This year I got a 4.0 unweighted GPA. Based on junior year alone, I’d probably be the valedictorian in my school. The problem is that in my freshman year I had a 3.64 and my sophomore year I had a 3.50. The reason why my GPAs were lower in those years doesn’t really fit well into an application essay (I had no motivation and no foresight at the time. Also my parents don’t care about my grades). Is it worthwhile applying to top-tier universities, or would it just be a waste of money to apply to them?
Well, depends on what you mean by “top-tier”. If they’re Ivy-level universities, then it will be tough because there are tens of thousands of applicants with perfect or near-perfect GPA’s their entire high school career. You will need something really special about yourself to get into those kind of schools.
If it’s a state school, many of them don’t care about freshman grades so you’ll be better off there.
Check the Common Data Set, Section C, (google it) to compare your stats to those of admitted students at any particular school. In any area where you are below average, you will need one or more off-setting strengths - so, lower than average GPA means you should probably have a higher than average SAT or have some EC that’s really outstanding or a hook or provide geographic diversity - something.
The fact that your grades are better in Jr. year is a plus - schools expect that year to be more reflective of your abilities than 9th grade, when you are still maturing/adjusting to high school - but that assume you are applying to a school that does holistic review. Also, the UCs don’t include freshman grades in their GPA calc, so depending on where you live/are applying, it may help.