate of those schools is so small, the chances are miniscule. Even people with straight As through their 4 years of high school find it difficult to get accepted into the Ivy League Schools.
Ok, so if I don’t get accepted it will most likely be because they are very selective and not because of 9th grade GPA?
If you’re looking to apply to the more prestigious colleges, they probably will take your freshman grades into consideration. The admissions process consist of much more than just your GPA - high test scores, impressive EC’s, and your overall high school course rigor is a major factor. I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Make sure you show an upward trend in your grades starting from sophomore year. You’re only a freshman now, so it’s difficult to tell your chances of getting into those schools. Good luck.
I’m a sophomore now actually with a 4.3 through mid year