How much will this effect my chances of getting accepted into a top college?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hello, I'm a freshman in a school that's fairly competitive and has 800 students that are aimed to graduate in 2017. Like every other student, I'm aiming for a top college. However, when I received my grades I got a horrendous mark for my Spanish 2 class. These are my grades:
Algebra-97
Living Environment (Biology)-90
Global-93
English-85 (I get a 95+ on every exam in this class, I just rarely participate. Also, you either get a less than a 65, 70, 75, 85, 90, or 95 average in the course)
Health-99
Required Music-94
and finally
Spanish 2- a big, fat 65
My overall average is 89.</p>

<p>These are my grades for the first semester of ninth grade. How much will this effect my chances of getting into a good college? Will the 65 hurt my transcript by a lot? If I receive 90+ on every subject in the future, can the 65 be overlooked?
Also, I'm starting a creative writing club next semester, I'm member of Key Club, on the lacrosse team, and I've been published on a few websites/magazines. I'll be volunteering at a law firm this summer.
Will the e.c. boost my chances?
Also, can anyone recommend any organizations/internships for law that accept freshmen (upcoming sophomores)?
I don't even know how I managed to fail this class. It's been gnawing at me for weeks now so I've decided to post on here.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!!</p>

2

<p>Most of the time - the biggest thing that hurts your chances of getting into top schools is not something that you yourself do, but rather what those do around you. Think of all the applicants to schools like Harvard - many of whom do not have a 65 on their transcript, or even an A-. It isn’t as though the admissions office is going to think that you aren’t mentally ready for an ivy league education because you didn’t do too well in Spanish your Freshman year, its just that they can easily just give that spot to someone who did happen to do really well in Spanish in 9th grade.</p>

<p>I don’t think it will put you out of the running, per se - but you really have to prove yourself worthy of a seat at a top institution in spite of a lapse in your grades.</p>

3

<p>*affect</p>

<p>Some colleges don’t consider first year grades like Princeton and the UCs.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, most colleges only look at what’s called your “Academic GPA” or “UC GPA.” It only includes grades from 10th and 11th grade.</p>

<p>You can make up for that grade by studying, and getting As in the remaining trimesters/semesters, and continuing to get good grades the rest of high school.</p>

5

<p>Thank you everyone for the advice!</p>

6

<p>Is 65 a failing grade? Are 90 and 93 considered As or Bs?</p>

7

<p>65 is one point above failing, which is a D (I suppose). 90 and above is an A.</p>